Michel Averseng
Encyclopedia
Artistic career
Averseng studied at the School of Fine ArtsÉcole des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
of Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, then within Marcel Gimond
Marcel Gimond
Marcel Gimond was a French sculptor born in the Ardèche region of France.Gimond first studied at the Beaux-Arts Academy in Lyon and was the student in turn of both Aristide Maillol and Auguste Rodin. Gimond was an influential Professor at the Paris Beaux -Arts until 1960...
's studio at the National Superior School of Fine Arts in Paris.
Averseng then fulfilled his national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. After returning to France, he was awarded several prizes, including from the Renault Foundation, and a scholarship from the Japanese government.
Averseng lived in Japan for two years, during which he created the monumental sculpture Okasan and Akachan for the Masuda Studio of Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. This work gave Averseng the opportunity to be come acquainted with bronze foundry work. Averseng traveled in East Asia, including Cambodia, then lived for two years in Australia.
Averseng returned to France in 1971, where he continued to sculpt. His work has been exhibited in Paris and many other French cities. In 1978, Averseng built his own foundry.
In the 1990s, Averseng taught sculpture and drawing in Chaville
Chaville
Chaville is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Nearest communes:*Meudon*Sèvres*Vélizy-Villacoublay*Viroflay*Ville-d'Avray....
. In 2002, he moved to the south of France near his home town of Toulouse, where he continued to sculpt.
Prizes
Averseng has been awarded many prestigious prizes:- Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
, Académie des Beaux-Arts
Académie des beaux-arts
The Académie des Beaux-Arts is a French learned society. It is one of the five academies of the Institut de France.It was created in 1795 as the merger of the:* Académie de peinture et de sculpture...
: Claude Raphaël Leygue's prize, Hector Lefuel's prize, Eugène Piot's prize
- Salon des Artistes Français: Honor Medal (2000)
- Fondation Taylor: Charles Malfray's prize, Taylor's prize, André Graëc's grand prize (2006)
- Sculpture prize at [Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine] exhibition
- Académie du Languedoc (wiki in French): Carlo Sarrrabezolles' prize (2006)
- 16th Salon national des Peintres de l'Armée aux Invalides: Sculpture prize (2009)
Organizational work
Averseng is a member of the board of the Society of Visual Artists (ADAGP) ), the organization charged with protecting French artists' rights and royalties, and is president of the sculpture division.For many years, Averseng has been active in organizing the Salon, the annual exhibition of the Society of French Artists (established 1881). On January 19, 2010, Averseng was elected vice president of the Society.