Louis Levacher

Louis Levacher (1934, Fécamp - 1983, Harfleur ) was a French painter and sculptor.

Levacher family

Levacher family is known as the archives of Contremoulins from the eighteenth century and seems to come from Valmont. Subsequently, the old branch moved to Montivilliers and the new branches to Criquebeuf en Caux, Yport, Saint-Valery-en-Caux and Fécamp. First miller and farmer, living hard, the cadet will Levacher tailpiece. Gradually, under the Restoration, they become merchants and shipowners. Their inclusion in the local petty bourgeoisie will fast and last a little less than a century.

Levacher Louis (1877–1949), shipowner and merchant, will cross the medalist Verdun and will his wife, Marguerite Grivel, the management of his business. His son, Louis (1911–1988) had a smudge, whose buildings still belong in part to the family. He married Denise Thomas1913–2003), a seamstress, whose family, originally from Doudeville is known since the seventeenth century.

His life

Louis (1934–1983), their only child, driver will work, but also a painter and sculptor. Time he worked for his father. Recognized in Normandy and beyond for his art, he will never make a fortune, but with his wife Michèle they had an undeniable approach avant-garde and original. Louis was six years before the Second World War during which his parents divorced. The activity of his grandfather still works and his father is slowed by the departure of one of the war in 1939 . After the war, Louis must go in Algeria . It is also at this time that he married Michèle Moreau (1942–2012). They had three children. Wanting the family tradition that the eldest was named after Louis was respected. The professional activity of fishing is abandoned by the descendants of Louis (1911–1988), although fishing is still a passion. The artistic activity of Louis (1934–1983) will be an important influence in the family. Michèle exhibited in various places, even in the Basque country. Her daughter also specialized in collage and sculpture, exposing the region several times.

The painting

Louis's artistic practice includes several techniques such as painting or sculpture. His paintings, mixed figurative and abstract, often use large formats. His sculptures mix genres, mainly used with wood, representing Saints or turning into totem richly decorated and filled with details. At first, the couple remained somewhat misunderstood if we believe some local newspaper articles talking about "greasy spoon" style more inclined to Paris Salon. In fact, the originality comes from the use of recycled materials, but also the thinking that lies behind this art. Michele, for example, realized large tapestries with driftwood, bones polished seawater (collected on the beaches), etc..

Exhibitions in France

• Biennale of Saint-Brieuc
• Salon de Rouen
• Salon de la Jeune Sculpture, Paris
• UHAP Salon, Le Havre
• Great Salon and Youth of Today, Paris
• Living in the city of Le Havre
• Salon d'Automne, Paris
• SAD Salon, Paris
• Salon Grand Quevilly
• Salon de Montrouge, Trappes
• Principle Gallery, Paris
• Laubie Gallery, Paris
• Beauvau Gallery, Paris
• Galerie de France, Paris
• Gallery "The Duplex," Le Havre
• Centre of Art and Culture, Castle Vascœuil
• Cultural Centre in Val Sandstone, Bolbec
• Centre d'Art Contemporain de Rouen and Abbey Ourville
• Museum Menton
• Museum of the Future, Paris
• Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris
• National Library, Paris
• Library Vichy
• Library of Rouen
• Maison de la Culture in Le Havre
• "Horizon Youth", Grand Palais, Paris
• Espace Cardin, Paris
• "50 polychrome sculptures," Forume of Beaubourg, Paris
• "International Exhibition of sculpture," Le Vaudreuil

Exhibitions abroad

• Show Mouscron, Belgium
• Royal Windsor Gallery, Brussels
• University of Heidelberg, Germany
• "Research and Expression" exhibition, the United States and Japan
• Assessment of Contemporary Art, Quebec
• Zoetermeer, Netherlands

Sources

• Documentation belonging to the family Levacher.
• Documentation belonging to the family Grivel
• Leopold Soublin, One Hundred Years of fishing in Newfoundland, 1991
• Municipal Archives and Contremoulins Fécamp