BIOGRAPHY

Olivier Grossetête was born in Paris in 1973, he lives in Marseille and works all around the world.

From the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Valence, through his artistic work he tries to keep poetry and dreams alive in our everyday lives. Using play with false naivety, he faces a certain context in order to question laws, both physical and social which govern us.

As early as 2002, he created collages from administrative documents such as banknotes, parking tickets and fines or refusal letters with which he calls on reality to invent new fictions.

Another facet of his work draws nearer to sculpture, featuring in situ “poetic objects”.  These work each in their own ways, going to and fro between dreams, poetic images and the laws which govern our world.

With the Participative Monumental constructions made from cardboard, he explores urban spaces and enables us to experience them together. It is both a thought process on image and architecture as a symbol, as well as a social and “political” project. He invites the inhabitants of a town to come together to erect a utopian building, temporary and useless, to take part in an artistic experience in which everyone finds his/her own rightful place.  Made of cardboard and tape, the construction is made without cranes or machines, using only human energy. 

Whether with his cardboard monumental constructions using collective energy surrounding him, or with his passages and bridges which defy gravity or with his decoupages/collages denying authoritarian symbols, he is trying to reverse, at least symbolically, the power balance, which links us to the world… therefore questioning the value of our exchanges and our belongings.

 

 

URBAN INTERVENTIONS

Participative Monumental Constructions made from Cardboard

 2017

• Colombia - Cross Year France Colombia, Mappa Theatre, Bogota
• France - Town of Garges, les Gonesses
• France - ZAT 2017, Public ground, Montpellier
• France - Court Circus, Châlon en Champagne
• France - Place du Château, La Tour d'Aigues
• Denmark - Municipality of Skanderborg and Øm Abbey
• USA - Kimmel Center for the performing Arts, Philadelphia
• France – The guests of Villeurbanne
• Norway - Arctic Arts Festival, Harstad
• France - The Mad and Marvellous Monsters, Maubeuge  
• France - Cité Besson, Aix en Provence
• France - Quartier d'Eté, Paris
• Ireland - Galway Arts Festival
• Switzerland - Yverdon-les-Bains
• France - Art in the streets FARSe 2017- Strasbourg
• Belgium – Tongeren –
• Denmark - Waves Festival  
• New Zealand - Taranaki Arts Festival
• New Zealand – Christchurch Arts Festival
• China - Changsha - Wuhan -  Harbin – Shanghai – Chongqing
• France - La Rochelle 
• Thailand - Chiang Mai
• Italy – Festivalguer, Sardaigne

2016

• Australia - Sydney's Festival
• Morocco - Awaln'art, Marrakech
• Scotland - Dundee Ignite Festival & Festival of Architecture
• England - Corn Exchange, Newbury
• England - Glastonbury Festival
• England - London Olympic Park 
• France - Landerneau Cultural Workshop
• France - The Big Festival, Verdun
• The Netherlands - Theatre Festival Boulevard, Hertogenbosch
• Sweden – Kulturfestival, Stockholm
• The Netherlands - Heerlen
• Festival Cultura Nova Espagne - La Mercè Mac Festival, Barcelona
• England - Freedom Festival, Hull
• China - Shenang Artistic Festival de WANKE, Shenang
• Mexico - Guadalajara
• France – Orbival, Val de Marne

2015

• France - Festival Méliscènes, Auray 
• France - Ecole de Provence, Marseille
• Korea - Ansan Street Art Festival
• France – Festival of Z'Airs, Saint Nazaire
• England - Circulate - TARA Arts Earlsfield, London 
• France – Oh Festival, Champigny
• France – Abbey Festival, Sainte
• France – On the dot Rendez-Vous Festival, Roubaix
• Germany – Tollwood Festival, Munich
• England - Circulate Harrow, London
• England - Circulate Watermans, London
• England - Circulate Millfield, London
• Austria - Olala Festival
• England - Circulate Arts depot, London
• England - Circulate, The Albany London
• Mexico – Transversal Festival, San luis de Potosi
• Russia- Moscow Festival
• France - Cergy be Cergy, Pontoise
• Italy - Terni Festival
• England - Darlington
• France – School of Architecture, Clermont Ferrand 
• Scotland - Greenock 
• France – Festival of Architecture - la Chartreuse de Villeneuve les Avignons
• Taiwan - Kaohsiung Project

2014

• France – White nights around the Tower, Bretigny Theatre, Etampes
• France – The Heart Hooks, Angers
• France - Excentric Montargis
• France - Agora Biennal Architecture-Urbanisme-Design, Bordeaux
• France - Trignac Foundery, Trignac
• Finland - Helsinki Festival 
• Austria - La Strada Festival, Graz
• Belgium - Festival Miramir, O Gant
• France - Z'Arts Up! Festival, Bethune
• England - Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Norwich
• France – The Unruly Festival, Vieux-Condé
• France – The 1st May, Familistère de Guise
• France - Reflexion by the Artists of Massy, Parrain du Salon
• Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan People Tower" Biennial of Contemporary Art, Colombo

