Meet Arghaël | Painter-Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Arghaël and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arghaël, what do you attribute your success to?
I think success starts with your own personal story and the confidence you build up early on. I was lucky to grow up in Paris, surrounded by art. My mother was a sculptor and often took me to the Louvre and the Rodin Museum where we would spend hours gazing at those bronze giants. I was so engrossed by these powerful, towering bodies that in my twenties, I studied anatomy to become a physical therapist.

Life decided differently: my second passion was American cinema and led me to work at Dubois, a renowned special effects studio, where I became a visual artist.
One turning point was to work there alongside award-winning director Jean-Pierre Jeunet on his acclaimed films “Amélie” and «Alien: Resurrection”. He was the one who inspired me to film commercials and artists’ portraits which met with growing success.

What proved another defining moment in my life as a -future- artist was my encounter with American painter Ron Ferri who commissioned a video portrait in 2010. Spotting charcoal drawings on my screening room walls, he expressed how they moved him, pushing me to question my own desires. I realized I no longer wanted any filters or cameras between what I saw and what I wanted to show. I left the glitz and the glam to study at the Atelier des Beaux-Arts of Paris. The day I stepped into my fist class, charcoal in hand, surrounded by live models, was the day I knew drawing, painting, exploring our naked truth as humans, would now be my life.

The Loo & Lou Gallery in Paris played a major role in my success, supporting my work for over 10 years, introducing my art in group shows and 4 solo exhibitions -Raw, Skin(s), Metamorphe(s), Under My Skin- and I am excited to have my next solo exhibition with them in 2026. Another factor was recognition from art critics, bringing visibility to my work beyond its familiar circles. When Arts in the City, one of Paris’ established art magazines, featured me in a cover story titled “Arghaël, the new Schiele?“, it was more than press, it felt like validation. This deeply affirming article undoubtedly opened doors to broader, international audiences. And allowed me and my art to travel more!

Today, I am fortunate to have collectors in Europe and the United States, including Oscar-nominated actress, artist and activist Sharon Stone. She first discovered my paintings at the home of Life magazine photographer Douglas Kirkland, and later acquired pieces from my «Raw» and «Skin(s)» exhibitions, now displayed in her home.

Ultimately, success is not a path you walk alone, it grows as you follow what life offers and feels true to you. Each choice I made – every canvas, every idea, every connection, every challenge—All mattered. All shaped me.
« Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken. » (Oscar Wilde)

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My father, an original character and industrial designer, invented my name -Arghaël- inspired by artist Philippe Druillet’s hero « Yragaël ». As a kid, I wanted to believe that this special name would set me apart and that one day, somewhere along the road, I would find my own form of artistic recognition.

That belief stayed with me as I grew, and being «different» on today’s art scene has been key to recognition. Even when abstract and Pop art were the trend, I chose against all odds to enter the renowned Atelier-des-Beaux Arts of Paris where I spent 5 years honing my drawing skills with live models. I believed in my figurative paintings and my expressionist nudes, and I still do.

15 years later, I am proud to have been accepted as a member of the respected Taylor Foundation after my portfolio was reviewed by known figures of the art world. Belonging to such a significant institution of Beaux Arts, which supports creation and awards prizes to artists, was more than an achievement in my career: it allowed me to become a part of the international family of artists in the dynamic scene of contemporary art.

My new painting -«Dance(s)»- has just been selected for the “Salon d’Automne” of Paris and will be exhibited this fall on the world-renowned Place de la Concorde before collectors and art lovers. And that’s exciting, too! It was at the Salon d’Automne, founded in 1903, that Picasso exhibited his Guernica in 1944. I am not comparing myself to Picasso, it’s just a little nod, let’s be clear!

I’ve learnt along the way that you can never stay still or feel satisfied, you are always your own challenger. Was it risky for me to leave the more lucrative world of advertising? Yes. Was it a chance for me as a human being? Definitely. Each time my hand traces lines on my blank canvas, each time I explore different artistic directions with a new exhibition in mind, I feel a form of stage fright, butterflies in my stomach, but I am embracing it all. If you feel safe in the area you are working in, you are probably not working in the right area !

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love surprises, so If my best friend Thomas were visiting Los Angeles for a long week-end, I would want to show him the places that surprised me most when I first discovered the City of Angels’ magic!

We would start downtown to see the very best of DTLA and its vibrant spirit, and we’d kick off our art adventure at The Broad, the iconic contemporary art museum and a playground for the eyes. What’s best after a feast for the eyes than a great lunch at the Grand Central Market ? Nothing. From tacos to oysters, the world of good food or bad taste is yours ! We would then wander through the Art District itself and its eclectic galleries, discovering fantastic murals along the way. But I would make sure our trip downtown would include the Corey Helford Gallery, which often exhibits whimsical yet thought-provoking contemporary art. Last but not least, we’ll end up toasting to L.A on the rooftop of one of my favorite spots there : The Perch Rooftop Bar, to spend money we don’t really have, but what a Sunset view and a special treat to say ‘Welcome to L.A. !’

To show all the contrasts L.A. has to offer, which always struck me, we would spend the next day at the very opposite of DTLA: after the Broad, the Boardwalk ! Venise Beach is a living museum, a 24-hours show by the Pacific full of extravagant creatures that you see nowhere else in the world, including “the“ spot for bodybuilders on Muscle Beach- Gold’s Gym where Arnold Schwarzenegger used to practice. Strangely enough, all these big guys always remind me of Rodin’s sculptures in many ways. To end the day, we would take a 20’ drive to the Getty Museum for its art collections, naturally, but also to discover the architectural masterpiece designed by Richard Meier, perched on a hill, surrounded by mountains, with striking gardens overlooking the Ocean.
On my friend’s last day, I would simply drive him around all day, so he could discover the many faces of L.A.: the artsy Silver Lake, the fantastic new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Wilshire Boulevard, and Beverly Hills of course but with the Golden Age Avalon Hotel as our only stop.
To make my friend’s last evening memorable, I would take him for a ‘magic hour’ experience on Mulholland Drive with its breathtaking views of the San Fernando Valley framed by the Santa Monica Mountains. Final stop: Laurel Canyon and its bohemian vibe which can still be felt at the Laurel Canyon Café, a historical spot for musicians, artists and free spirits.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If I were to dedicate my shoutout, it would without hesitation go to the Loo & Lou Gallery owners – Aurélie Deguest, an artist herself, and her husband Patrice Lucas- and its great curator Bruno Blosse. They were the ones who first saw my work, opened the doors of their prestigious gallery in the Parisian art district of the Haut Marais, and encouraged me to pursue the singular path I had chosen.

“Raw“, my first exhibition there, was not just a professional milestone: it was a defining moment that set everything in motion. Thanks to their belief in me, and the opportunities they offered me over the last 10 years, the Loo & Lou Gallery didn’t just give me a platform—they gave me confidence, visibility, and an artistic community. I owe much of my creative journey to their early support, which inspired me to pursue my art with courage and conviction.

Website: https://www.arghael.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_arghael_/?hl=fr

Other: Vimeo link :

Arghaël’s video portrait in his Paris studio with live model posing !

Image Credits
All photos credits : Arghaël

1st pic is me painting in the studio.

2. Wide shot of my solo exhibition “Under My Skin” at the Loo & Lou Gallery in Paris in 2023.

4. “Dance(s)”, Oil charcoal and pastels on linen canvas, 86 x 55 in, 2025 – Arghaël© ( This painting will be shown at the next Salon d’Automne in Paris , Place de la Concorde in October.

6. Wide shot of my solo exhibition “Under My Skin” at the Loo & Lou Gallery in Paris in 2023.

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