Born in 1956 in Wales, James Rielly lives and works in Paris.

The highly characteristic works of British painter James Rielly focus on the clichés, ideologies and metaphors of children. Creating subversive and at times surreal portraits of bright-eyed, school-aged youths, Rielly addresses notions of societal tension and pictorial tradition. His most well-known series are Casual Influences (2000) and Sensible Ways (96-97), which consist of large-scale portraits inspired by stories and images taken from local newspaper articles. Through the act of highlighting certain features and roles in children, Rielly’s pieces bring out the dysfunctional nature of adults.

Rielly has shown his paintings in a number of solo exhibitions since 1983 including Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, Nantes, France, Spencer Brownstone Gallery, New York, Fond Regional d’Art Contemporain Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, Centro de Arte de Salamanca (CASA), Salamanca, Spain, Centre d’Art Neuchâtel, Switzerland, and Scott White Contemporary Art, La Jolla, CA, among many others. In 1995 he was awarded a MOMART fellowship at Tate Gallery and in 1997 he was shortlisted for the Jerwood Prize. He has been Professor of Painting at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France since 2006.

Didier Semin. Translation by Cole Swensen.

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Né en 1956 au Pays de Galle, James Rielly vit et travaille à Paris.

Les œuvres très caractéristiques du peintre britannique James Rielly se concentrent sur les clichés, les idéologies et les métaphores des enfants. Créant des portraits subversifs et parfois surréalistes de jeunes aux yeux brillants et d’âge scolaire, Rielly aborde les notions de tension sociale et de tradition picturale. Ses séries les plus connues sont Casual Influences (2000) et Sensible Ways (96-97), qui consistent en des portraits à grande échelle inspirés par des histoires et des images tirées d’articles de journaux locaux. En mettant en évidence certains traits et rôles chez les enfants, les œuvres de Rielly font ressortir la nature dysfonctionnelle des adultes.

Depuis 1983, Rielly a présenté ses peintures dans le cadre de plusieurs expositions individuelles, notamment au Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, Nantes, France, à la Spencer Brownstone Gallery, New York, au Fond régional d’art contemporain d’Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, au Centro de Arte de Salamanca (CASA), Salamanque, Espagne, au Centre d’art de Neuchâtel, Suisse, et à Scott White Contemporary Art, La Jolla, CA, parmi beaucoup d’autres. En 1995, il a obtenu une bourse MOMART à la Tate Gallery et en 1997, il a été sélectionné pour le prix Jerwood. Il est professeur de peinture à l’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, en France, depuis 2006.

Didier Semin

We lived together under the sea, 2021, watercolour on handmade Indian paper, 134×95, vue de l’exposition rétrospective des dix ans de la galerie l’inlassable, 2021, Paris

Flower with right eye, 2018, oil on linen, 80×70, vue de l’exposition rétrospective des dix ans de la galerie l’inlassable, 2021, Paris

James Rielly was born in Wales in 1956. Currently, he lives and works between Paris and the South of France.

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James Rielly est né au Pays de Galles en 1956. Il vit et travaille actuellement entre Paris et le sud de la France.

Now

INVENTORY, February 15 – March 2, 2024, Galerie John Ferrère

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2022

Work, rest and play, CAC Málaga, Spain
Almost everything in its correct place, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich, Germany
The sun shines on nearly everyone, Galeria Herrero de Tejada, Madrid
James Rielly in Reykjavik, Gangurinn the corridor, Reykjavik

2021

James Rielly, Alzueta Gallery, Barcelona

2019
Who Loves the Sun, Solander Gallery, Wellington

2018
Born with a plastic spoon, knife and fork  in my mouth, Monteverita, Paris
Stories for Mexican ghosts and children of all ages, GE Galeria, Mexico

2017
James Rielly, Flowers, Ghosts and Insects, A few short Stories, Galeria Herrero De Tejada, Madrid

2016
Thinking things through, New Art Projects, London
We lived our lives in the spiritual not the material world, GE Galeria, Mexico
Knock on wood, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich

2015
Everything is something else. Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
Ty Hyll, Cabinet des dessins, Jean Bonna, Beaux-Arts de Paris
Image on the edge, galerie l’Inlassable, Paris

