Introducing Michel Henry

Michel Henry is a master French painter representing the second half of the 20th century, and was awarded the Legion of Honor, France's highest honor. He painted flowers in bright colors, and his paintings filled with a sense of happiness gained him worldwide popularity, earning him the nickname "The Painter of Happiness." He is also known in the United States as the "King of Poppies" for his many poppy paintings. The flowers painted by Michel Henry bloom against the backdrop of beautiful buildings in Paris and Venice, fields, and the sea. Born in Langres, France in 1928 , and passed away in the suburbs of Paris in 2016 , his works continue to convey their charm and emotion to the world even today.

Michel Henry purchase page

Born in 1928 in Langres, a fortified city built by the ancient Romans in western France.

A distant view of Michel Henry's hometown, Langres.

1947～ Entered the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Studied in Narbonne, a class that specialized in powerful compositions. Bernard Buffet was in the same class, but dropped out.

Michel Henry studied at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris (commonly known as the Beaux-Arts)

From 1950 to 1960, he studied in Chaplin-Midi's class, known for its beautiful colors, and graduated at the top of his class. Cassignole entered the school as a junior in Chaplin-Midi's class, and Michel Henry was his second interviewer for admission.

1954: Sent to Barcelona as a representative of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris and exhibited his works.

In 1955, he was sent to Berlin as a representative of the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Paris and exhibited his works. He won the Taylor Prize.

1956: Won the Descartes House Prize and studied at the Descartes House in Amsterdam on a government scholarship

1957-58 : Won the Casa Velázquez Award and studied abroad in Madrid on a scholarship.

Casa Velázquez in Madrid, where Michel Henry studied

1958-1965 : Contracted with Gallery Romanee, the top gallery in Matignon, a high-end art gallery in Paris

Current gallery on Matignon Street

1960: Awarded the Palais Royal Prize and the Silver Prize at the Paris Exhibition. This was the turning point in his life when he left his dark post-war style of painting behind and began to paint with bright colors.

1961 Henri Farman Award

1965 National Art Association Young Artist Grand Prize

1965-2010 Former Chagall studio on Rue Leclerc in the Montparnasse district

Living in

Michel Henry standing in front of his studio

1967-1985 : Contracted with the American gallery Walley Findlay Gallery (Paris, Chicago, Palm Beach, New York, London). During this time, traveled to America every year.

1974: Visited Iran as a representative of the Salone d'Automne and met with the King of Iran

The King and Queen of Iran and Michel Henry

1975 Solo exhibition in Geneva

1977: Gold Medal from the French Artists Association

1981: Awarded the title of Knight of the Legion of Honor. Winner of the Gold Medal from the French National Horticultural Society.

1982 Solo exhibition in Geneva

1983: Appointed Secretary General of the Salone d'Automne

In 1984, he was awarded the Knight of the Order of Agricultural Merit. The Salone d'Automne held a retrospective of Michel Henry.

1985: First visit to Japan as a representative of the Salone d'Automne and exhibited works at the National Museum of Western Art in Ueno

The French Limoges pottery company Bernardaud produces and sells pottery using Michel Henry's designs.

1986: Received the Special Award from the City of Paris

1987 Michel Henry's paintings are exhibited in Japan as part of the World Orchid Exhibition.

1989-1995 : Contract with the Etienne Sachy Gallery on Rue Matignon

Michel Henry and Brasilier will be Etienne Sachy's two main stars.

1990: Becomes Vice President of the Salone d'Automne

1991 Gold Medal at the Salon de Ville Retrospective at the Château de Sedières, led by Madame Chirac

1992: Ordered a picture calendar from Onoda Cement (now Pacific Cement) in Japan for 1994-95

Solo exhibition at Galerie Etienne Sasy in Paris Solo exhibition in New York

1993 Solo exhibitions in Lille and Munich, Germany

1994: Visited Japan as vice president of the Salone d'Automne to prepare for the Japan Special the following year.

Solo exhibition in Brussels

1994～ Established an exclusive contract with Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) in Japan. Visited Japan every year until 2009 .

1995 - Michel Henry signs a contract with the Alexandre Léodouse Gallery on Rue Matignon.

In 1995, Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan and held a Michel Henry Art Exhibition at the Gallery Adeka in the Nihonbashi Tokyu Department Store, Tokyu Toyoko Branch, and at the Sunshine City French Chamber of Commerce and Industry Exhibition Hall.

