Marie Obegi, an artist to watch

parisdiaArt, Flowers and gardens, Restaurants & Hotels1 Comment

Marie Obegi's first show is impressive

Marie Obegi’s first show is impressive

It’s always a little bit nerve racking to discover the work of someone you know. What if you hate it and can’t find the words to remain polite and flatter the artist? Well I had no problem this time, congratulating Marie Obegi, a young Lebanese French artist, who works in New York and was opening her first Paris exhibition at Galerie Kogan near the Pompidou center.

Anna,

Anna,

The space is airy and simple and the art is strong. Portraits are named after first names such as Anna, June or Adrien. Large paintings are made of mixed pastel and acrylic on slate, or miror and smaller etchings are shown along with their copper plates.

Anna's etching and copper plate

Anna’s etching and copper plate

There is strength and extreme charm in theses portraits which are accompanied by a booklet where Marie wrote a story around each character. The painter writer, an old tradition of accomplished artists.

Marie explains the etching technique to fashion stylist Patrick Lavoix

Marie explains the etching technique to fashion designer Patrick Lavoix

Trained at Parson’s School of design in New York, Marie plans on travelling to Argentina and Kyoto for the next two years. You can see her work curated by Margaux Bonopera until September 30 th at 96 rue Beaubourg.img_2335

 

Beforehand, I had the most perfect lunch at this discreet hideout, Le Hangar, hidden in impasse Berthaud, across the street from Centre Pompidou. Very fresh sardines and spaghetti with lemon and shrimps, hot foie gras, raviolis de Romans, this place has been serving simple food to trendy gallerists for thirty years and the quality is unchanged. (01 42 74 55 44)

Le Hangar, a discreet cantine is as good as ever.

Le Hangar, a discreet cantine is as good as ever.

Next to it, I discovered the most charming public garden, Square Anne Franck, where kids play on Wednesday afternoon and many people bring their lunch. What a good surprise in busy rue Beaubourg!

Jardin Anne Franck is so stylish, it reminded me of the bosquets in Versailles

Jardin Anne Franck is so stylish, it reminded me of the bosquets in Versailles

Share this Post

One Comment on “Marie Obegi, an artist to watch”

  1. Incredible all those still quite secret places in the middle of Paris. Near the Pompidou center there is also a very nice typical Brasserie at the beginning of the rue Rambuteau, Le Bouledogue.

Leave a Reply to Caroline Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *