Fabien Dettori, born in 1971, is a French artist who blurs the lines between painting and photography with seamless grace. Raised by a painter mother and a photographer father, Dettori’s inclination towards merging these mediums was practically destiny.
Initially, Dettori embarked on a career as a photojournalist, capturing moments that tell stories. Through collaborations with renowned photographers like Paolo Roversi, Jean Paul Goude, and Dominique Issermann, he honed his craft and delved into fashion photography, where he became adept at capturing the essence of figures.
However, it was his desire to delve deeper into expression that led him to transition into the realm of fine art. Now fully committed to his artistic pursuits, Dettori crafts works that convey complex emotions, leveraging his background in both photography and painting.
With notable exhibitions lined up, including a significant solo show during Berlin Gallery Weekend at the Bermel von Luxburg Gallery, Dettori’s art is gaining well-deserved recognition. His permanent display at Nicolas Auvray Gallery in NYC’s Chelsea further cements his presence in the art world, while recent success at events like the Wynwood Art Fair in Miami indicates a promising trajectory in the American art market.
What’s particularly striking is the rapid embrace of Dettori’s work by American collectors, with an impressive 70% of his pieces already finding new homes. This enthusiastic reception speaks volumes about the universal appeal and emotive resonance of his art.
Looking ahead, Dettori’s journey continues with two solo exhibitions confirmed in Paris at the Galerie Chapon, coinciding with internationally renowned art fairs.
We are so glad to have had the chance to interview Fabien.
1. What got you into art? How has your style changed?
My mother is a painter and my father is a photography enthusiast so I grew up into a very artistic environment. I’ve been dragged since my prime into museums. I started my career as a press photographer when I was 15. Then I moved into fashion photography. At one point I was looking for something more deep, more personal so I decided to quit and to restart everything by going into art. My work is a mix between photography and painting. They are my roots.
2. Can you explain how you make art, start to finish?
I can’t explain how I make art. Francis Bacon used to say that trying to explain inspiration is like trying to explain the instinct. I just can’t stop working. It’s a need like breathing. It’s a 24/7job. Every part of my day has an influence on my creativity. There is no rule. There is a quote that I like who says “learn your classics and create your own rules “
3. What do you often talk about in your art?
There is a lot of references into my work. The Kintsugi Japanese art for example. I fix my torn Polaroid with gold to highlight the preciousness of time. The Wabi Sabi philosophy is also very present in my still life. My main goal is to catch the invisible. The poetry of a hand that touches a hip, an everyday gesture that escapes all control, a wild grass lost on a sidewalk, a rusty can of Coca Cola found on a beach in Normandy…poetry is everywhere. You just need to be hypersensitive to see it and try to catch it. My world is a world of interpretation, everything can tell me a story. A souvenir is an interpretation of reality, a painting is also a personal interpretation. I think that what moves me it is the interpretation. It becomes very personal and intimate.
4. Have you worked with others? How did it help?
I work with models. It is a real artistic collaboration. I don’t want them to pose or faking emotions. We talk a lot before the shooting to create an intimate link. I ask them to live the moment and to dig as deeper as possible into their own feelings. To be emotionally naked is much more difficult than to be physically naked. For most of them it is an overwhelming experience. I am looking for the true poetry of emotions and sometimes you have to go into the dark sides to find it. It is a quest of intensity. I am documenting life. And I truely believe that the audience unconsciously feel that and that’s may be why my work finds an echo. Emotion is a universal language.