2013

• France – The Church Tower, Christmas Scenes, Toulouse.
• France – The Ephemeral Town, festival métamorphose, Marseille-Provence Festival 2013, Marseille.
• England - The Clock tower, Torquay Festival 2013, Torquay
• France – The Sister Lighthouse, Wednesdays Harbour Festival, Ports-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône
• France – « Bâtisse Sœur », It’s in the Street Festival, Mulhouse.
• England - Glastonbury Tower, Glastonbury Festival
• France - 1,2,3…, Hot Festival Outside, Aubagne.
• Slovakia - Ensemble, Festival Uses the City, Kosicé 2013
• France – The Mill, The Garrigue Festival, Pont du Gard

2012

• France – The Towers, Strange Christmas, Arles
• France – The Church Tower, Heritage Day for the 500 years of the church tower, Gevodant Art and History of the Country, Mende
• Scotland – Outside the Lodge, Marcant City Festival, Glasgow
• France – Three little circles and then..., Chalon dans la rue, Chalon sur Saône
• France - Building, Les Folies Bergère, Gange
• Scotland - Lighthouse, Ayr

2011

• France – Petit est beau, Geometric Opus 1 Abstraction, Aubagne
• France – Petit est beau, The Water Lighthouse, Martigues
• France - Lighthouse 2, Collective Construction, Festival of the Estuary, Meschers-sur-Gironde
• France – The Stable, Project VIAPAC, Collective Constructions, St Paul-sur-Ubay
• France – Beauvent Tower, Project VIAPAC, Collective Constructions, Seinne-les-Alpes

2010

• France – Road to Contemporary Art, Project VIAPAC Dignes-les-bains and Carraglio.

2009

• France – On the Cours Mirabeau Bridge, It’s the South, Aix-en-Provence.

2008

• France – The Lighthouse, Sculpture in the Town, Alios 2008, La Teste-de-Buch
• France – The Church, It’s the South, Aix-en-Provence.
• France - Aquaduct, Monumental, Completely West, Miramas, Grans, Cornillon

2006

• Switzerland - Palais Wilson, Festival of Sustainable Development, Geneva
• France – The Crane, La Joliette Festival, , Marseille

2004

• France – The Imperial in Teppes, Annecy
• France - Return to Athens, Marseille 

2003

• France - One Tower, Pissevin ZUP, Nimes

1998

• France – The Pirate of Ragondin, Valence

1997

• France – My Shots, Town Hall, Valence
• France - Deposition, Tax Office, Valence

 

 

INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS

2010

• Italy – Without Gravity, La Filatorio, Carraglio
• France - Sketching, Musée Gassendi, Digne-les-Bains

2009

• France – A Wink, Belfort Montbelliard Technological University, Montbelliard

2008

• France – Chosen Pieces, Cultual Space, Marseille

2007

• France - 2 Wise Steps, Contemporary Art Centre, Istres
• France – The Point of the Day, Voyons-voir Association, Ferry Lacombe Castle, Trets

2006

• France – One of the Horizon’s Towers, la Serre Art School, St Etienne
• Italy – Lyrical Flight, French Institue, Naples
• France - Jean Denant & Olivier Grossetête, Sollertis Galerie, Toulouse

2005

• France – The model sank :..., le :..., Arteppes, Annecy
• France - Show Room #3, Private Appartment, Marseille

2004

• France – My Pieces of Paper, Arteppes, Annecy

2003

• France - Chimène Denneulin et Olivier Grossetête, BF 15, Lyon

2001

• France – A Drunken Boat, Periscope Theatre, Nimes

1999

• France – Against the Fold, with Vie d'artistes Co, Périscope Theatre and Culture Mgmt, Nimes

 

 

COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS

2013

• France – Artists’ Presents, Alderaban, Castrie
• France - Animal Paradise, Contemporary Art Centre, Istres

2012

• England - Fly and fancy, Biennial of Tatton park, Manchester
• France – Memories of the Sea, Avignon Castle, CG 13, Camargue

2011

• France – So Near, So Far, Avignon Castle, CG 13, Camargue

2010

• France - Festival of Ephemeral Arts, Whitehouse Park, Marseille

2009

• France - Superview 2009, Hurus Hotel, Vaison-la-Romaine
• France – White Nights, Mayenne

2008

• France - Alios 2008, Sculpture in the Town, La Teste-de-Buch
• China – Shanghai Rendez-vous, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai

2007

• France - Rendez-vous, E.N.S. Lyon Art School with M.A.C. of Lyon and I.A.C. of Villeurbane

2005

• France – The Wind Festival, Calvi
• Canada - Viager, Périmeter Festival, organised by Dare-Dare Centre, Montreal

