Cécile Pitois
Cécile Pitois investigates the relationship between living beings and the spaces that surround them. Her works explore the links between the physical and mental apprehension of the world, between the material and the immaterial. This approach is materialized through various work processes and media: public art projects, collaborative work and contexts, sculptures, photographs, sound work and installations.
Since the 1990s, through her various creative artworks in France, her studies for the city of New York, a series of projects in Saxe-Anhalt and three new pieces for social housing projects in Brussels, the artist Cécile Pitois has been developing an entire thought process focusing on notions of the city and public space. Her sculptural creations, entitled Sculptures à Souhait – Wishful Sculptures – are based on invented, fictional tales that fire the imagination and encourage new readings of the given location and new types of social appropriation. The resulting artistic gesture can be likened to an offering made to the city. At the same time this mark of generosity—this gift—requires a form of ritual and social exchange.
CURRICULUM VITAE
From 1992 to 1995 Cécile Pitois lived in Rennes (France) and Dresden (Germany), and between 1995 and 1998 in London (U.K.) – studio in Brick Lane and Catherine Grove Studio-Deptford. Since February 1998, she lived and worked in Tours (France), and then in the United States, Germany, England and India. Currently, Cécile Pitois’ studio is in Indre et Loire in the Centre Val de Loire Region, France.
Public Art Commissions
Public Art Research Projects
2022 | Finalist, City commission L’Arbresle
2022 | Finalist, Commission 1% Université Paul Sabatier , Toulouse
2019 | Commissioned study pending, Marray, Indre et Loire
2018 | Étude-projets Art Public, Résidence de 6 semaines, San Francisco, U.S.A.
2017 | Résidence étude-projets Art Public, Lycée Français et I.F.P., Pondichéry, Inde
2015 | Lauréate Concours / Herrenkrugpark, Magdeburg, Allemagne / Commande non Réalisé
2015 | Finalist, Commande 1% collège public à Savenay
2014 | Finalist, Commande 1% Collège public à Clisson
2010 | Résidence étude-projets Art Public, Bauhaus, Sachsen-Anhalt, Allemagne
2007 | Résidence étude-projets dans l’espace urbain, New York, U.S.A.
Private Commissions
” ( + + – ) ” | Permanent installation, Domaine Yon Figeac, St Emilion, 2014
Intuition(s) | Permanent installation, Banque Populaire, Tours, France, 2012
Réseau(x) | Permanent installation, Entreprise Facedim, Châtellerault, France, 2007
Signatures | Permanent installation, Entreprise G & F, Saint Pierre-des-Corps, France, 2006
Intuition(s) | Public commission, Lycée Agricole, Fondettes, France, 2003
Group Exhibitions -- Selected
2023 | Archipel(s), Works in collaboration with the composer Stevie Wishart | l’AFIAC homestay | Fiac, France
2019 | Some of Us | Kunstwerk Carlshütte | Büdelsdorf, Germany
2018 | 30 Œuvres d’Art Public en Indre et Loire, CAUE | La Laverie | La Riche, France
2008 | Seven-Sept-Sieben | Sachsen-Anhalt Representation | Brussels, Belgium
2006 | Artistes-entreprises | C.C.C. | Tours, France
2005 | Artistes-entreprises, Project review #1 | C.C.C. | Chambre de commerce | Tours, France
2005 | Perspectives Lumineuses | Jour de Loire, Collaboration with l’atelier vitrail Debitus – Candes-St Martin, France
2003 | A comme Anatomie | Galerie Duchamp | Yvetot, France
2002 | Groupe Laura | Eternal Network | Conservatoire National | Tours, France
2001 | East of Eden | Spacex Gallery – Exeter | UK
1999 | Séjour 1999 | Parc Saint-Léger | Centre d’Art Contemporain, Pougues-les-Eaux, France. Catologue, interview with Emmanuelle Chérel
1998 | Courant d’art | Deauville, France
1998 | La vitrine | Carte Blanche for a year at Centre de Création Contemporaine | Tours, France
1997 | Artothèque de l’École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts du Mans, Le Mans, France
1997 | April Session | ICA Gallery | Londres, UK
1997 | Crow Gallery | Tewkesbury, UK
1997 | Parlement Européen | Brussels, Belgium
1996 | Open | Whitechapel Gallery | Londres, UK
1996 | Open studios | Catherine Grove | Londres, UK
1993 | In-Ex | La Pléïade | La Riche, France
1993 | Château de St Suzanne | Sainte Suzanne, France
1992 | V.V.K. Galerie | Hanovre, Germany
Residencies, Grants, Prizes
2024 | Grant et Résidency, Été Culturel, Birdwatching and artistic practices with Gypsies in Brenne
2023 | Research Grant + Exhibition, Eté Culturel – Eugénie dans les Campagnes in l’Ile Bouchard, Indre et Loire
2022 | Grant et Résidency + Exhibition at Créalab-Fablab, Graulhet, Région Occitanie
2021 | Lauréate FRAC – experimental approaches between art and architecture
Grant – women artists and architects from the region Centre-Val de Loire
2021-2022 | Grant et Résidency in Sachsen-Anhalt (Kunststiftung des Landes and Coopération Région Centre) – Sound Sculpture project Clouds are the Roots of our Earth, Germany
2019-2020 | Residency High House, Anthony Gormley, West Acre, Norfolk, U.K.
