Pierre Soulages

Pierre Soulages (1919–2022) was a French painter, printmaker, and sculptor, recognized as one of the masters of abstraction. Born in Rodez, he trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris before returning to his hometown during World War II. Soulages is famous for his series of Outrenoir, where he explores black as a color in its own right. He applies black paint in thick layers on the canvas, then scrapes, streaks or polishes it, creating unique plays of light. His work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions such as the Centre Pompidou, the Soulages Museum in Rodez and the Louvre Museum.