At just 24 years old, Antoine opens his Art gallery, rue Saint-Nicolas in Rouen

Rouen loves heritage, port life, armada, the sea which bathes the cliffs a few tens of kilometer. Rouen loves artists, painters who exhibit. At the existing one, comes to sneak a new gallery devoted to painting and sculpture: The Galerie L'Art des Marinesrue Saint-Nicolas.

More than a project, a dream

This gallery is the culmination of A few recent years of reflectionthe dream of Antoine Lavirotte. After his studies at IAE, an audit-management master, avenue Pasteur, he plans a career of chartered accountant.

Two years ago in the first year of the master, I understood that my passion for maritime art was the strongest. So I will open a gallery. Nevertheless, I finalized my end-of-studies diploma with a dissertation in connection with art on the theme of the Chartered Accountant Council with art galleries. To what extent supporting the accountant adapts to the different types of art galleries? This allowed me to be informed and therefore square on the legal and tax plans.

Very quickly, he understands that it is not the way he wants to take. Diving, hunting practitioner underwaterof marine archeology, grandson of an art gallery owner of Saint-Malo turned towards the sea, the young Norman of 24 years hoists the sail and goes in search of a window.

After many efforts, he found rue de la Rue de la République on rue de la République, 90 m2 for 10 years, formerly a “fish pedicure” where amateurs came to dive their feet in a 25 ° basin full of “Garra Rufas” Small teeth -free fish that feast on dead skins and other calluses. Objective for amateurs: have soft and smooth feet at the end of the session!

Teamwork

No time to waste, the time is the time to renovate the premises with family and friends. At the same time, Antoine got to know Rouen gallery owners well established and approach several painters and sculptors contemporaries of the marine universe.

On 25 positive contacts – difficult choice – it retains 17, technically good, strong of a personal style and never represented in Rouen. Normans, Bretons, Charentais and Parisians. “These are all artists already consecrated,” emphasizes Antoine, painters, sculptors, master ceramists, some are Official Navy Paintersother members of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of the Sea or even members of the National Society of Fine Arts. Their personal and artistic experience will also be summarized for each of them on the gallery site. Official Painters of the Navy: Olivier Desvaux, Marie Détrée, Jonathan Florent, Young Man Kwon and Sylvie du Plessis ”.

80 works permanently

We will find at the gallery around 80 works of art permanently, gouaches at € 500, canvases from 500 to 7,000 euros, sculptures from 3,000 to 12,000 euros.

The field study that Antoine was able to do, let him glimpse a customer profile.

In fact there are two main types of customers: those who live the sea and love art and those who live art and love the sea … Obviously, this is not restrictive but corresponds to the foundation of the gallery. Of course, there are individuals, but also business managers who can acquire works for tax exemption or even for rental with purchase option in a framework provided by law.

The inauguration of the gallery is planned Thursday January 30an event that will mark the launch of this place celebrating the sea and its artistic inspirations through various works.

By our correspondent André Morelle

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