A New Art Exhibition By L’Atlas Opens This Summer In The South Of France

As Paris-based artist L’Atlas’ latest solo show, “Get in Line”, gets underway at Galerie At Down in Montpellier in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea, I sit down with the gallery’s founder, Nicolas Pinelli, to gather his insights on the career of this artist blending the abstract, minimalist, geometric and optical art movements.

How long has your gallery worked with L’Atlas and why did you decide to represent him?

Galerie At Down is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year, and we’ve been exhibiting L’Atlas since the beginning. He’s a major artist in contemporary urban art that we support at the gallery, and I decided to exhibit him because I admire his work above all else. We’re the same age and have followed each other’s respective paths. 20 years ago, I was a journalist and had already spotted his emerging talent, and interviewed L’Atlas in my magazine, Last Mag. He was on the cover. Today, he’s a major artist who never ceases to leave his mark on this artistic movement.

What stands out in particular about his work, his approach, his process and his technique? What makes his work unique? Why should we pay special attention to his work and be interested in the art he creates?

With writing as his starting point, each of the artist’s canvases is composed of his name “L’Atlas”, and over time he has evolved his letters to make them graphic, esthetic, sometimes illegible, becoming harmonious and immediately recognizable. From one series to the next and from year to year, we always see a new energy, never tiring, as his relentless creativity drives us to discover his new and always surprising creations.

What do you think of L’Atlas’ art market and its evolution over the last few years? When did you start to see a demand for his work, and what are the reasons behind this?

It has been growing steadily for over 10 years, and it’s just the beginning. His highly geometric and optical work is particularly appealing to architects.

What have been his most important exhibitions in galleries and/or museums throughout L’Atlas’ career?

He has certainly had a career in the streets, originally a vandal, now in galleries to present his studio work, and museums are increasingly interested in him, including a solo show at the Musée en Herbe in Paris. Cities also entrust him with gigantic mural frescoes, taking him back to his graffiti origins, but on an unprecedented scale.

Who are the collectors of his works? Any notable or famous collectors?

His collectors are diverse, with younger people buying a multiple or a screenprint, and people with greater purchasing power opt more quickly for an original work. Count on spending between €5,000 and €15,000 to have a beautiful format for your home. Agnès b. was one of the first to believe in the artist and included works by L’Atlas in her collection, which can now be seen at the Agnès b. foundation. Well-known actors also have a work by L’Atlas above their sofas.

“Get in Line” runs from June 17 to July 17, 2023 at Galerie At Down, 20 rue du Plan de l’Olivier, 34000 Montpellier, France.