2014
Ty Hyll- the ugly house, The Studio, Llandudno
James Rielly, Cabinet des dessins
Punch Me, La Box, Bourges
Ty Hyll, The Studio, Llandudno

2013
When I was young I would sit in the bath and ideas would come to me, now I am old I sit in the bath, Scott White Contemporary Art, La Jolla

2012
James Rielly, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munchen
Nothing and something, Galerie Charlotte Moser Galerie Charlotte Moser, Geneva

2011
What wisdom , Ramis Barquet Gallery, New York

2010
Spirits in the sky, Gallery Wittenbrink, Munich

2009
James Rielly, I M Art Gallery, Seoul

2008
Things that go bump in the day, Studio d’Arte Raffaelli, Trento
New Works on Paper, Rabley Contemporary Drawing Centre, Marlborough
Proposal for 200 little ideas, Galerie Charlotte Moser, Geneva

2006
Tell Me a Story, Galeria Ramis Barquet, New York
Full of Possibilities 2, Galeria Ramis Barquet, Monterrey
Nipples, Galeria Distrito Cu4tro, Madrid

2005
Life of Rielly, Timothy Taylor Gallery, London

2004
Outside Looking Out, Galeria Ramis Barquet, New York
Made in France, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris

2003
Made in East London, Galeria Distrito Cu4tro, Madrid
Rex Irwin Fine Art, Sydney
Late and Early, a split-site installation at the Round Room, Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh and Timothy Taylor Gallery, London Made in East London, Galeria Distrito Cu4tro, Madrid
James Rielly, Rex Irwin Fine Art, Sydney
Late and Early, a split-site installation at the Round Room, Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh and Timothy Taylor Gallery, London

2002
James Rielly, Centro de Arte de Salamanca (CASA), Salamanca (SP)
James Rielly, Fond Regional d’Art Contemporain Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand
London Ghosts and Party Animals, Galerie Voges & Partner, Frankfurt am Main
James Rielly, Studio D’Arte Raffaelli, Trento
James Rielly, Archimedes Staffolini Gallery, Nicosia

2001
Timothy Taylor Gallery, London
Edward Mitterand Gallery, Geneva
Spencer Brownstone Gallery, New York

2000
Casual Influences, Oriel Mostyn Gallery, Llandudno, Wales

1999
Spencer Brownstone Gallery, New York

1998
Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris
CAN, Centre d’Art Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel
Patrick de Brock Gallery, Knokke
Laurent Delaye Gallery, London

1997
Sensible Ways, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, Nantes

1996
Laurent Delaye Gallery, London

1995
Laurent Delaye Gallery, London

1994
Laurent Delaye Gallery, London

1993
Berning and Daw Fine Art, London

1992
Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich

1990
Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich

1989
Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin

1988
Alexander Roussos Gallery, London

1987
Carlile Gallery, London

1986
Carlile Gallery, London

1985
Bayer Gallery, Provincetown
Hudson D. Walker, Provincetown

1984
Hudson D. Walker, Provincetown

1983
Artist in Residence, Art & Research Exchange Galley, Belfast

Selected Group Exhibitions

2021
Celebrating diversity, Galería 3 Punts, Barcelona, Spain

2020
Paintings in Paintings, Monteverita, Paris
Le Mauvais Oeil, FRAC,  Clermont-Ferrand
Le Printemps de l’estampe, Bordeaux
By Way of Laughter and Trembling, Durden and Ray, Los Angeles, USA

2019
MEL PUBLISHER – ESTAMPES, Hubery Breyne Gallery, Brussels
Take your conscience to the Pawnshop. Terrace Gallery. London.
By way of Laughter and Trembling. Durden and Ray Gallery. Los Angeles.
Paintings in Paintings. Monteverita Gallery. Paris.

