Composition (1955)

James Pichette was a prominent member of the influential Abstraction Lyrique group in Paris during the 1950s, and drew much inspiration from jazz music – famously holding public performances painting with the accompaniment of live jazz bands. The abstract rhythmic compositions of jazz music generated a vivacity which Pichette sought to emulate in his paintings, to achieve a euphoric sensorial experience.

Throughout the fifties and sixties Pichette exhibited extensively in Europe and abroad, constantly developing and refining his form of lyrical abstract expression. In 1973 he was given a retrospective at Galerie Septentrion, and a second in 1974 at Galerie L’Art de la Paix. Pichette also collaborated on several urban projects merging art and architecture. He was championed throughout his career by Jacques Villon (1875-1963)and Michel Ragon (1924-2020) and achieved international critical acclaim. His work is found in numerous major public collections, including Musée Nationale d’Art Moderne, Paris and Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.

James Pichette’s work has been offered at auction multiple times, the record price being 8,794 USD for Camargue sold at Ader in 2019.