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Frank Horvat

FRANK HORVAT

Vraies Semblances, 1981 - 1986 Galerie Lelong 18 June–10 October 2020 38 Avenue Matignon, Paris
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The idea of referring to famous master-pieces probably came to me from a thought that had often crossed my mind—on the subway, for instance—when glancing at some woman who struck me as particularly beautiful, but who didn’t seem conscious of her beauty, and whom a fashion editor would never have allowed me to photograph for a magazine, although I could easily imagine her in a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens or Ingres. I visualised them in the costume and with the hairstyle of one of those periods, or even naked in some mythological scene: partly because I like fantasising about bygone ages, but more because, as a photographer, I prefer discovering unexpected beauties, rather than celebrating those that, in my eyes, are somewhat devalued by general admiration. I have to admit that in the beginning I wasn’t a great connoisseur of classical painting. But little by little, as this game of associations went on and as the project took shape, I began to revisit museums and to assemble a small library of art books, which in turn helped to feed my phantasies.

—Frank Horvat

Frank Horvat was born in 1928 in Abbazia, Italy. He has lived in Switzerland, India, England, France and the United States. His career as a photographer was influenced in 1950 by a meeting with Henri Cartier-Bresson, who determined him to adopt the Leica and undertake a two-year trip to Asia as a freelance photojournalist. The black and white images he produced there earned him his first successes—including participation in the exhibition The Family of Man at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In the 1960s, he gained international recognition for his innovative fashion photography. His eclectic work combines photojournalism, fashion, landscape and portraiture, as well as street photography and essays on nature and sculpture. Since the 1980s, he has devoted himself almost exclusively to personal projects. The most famous are: Portraits d’arbres, Vraies Semblances, New York up and down, Les sculptures de Degas, Figures romanes… His photographs are now part of the collections of prestigious museums: Musée d’art moderne de la Ville de Paris, Centre Pompidou, Paris, MoMA, New York, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Musée Galliera, Paris, Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris.

The series ‘Vraies Semblances’ will be the subject of a book to be published in October by Xavier Barral Editions

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About the Artist

Frank Horvat, born on 28 April 1928 in Abbazia, Italy (now Opatija, Croatia), is a French photograph. He lives and works in Boulogne-sur-Seine. His meeting with Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1950 was crucial for his career. His work is part of the Edward Steichen’s exhibition The Family of Man at the MoMa, New York. In the 1960s, he became internationally known for his fashion photographies.

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Also Exhibiting at Galerie Lelong

All Exhibitions
David Nash
DAVID NASH Catching Forms. Wood to Bronze Galerie Lelong 10 September–10 October 2026 13 Rue de Téhéran, Paris
Barthélémy Toguo
BARTHÉLÉMY TOGUO The Nomadic Studio Galerie Lelong 10 September–10 October 2026 13 Rue de Téhéran, Paris
About the Gallery
Galerie Lelong is located in Paris and New York. It was founded by Jacques Dupin, Daniel Lelong and Jean Frémon.

The Paris gallery has been exhibiting recent works from artists of international standing since 1981. The 1980s were notable for artists who went on to become household names, including Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Francis Bacon, Louise Bourgeois, Eduardo Chillida, Paul Rebeyrolle, Pierre Alechinsky, but also for the next generation of artists: Konrad Klapheck, Jan Dibbets, Donald Judd, Robert Ryman, Richard Serra, Jannis Kounellis, Arnulf Rainer, Nicola De Maria and Jan Voss.

In the 1990s, the gallery hosted artists who represented major movements in contemporary art: Sean Scully, Günther Förg, Andy Goldsworthy, Ernest Pignon-Ernest, Antonio Saura. The gallery also increased international recognition of the work of Ana Mendieta.

Since the turn of the century, Galerie Lelong has accentuated the geographical and expressive diversity of its artists: from sculpture and objects by Jaume Plensa, David Nash, Wolfgang Laib, Kiki Smith, Rebecca Horn, Barry Flanagan to installations by Barthélémy Toguo and Lin Tianmiao, without forgetting painting, namely David Hockney, Robert Motherwell, Kate Shepherd, Nalini Malani, Nancy Spero, Juan Uslé, Leon KossoffLeon Kossoff.

Galerie Lelong has a large publishing department which produces and distributes engravings, lithographs, digital prints and multiple objects, and collates these works in catalogues raisonnés.

It produces monumental sculptures to order for public spaces and private clients.

The gallery is present at the leading international contemporary art fairs (Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, Art Basel Hong Kong, Fiac Paris, Frieze London, Frieze New York, Arco Madrid, Art Brussels, Expo Chicago...).

The directors of the gallery are Jean Frémon, Daniel Lelong and Patrice Cotensin in Paris and Mary Sabbatino in New York.
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Address
38 avenue Matignon
Paris
France
Opening Hours
Tues - Sat, 11am - 7pm
(1)
Paris 38 avenue Matignon
Galerie Lelong contemporary art gallery in 38 Avenue Matignon Paris France
Galerie Lelong
38 avenue Matignon, Paris, France
+33 171 722 699
http://www.galerie-lelong.com

Opening hours
Tues - Sat, 11am - 7pm
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