‘Vive La France’ Postmodern French Culture
by David Lee
David Lee
Born in Doncaster in the fifties David Lee flew the nest at a young age to set up
residence in London, which heralded a new phase in his life, as he discovered
London’s burgeoning hippy scene. However, during his early thirties, his love affair
with France began with the marriage of his French wife.
Inspired by modern French painters, particularly Cézanne, his exploration of the
forthright nude and his radical brush strokes were the first step toward Impressionism.
Lee’s paintings are inspired not only from the South of France and Paris but from the
era between the 1920’s and 50’s, which is a common theme in all of his work.
Lee readily adopted the cafe culture of our continental cousins where Paris seized
him. Spending so much time in the City of Lights, enjoying such impassioned
vibrancy, the cafes were the creative enclaves where his artistry was honed. His work
embodies a delightful image of French café culture. The distinction from Lee’s work
is how he captures this hustle and bustle of Parisian cafés giving us canvases splashed
with vivid colour, radiating gaiety and the joy of life.
A second love interest later developed and this new ménage-a-trois between London,
Paris and the South of France was a source of nouveau inspiration. With a palette full
of colour from the warm South, Lee has brought back from the azure shore paintings
that palpitate with hot sunlight and dazzle with their audacious colour.
Exclusively for Graffik Gallery David Lee has also painted a series of French inspired
pop-art portraits.
‘Vive La France’ 26 April – 9 May 2012
Daily 11am to 6pm
“Madame Hepburn”
Enamel on Canvas
80 x 80 cm
£ 800
“La Chaise”
Enamel on Canvas
60 x 60 cm
£ 500
“Oh La La”
Oil on Canvas
60 x 60 cm
£ 500
“La Tease”
Enamel on Canvas
50 x 76 cm
£ 500
“L´apéritif”
Enamel on Canvas
60 x 60 cm
£ 500
“Madame Bardot”
Enamel on Canvas
50 x 76 cm
£ 800
“Monsieur Chaplin”
Enamel on Canvas
60 x 90 cm
£ 800
”Bleu”
Oil on Canvas
50 x 60 cm
£ 500
“The Dressing Room”
Oil on Canvas
60 x 60 cm
£ 500
“Cutouts”
Acrylic on Canvas
60 x 70 cm
£ 600
“Le Fumeur”
Enamel on Canvas
76 x 50 cm
£ 800
“Le Café”
Enamel on Canvas
90 x 90 cm
£ 1250
“Le Bar”
Enamel on Canvas
100 x 100 cm
£ 1500
“Girl in Blue Stockings” - Sold
Oil on Canvas
50 x 60 cm
£ 500
“Monsieur Napoleon”
Enamel on Canvas
70 x 70 cm
£ 800
“Monsieur Kennedy”
Enamel on Canvas
60 x 90 cm
£ 800
“Le Rendez-Vous”
Oil on Canvas
70 x 70 cm
£ 800
“Monsieur Dean”
Enamel on Canvas
70 x 90 cm
£ 800
“Monsieur Dean II”
Enamel on Canvas
80 x 80 cm
£ 800
“Rouge”
Oil on Canvas
60 x 80 cm
£ 800
“Madame Monroe”
Enamel on Canvas
60 x 90 cm
£ 800
“Monseiur Brando”
Enamel on Canvas
70 x 90 cm
£ 800
“Le Cabaret”
Oil on Canvas
59 x 83 cm
£ 800
“Sépia”
Acrylic on Canvas
60 x 70 cm
£ 600
“Avant la Soirée”
Acrylic on Canvas
60 x 70 cm
£ 600
“Le Charme”
Enamel on Canvas
70 x 50 cm
£ 500
“Monokini”
Oil on Canvas
70 x 70 cm
£ 500
“Seduction”
Enamel on Canvas
84 x 59 cm
£ 800
“La Brasserie”
Enamel on Canvas
90 x 60 cm
£ 800
“Paris Nights”
Enamel on Canvas
90 x 70 cm
£ 1000
“Deux Femmes”
Oil on Canvas
50 x 70 cm
£ 500
“French Mistress”
Oil on Canvas
84 x 59 cm
£ 800