2018
Quel Amour !?, [mac] musée d’art contemporain, Marseille

2017
Gallery Artists. GE Galeria, Mexico City
Gallery Artists. Galeria Herrero De Tejada, Madrid
Round Colours, Monteverita, Paris
Microsalon 7, galerie l’inlassable, Paris

2016
Utopie Pictural 3, Galerie Forma, Geneva
galerie l’inlassable, Paris

2015
galerie l’inlassable, Paris

2014
House of Helfa, Llandudno
Home, The Crossley Gallery, Dean Clough, Halifax
Donation Florence et Daniel Guerlain, Centre Pompidou, Paris

2013
Friends and Family, Eva Hober galerie, Paris
Utopie Picturale, Ville Dutoit, Geneva
Galerie Charlotte Moser, Geneva
Galerie Nosbaum and Reding, Luxembourg

2011
The Painter, the Draughtsman, the Dealer and their Lovers, Voges Gallery, Frankfurt am Main
Gallery Artists, Wittenbrink Gallery, Munich

2010
Works on paper, Galerie Charlotte Moser, Geneva

2009
Fate and Freewill, Cas, New York

2008
Hope and Despair, curated by Bob Matthews, Cell Project Space, London
Philippe Cognee & James Rielly, Galerie Sollertis, Toulouse

2007
El rey de la casa (King of the house), Palau de la Virreina, Barcelona
Paper Baglady and Other Stories, Timothy Taylor Gallery, London

2006
World-Gone-Mad, curated by Bob Matthews, Herbert Read Gallery, Canterbury
Castlefield Gallery, Manchester; Limehouse Arts Foundation, London

2005
XS, Galeria Distrito Cu4tro, Madrid
Spoilt Rotten, Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown
(…) The duck was still alive, Abbaye Saint-Andre, Centre d’art contemporain, Meymac

2004
Contre-Images, Carré d’Art, Nimes
Summertime in the City, Archimedes Staffolini Gallery, Athens

2003
Outlook, curated by Christos Joachimedes, Benaki Museum, Athens (cat.).
Anthropography, Frissiras collection, The Frissiras Museum, Athens
Child in Time: views of contemporary artists on youth and adolescence, Gemeentemuseum Helmond
Childhood, CASA Centro de Arte de Salamanca
Telling Stories, Vedanta Gallery, Chicago
Il Grande Freddo, curated by Luca Beatrice, In Dres, Turin
Once Again, curated by Jane Harris in collaboration with Stephen Foster, Director, John Hansard Gallery, Southampton (cat.).

2002
Portraits, Edward Mitterand Gallery, Geneva
Intimacy, Russell-Coates Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth
Disturb, 1st Public School of Hydra, Hydra
La tête de l’emploi, organised by FRAC Auvergne, Centre Culturel Valery Larbaud
Fame and Promise, 14 Wharf Road, London

2001
Snakes, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails, Nikolai Fine Art, New York
Love You Always, Damasquine Gallery, Brussels
Strictly Painting II, Voges & Deisen Gallery, Frankfurt am Main

2000
The Double, The Lowry Art Centre, Salford, Manchester
La Spiritualità Nell’ Arte’ Da Boccioni a Serrano, Santuario di Oropa, Biella
James Rielly, Sophie von Hellermann, Markus Vater, Pat O’Connor, Jeffrey Dennis, Timothy Taylor Gallery, London
Drawings, Spencer Brownstone Gallery, New York
Y2K Fine Arts from the UK, Archemedes Staffolini Gallery, Nicosia

1999
(Corps) Social, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris
Arts Council Collection, Towner Art Gallery and Museum, Eastbourne
Growing Up Post Modern, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal
Fresh Paint, Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow
British Portrait 1 – James Rielly, Studio d’Arte Raffaelli, Trento

1998
Sorted, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham
Tell Me a Story: Narration in Contemporary Painting and Photography, Magasin – Centre National d’Art Contemporain, Grenoble

1997
Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection, Royal Academy of Arts, London
Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin
Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn (cat.)
Les Péchés Capitaux: La Gourmandise, Musée National d!Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
Afternoon in the Park, Laurent Delaye Gallery, London
B.O.N. GO, Bricks and Kicks, Vienna
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich
Pure Fantasy, Oriel Mostyn Gallery, Llandudno
Men on Women, Oriel Gallery Theatre, Clwd