2017-2018 | Research Grant and Residency in Public Art , Pondichéry, India
2018 | Research and Residency in Public Art, San Francisco, U.S.A.
2013 | Grand Prix Victor Martiny des Règles d’or de l’Urbanisme, Brussels, Belgium
2011 | Residency La Métive with choreographer Daniel Linehan, Moutier-d’Ahun, France
2010 | Bauhaus Residency, Sculptures à Souhait, Dessau, Germany
2009 | Collaboration Rays of Space, Choregraphy: Kota Yamazaki, Danspace, New York, U.S.A.
2009 | Research Grant for Public Art Studies, Kunststiftung Sachsen-Anhalt and Coopération Région Centre, Germany
1999 | FIACRE Research Grant for a project in Southern India, French Ministry of Cultural Affairs, India
1999 | Artist in Residence, Séjour 1999 at Art Center Pougues-les-Eaux
1998 | Production grant, D.R.A.C. Centre (Regional Head of Cultural Affairs)
1995 | O.F.A.J. Grant, Residency Dresden Zoo, Germany
Collections
- FRAC Centre
- FRAC Poitou-Charentes
- Arthotéque, Beaux-Arts du Mans
- Agence d’Artistes, C.C.C, Tours
- Private collections
Teaching / Workshops
LECTURES
• Norwich University of the Arts invited by Carl Rowe, 2020, U.K.
• T.A.L.M., Conservation departement, Tours, 2019
• A.I.L. Architektur-Institut Leipzig invited by Andreas Wolf, Germany, 2010
• C.C.C.O.D., Contemporary Art Center, Tours, 2009
• CUNY University, Sociology department invited by Sharon Zukin, New York, 2008
• Christies Education, New York with Sharon Zukin, Wishful Sculptures Studies in NY, 2007
• Christies Education, New York, 2006
• École des Beaux-Arts du Mans, 2002
• École Supérieure d’Art et Céramique de Tarbes, 2002
• École des Beaux-Arts de Tours, lecture and open studio to students for a month, 1999
ART COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES
- Sculpture Installation Professor: Ecole Prépart, Paris, 2008-2009
Preparatory programme (foundation year) for art schools (fine arts, design, applied arts and architecture) - Workshops: Technical approaches to casting, Flexible casts (latex, elastomers…), rigid plaster moulds, principles of undercut casting
- Guest Artist: Jury Atelier « Architecture et anthropologie », ULB Faculté d’Architecture La Cambre
Horta, Belgique, 2010 - Jury and critique of students’ work, École des Beaux-Arts du Mans, 2002
- Video workshop with students from Ecole Supérieure d’Art de Tarbes and St Gaudens’ exhibition, 1997
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
- Applied Arts teacher S.T.D.2.A.: Lycée Choiseul, Tours, 2014-2015
- Applied Arts teacher : Professional High School, Amboise, 2002-2006 Graphic design, interior design and industrial design class
- Fine arts teacher: Lycée Rabelais, Chinon, 2001-2002
- Substitute teacher in fine arts and applied arts for middle schools and high schools, 2000-2001
- Workshop Leader, Collection d’Art Contemporain, Château d’Oiron, 1993-1994
- Studio tours for children, Residency in Centre d’Art Contemporain, Pougues-les-Eaux
- Lecture at I.U.F.M. ( Primary teacher training college), Nevers, 1999
- Guest artist for an artistic project in Three Mills Park, London, 2001 Themes: stained glass, ex-voto (plaster imprints) and odorous sculptures
PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS AND ART CLASSES
- Sculpture classes, École Municipale d’Arts Plastiques, St Cyr-sur-Loire, 1998 / Primary, art foundation and adults students.
- Art classes for students in Greenwich/Lewisham/Blackheath/Londres, 1996
- Workshops in Prison, Le Mans, 1991-92
- Drawing and sculpture classes for children, Playground d’Hackney, Londres, 1990
OTHER
- Médiatrice Tout Public au Centre de Création Contemporaine à Tours
- Assistante montage expositions aux Beaux-Arts et la Ville du Mans
- Atelier résidente à Catherine Grove Studio à Londres, 1995-1997
- Échange scolaire avec Wolverhampton Polytechnic Art School, Grande-Bretagne, 1989
Education
Diplome Universitaire Médiation-Production en Arts Contemporains, Université Lille, France, 2022
D.N.S.E.P., Master of Fine Arts, École Supérieure Beaux-Arts du Mans, France, 1992
Échange avec Polytechnic Art School, Wolverhampton, Grande-Bretagne, 1989
Visual Arts Degree, Université Rennes II, 1993
Language skills: Fluent English / Elementary German
Continuing Professional Education:
- Advanced training with composite material in sculpture technique, Leafy, Nantes, 2021
- Advanced training in screen printing technique, Grenade, 2021
- Introductory course in glass techniques, Arcam Glass, Nantes, 2021
- Introductory course in glass techniques, Arcam Glass, Nantes, 2020
- Ceramic casting technical course, A.A.C., Tours, 2018
- Advanced foundry technical course, Montolieu, 2000
- Teacher training
course, I.P.E.C., Tours, 1995 - Art Therapy (1st year), AFRATAPEM, Tours, 1994
- Stone carving course (granite), Études et Chantiers, Rennes, 1993