Turf One is somewhat obsessed with Victorian-looking midgets sporting dandy facial hair, Russian icons, dead things of all sorts, carnival sideshows and seedy vermin-infested theatre stages. Technically, his paintings are reminiscent of the 15th century Flemish Primitives. Kind of.
Jean Labourdette, as his mom still likes to call him, has forged a unique artistic vision and signature aesthetic over years of compulsive creation. In the late eighties he began his journey on the streets of Paris as a graffiti artist renowned for his distinctive and surreal characters.
Over the years, Jean evolved into a prolific and sought-after multidisciplinary artist working as an illustrator, comic artist, filmmaker and painter. Today, he spends most of his time painting in a messy studio that Bacon would have been proud of, sipping on espressos and wine and talking to himself.
Turf One’s work has appeared the world over and has hung in such prestigious venues as Yves Laroche Gallery (Montreal), Jonathan LeVine Gallery (New York), Roq La Rue Gallery (Seattle), Fuse Gallery (New York), the Halle St-Pierre Museum (Paris), Copro Gallery (Los Angeles), the Miami Art Basel, the L.A MOCA, the LA Art Show and many others.
Images courtesy of Turf One
Discover: jeanlabourdette.com
