Art2Muse

Artworks available to view in Sydney

Dominique Barreau lives and works in Ile d’Oléron (France). His focus on texture and his use of mostly large canvases are the characteristic features of his technique, lending full impact to his representations of the huge cargo ships seen in commercial harbours – a recurrent theme in Barreau’s painting, as is the maritime environment of his island. He also draws inspiration from the urban atmosphere of the megapolis, cities such as Paris, New York and Shanghai. His work is powerful, very graphic, and evolving with multiple narratives.

Dominique Barreau was born in 1966 in Ile d’Oléron, off the west coast of France, where he still lives today. After studying Applied Arts, in 1990 he began to exhibit his work in several galleries in the west of France and in Paris. During these first years of creativity Dominique experimented with different techniques and materials such as polyester resin, oil and acrylic paints, waxed canvas and concrete sculptures. In this period, his work focused on themes such as the consumer society and the urban environment, in a style inspired by Pop Art. In 1995 his interests shifted toward the maritime environment. His work became concerned with merchant shipping and commercial harbours, two subjects which led to a fascination with rusted and damaged metal. In 2000 Dominique Barreau opened his own gallery in Ile d’Oléron. In 2003 he was commissioned to do 24 illustrations for Thierry Guilabert’s book of 12 short stories, “L’Ecorce et le Sable” (Bark and Sand). In 2004 he became a permanent exhibitor at the Glineur Gallery in St Martin de Ré. In 2006 he started his work on “Strand and Oyster Farm Metal Scraps”.

“Cities in transformation, cargo ships, commercial harbours, crowds and individuals in urban places are the many sources of inspiration for me to paint the world in motion. I like working with those powerful themes – my painting becomes the perfect vehicle for my emotions“.
- Dominique Barreau