Young Woman in Polka Dot Skirt

Laurent Dauptain, born on March 25, 1961, in Paris, is a French painter renowned for his expressive self-portraits and diverse subject matter. He began painting at the age of six and later studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. In 1981, at 20, he held his first solo exhibition titled "Autoportraits," marking the start of a prolific exploration of his own image. Over the years, Dauptain has created more than 2,000 self-portraits, each reflecting his evolving technique and emotional depth.

Beyond self-portraits, Dauptain's oeuvre encompasses urban and industrial landscapes, seascapes, and still lifes. His works are characterized by a blend of realism and abstraction, achieved through generous paint application and visible brushstrokes. He has exhibited extensively, including solo shows at Axelle Fine Arts in New York and the Galerie Claudine Legrand in Paris. In 2012, he was awarded the Prix Fernand Cormon by the Fondation Taylor, recognizing his contributions to figurative painting.

Dauptain's paintings often capture the transient beauty of urban scenes and the introspective nature of self-examination. His recent works continue to explore these themes, with exhibitions such as "Green" in 2023 at the Galerie Oranin in Pont-l’Abbé, where he presented new self-portraits and floral compositions. Through his persistent exploration of form and emotion, Dauptain remains a significant figure in contemporary French art.