1996
Galerie de la Tour, Amsterdam
Whitechapel Gallery Open, Delfina Studios Trust, London

1995
John Moores Liverpool Exhibition 19, Liverpool
Making it: process and participation, Tate Gallery, Liverpool
Galerie Wittenbrinck, Munich

1994
Gilmour Gallery, London
The Fete Worse than Death, Laurent Delaye Gallery, London

1993
East, Norwich Gallery, Norwich

1992
London Buddhist Centre, London

1991
Britannia Works, London

1989
Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin

1987
Carlile Gallery, London
Christopher Hull Gallery, London

1986
Groucho Club, London
Recent Acquisitions Show, Art Association Gallery and Museum, Provincetown

1985
Bayer Gallery, Provincetown
New Figurations, Hudson D. Walker Gallery, Provincetown

1984
Hudson D. Walker Gallery, Provincetown, Massachusetts
Art Association Gallery and Museum, Provincetown, Massachusetts

1983
New Heritage – Welsh Arts Council, Oriel Gallery, Cardiff

Public Collections

Arts Council of England

Dakis Joannou Collection, Athens

Fonds National d’Art Contemporain

Frissiras Collection, Athens

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes

Saatchi Collection, London

Sintra Museo de Arte Moderna

Tate Gallery, London

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh

La Collection du FRAC d’Auvergne

National Museum of Wales, Cardiff

CASA Salamanca

The Deutsche Bank Collection

Wurth Collection

Catalogues and Publications

2010
Spirits in the sky, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich

2008
James Rielly: Things that go bump in the day, Studio d’Arte Raffaelli, Trento

2006
Richer, Francesca, Rosenzweig, Matthew, eds. No 1: First Works by 362 Artists
Painting People, Charlotte Mullins, Thames and Hudson
James Rielly, Watercolours, essay by Martin Herbert. Timothy Taylor gallery, Galeria Ramis Barquet

2005
Happy Birthday: 25 Years of Contemporary Art in the Deutsche Bank, James Rielly’Birdbox, 2003, colour illustrations, p.189.
Life of Rielly, essay by Marc Oivier Wahler, Timothy Taylor Gallery, London

2004
Contre-Images, essays by Régis Durand, Françoise Cohen and Daniel Buren, Carré d’Art, Nîmes

2003
James Rielly, essay by Roy Exley, Distrito Cu4tro, Madrid
Outlook, curated by Christos Joachimedes, Benaki Museum, Athens

2002
James Rielly, interview by Maite Lorés and essay by Dan Fox, Centro de Arte de Salamanca
James Rielly, essay by Jean-Charles Vergne, FRAC d’Auvergne

2001
James Rielly, essay by Dan Fox, Timothy Taylor Gallery

2000
James Rielly, essay by Emma Anderson, Oriel Mostyn Gallery
The Double, essays by Emma Anderson, Gilda Williams, The Lowry Art Centre
5,6,7,8,9,0 – CAN, essay by Marc Olivier Wahler, Centre d’Art Neuchatel
La Spiritualita nell!Arte Da Boccioni a Serrano, essay by Alberto Fiz
The Saatchi Gift to the Arts Council Collection, The Arts Council of England, London
James Rielly, Vergne, Jean-Charles (ed.), La Collection du FRAC d’Auvergne 1900-2000, FRAC d’Auvergne

1999
(Corps) Social, L!Ensba, essay by Éric de Chassey Sorted, essay by Dave Freck, Ikon Gallery
Tell Me A Story, essay by Yves Aupetitallot, Le Magasin Centre National d’Art Contemporain, Grenoble
Cork, Richard, Young British Art: The Saatchi Decade, Booth-Clibborn Editions, London
A Companion Guide to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

1997
Sensation: Young British Artists from The Saatchi Collection(exhibition catalogue), texts by Brooks Adams, Norman Rosenthal, Richard Shone, Martin Maloney and Lisa Jardine, London: Thames and Hudson in association with the Royal Academy of Arts
Sensible Ways, essays by Stuart Morgan, Arielle Pélanc, La Salle Blanche, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes
Jerwood Painting Prize !97, text by Judith Bumpus, Jerwood Foundation