2004

• France – Return to Athens, Artists Workshop, Marseille

2003

• Cyprus - Noice Crossing, organised by Noice of Coincidence, Nicosia
• Greece - Biennial of Young European and Mediterranean Creators, Exhibition Centre, Athens
• France - Marseille and Montpellier Selection, for the Young Creators Biennial, Carré St Anne, Montpellier

2001

• France - Odyssey 2001, Artists Workshop, Marseille
• France - F.I.A.C. 2001, Video Cube Selection, présented by Sollertis Gallery, Exhibition Park, Paris
• Belgium – Here and Now, Tour & Taxis, Brussels
• France - Art dealers, Artists Workshop, Roger Pailhas Gallery, Marseille

2000

• France - V.S., Allegories Hotel, Nimes
• France - Electrovideo, Rakan, Nimes

1999

• France - Green Card, Agricultural College, Rodiant
• France - Managers of Immaturity, C.N.A.C. The Shop, Grenoble

1998

• France – Project City, Workshop C.N.A.C. The Shop, Grenoble
• France – Preferably Sitting, Ancienne bourse du travail, Valence
• France – The Flight of a fly in a Dark Room, Literature University, Valence

 

 

PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Gassendi Museum, 2011

• Purchased by Gassendi Museum 2 works of art (Ticket and Fine Collage and Banknote Collage)

FRAC Paca, 2010

• Purchased by the F.R.A.C of P.A.C.A; a body of work

 

 

OTHER PRODUCTIONS, FUNDING, AWARDS, INTERNSHIPS

2016 - 2017

• Funding by French Institute Marseille Town Hall on Moroccan, Colombian and Asian Projects
• Aide aux actions de coopérations artistiques internationales portées par des opérateurs marseillais

2009

• France - Internship Military College Aix-en-Provence via F.R.A.C. paca.
• Italy – Production funding, Association a.titolo, Turin

2007

• France - Internship in Château Ferry Lacombe, Voyons-voir Association, Trets

2006

• Italy - Internship at the French Institute in Naples

2005

• Creator funding, Paca Region

2004

• France – Individual Funding for Creators, Drac Paca
• France - Funding, Marseille Town Hall
• France – Arteppes Internship, Annecy (6 months)

2003

• France - Internship, Artists Workshop, Marseille (2000-03)

2000

• France – Youth Challenge Grant, Languedoc-Roussillon

 

 

SHORT FILMS (VIDEOS AND/OR FILMS)

• 2005 : Là, ma quête de l'un périt à : ... le : ..., 3 videos 9'
• 2004 : To tower, video 5' 05”
• 2003 : MaQuette généric, video 4' 55”
• 2002 : Ça roule ?!, video 1' 58”
• 2001: Un bateau ivre I, filmed on 16 mm and video -16' 35”
• 1998 : Un mur, video 0' 59”
• 1998 : Brise, video 3' 43”
• 1998 : Un mur, video 0' 59”

• 1998 : Brise, video 3' 43”
1997
• 1998 : Veillée sur veillée, video 2' 26”

• 1998 : 6 p'tites tours, video 5' 12”

 

 

INDIVIDUAL CATALOGUES

• 2007 : 2 Wise Steps, Olivier Grossetête after a personal exhibition at the Istres Art Centre
• 2005 : B.A.-BA [beaba] Olivier Grossetête, texts Carole Novara, Olivier Grossetête, booklet, Show Room #3, Marseille

 

 

COLLECTIVE CATALOGUES

• 2011 : So Far So Near, Exhibition Brochure, Château d'Avignon, Edited by CG14, 2011
• 2009 : White Nights, Mayenne (Edited by Carte Postale)
• 2008 : Alios 2008, Sculpture in the Town, brochure, La Teste-de-Buch
• 2008 : Rendez-vous Shanghai, brochure, Shanghai Art Museum Shanghai, China
• 2007 : Rendez-vous, National School of Fine Arts, Lyon with M.A.C. of Lyon and I.A.C. Villeurbanne
• 2004 : La BF15, A Way with Contemporary Art, Edited by BF15, 2004
• 2003 : Biennial of Young European and Mediterranean Creators, selection, text by Marie Godfrin-Guidicelli, Edited by The Municipal Cultural Office, Marseille
• 2003 : 11th Biennial of Young European and Mediterranean Creators, Edited in English/Greek, Ministry Of Education and Religious Affairs, Greece
• 2003 : A Tower is Built, Urban Intervention Newspaper « One Tower », Nimes, 2001
• 2001 : Video Cube, text by Sophie Berreb - pp.26-27, Edited by FIAC, 2001
• 1999 : Managers of Immaturity, Edited by Magasin, 1999
• 1998 : The Town, Work in Progress, How to build a town today ?, (workshop) Magasin, Grenoble 1998

 

 

ÉCOLE, FORMATIONS

• 1998 : D.N.S.E.P, Valence Art School (Congratulations from the Jury)
• 1996 : D.N.A.P, Valence Art School