Biography
YZ (pronounced 'eyes') is a French street artist who gained international recognition since 2003 with her project 'Open Your Eyes'. Later, with a similar minimalist approach YZ became interested in other faces. Through small variations of line and regard appear personnel histories through the passage of time. Slavery and the struggle for civil rights in the United States, South Africa and elsewhere are subjects close to her heart and are the theme of her work.
It is for this reason that in 2009 the artist went to live in her grandfathers house in Sainte Rose. Her grandfather was a descendant of a slave and died in the year of her birth. An introspection, a symbolic return to source determined the direction of the work of the artist. Back to the roots!
YZ (b. 1975) lives and works in Montreuil near Paris. YZ primarily works as a painter producing artworks on kraft paper that can be put on city walls like posters. She is also a photographer and a video artist and she combines these medias to create multi-dimension projects.
YZ’s work has been recently exhibited at the Fondation Cartier, the French Institute in Prague, the Grand Palais in Paris and the Moscow Biennale. Her art is centered on the question of humanity and authenticity in the context of modern metropolis.More about the project WOMEN FROM ANOTHER CENTURY
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Selected Exhibitions
2011 - Le Théâtre - Back to the Roots - Auxerre (France)
2011 - Galerie La Tour - Women from another century - Paris (France)
2011 - Maison Folie de Moulins - Regards Croisés - Lille (France)
2010 - Mairie de Sainte-Rose - Back to the Roots - Guadeloupe
2010 - Biennale of Moscow (Russia)
2010 - Pierre Cardin Gallery - I love America - Paris (France)
2010 - Galerie Ligne 13 - EZP & friends - Paris (France)
2009 - Fondation Cartier - Né dans la rue - Paris (France)
2009 - French Institut - Stepanska Street Art - Prague (Cesz Republic)
2009 - Itinerrance Gallery - Seyze - Paris
2008 - Halcyon Gallery - Stencil History X - New York (USA)
2008 - Fête de l’Humanité - MAI 68 - Paris (France)
2008 - Plàtano Rock - Tape Matter Pictures - Barcelona (Spain)
2008 - Maison des Arts de Bagneux - MAI 68 - Bagneux (France)
2008 - Inoperable Gallery - Stencil History X - Vienna (Austria)
2007 - Palais de Tokyo - Stencil History X - Paris (France)
2007 - Anne Vignial Gallery - Stencil History X - Paris (France)
2007 - Itinerrance Gallery - YZ ... Open Your Eyes - Paris (France)
2007 - Univers Gallery - la rue est à nous - Paris (France)
2007 - Inoperable Gallery - C215’S MASKS ATTACK - Vienna (Austria)
2006 - Espace Les Blancs Manteaux - DITES 33 - Paris (France)
2006 - Intermedia - B GIRL B SUMMIT - Minneapolis (USA)
2006 - Asterix Gallery - FALL DOWN - New York (USA)
2004 - Projet 101 - Paris (France)
2003 - Galerie Electron Libre - Paris Pochoirs - Paris (France)
Selected Publications
Opus Délit - YZ - Critères Editions
Opus Délit - Seize - Critères Editions
Opus Délit - Philippe Bonan - Critères Editions
Paris Graffiti – Fabienne Grevy – Editions de La Martinière
Savanes urbaines – Mosko et associés - Editions Alternatives
Stencil History X - Samantha Longhi - Edition C215
In Situ – Julien Terral & Stephanie Lemoine – Edition Alternatives
Planète Graffiti – Nicholas Ganz – Edition Pyramid
Stencil Project – Edition Critères Urbanités
Nova, Zurban, atmosphere, Graffbombz, Graffit, Nxtep, Liberation, Flavor