A retrospective at the Chapelle des Jesuits

In 1997, Michel Henry offered an oil painting to be auctioned in New York for the Children's Eye Disease Research Fund. The organizer, Princess Marianne Bernadette of Sweden, paid a courtesy visit to Michel Henry's studio and sent a letter stating that Michel Henry's painting was the highlight of the charity auction.

Appointed chairman at the 2nd Calvi Contemporary Art Exhibition

Solo exhibition at Château de Vicsouse

Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invites Michel Henry to Japan and holds a Michel Henry Okinawa Art Exhibition at Okinawa Mitsukoshi. Messages are sent to Michel Henry from Princess Ariane Bernadotte of Sweden, former wife of Prime Minister Raymond Barr, and Princess of Orléans. Manager of Okinawa Mitsukoshi ( receives a warm welcome from the former Paris branch )

In 1998 , Adeka Corporation (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan and held an exhibition at the Kobe Oriental Hotel and Printemps Ginza in Tokyo.

Kobe Oriental Hotel holds Michel Henry Art Exhibition as the main event of the French Fair in the Year of France in Japan. Michel Henry is invited to the Hyogo Prefecture Guest House by Hyogo Prefecture Governor Kaihara, and is presented with the key to Hyogo Prefecture and treated as an honorary citizen. Michel Henry appears on Kobe Sun TV and sends a message of encouragement to the Kobe citizens who are recovering from the earthquake disaster.

Michel Henry pays a courtesy visit to Consul General Alan Naumm of Osaka-Kobe.

To commemorate the opening of an art exhibition by Michel Henry at Printemps Ginza, President Chieko Ishii asked Michel Henry to create a mural, and Michel Henry responded to President Ishii's request by painting a mural at Printemps Ginza.

The Hinode Misaki Hotel in Omu-cho, Hokkaido, decorates the hotel with Michel Henry's oil paintings and creates a Michel Henry Gallery.

Under the special patronage of French President Jacques Chirac, a Michel Henry exhibition will be held at Chateau de Val, a castle floating on a lake in central France. It will attract 300,000 visitors over the course of three months. Lithograph posters and original lithographs of Chateau de Val created by Michel Henry will be sold for charity. Michel Henry will donate the proceeds to the restoration costs of Chateau de Val.

In 1999, Michel Henry produced and released the original lithograph print series "Michel Henry's Paris 2000 " to commemorate the year 2000. Michel Henry's Paris 2000 is a series of 20 original lithograph prints depicting 20 famous sites in Paris, including the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre Museum.

Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan and held an exhibition of his paintings at Printemps Ginza and Chiba Mitsukoshi. At Gallery Adeka in the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry Exhibition Hall in Sunshine, Michel Henry will hold an autograph session at each venue.

In 2000, Hyogo Prefecture held the Japan Flora 2000 Flower and Greenery Exposition to commemorate the recovery from the earthquake disaster. Governor Kaihara Toshitami, as a representative of the French National Horticultural Society, invited Michel Henry, an honorary citizen of Hyogo Prefecture, Alan Naum, Consul General of France in Kobe and Osaka, and Takeda Yasuhiro of the Galerie Idega, and all three attended.

Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invites Michel Henry to Japan and holds Michel Henry Japan Art Exhibitions at Nagoya Mitsukoshi, Shinjuku Takashimaya, and Kyoto Daimaru.

In 2001, Adeka Corporation (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan and held the Michel Henry Japan Exhibition at Ikebukuro Mitsukoshi and the Michel Henry Japan Art Exhibition at Chiba Mitsukoshi.

Ambassador Gourdau-Montagne and Galerie Adeka will host a welcome party for Michel Henry at the French Ambassador's residence. Ambassador Gourdau-Montagne and his wife will welcome guests at the cocktail party. Michel Henry will attend the welcome party accompanied by Dewi Sukarno, the former wife of Indonesia's President, who is a collector of Michel Henry's paintings. Opera singer Masashi Akikawa will also attend at the invitation of Dewi Sukarno. Galerie Adeka's Yasuhiro Takeda will act as MC.

In 2002, Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan and held a Michel Henry Japan Exhibition at Sapporo Mitsukoshi and Okayama Tenmaya Main Store. Sapporo Cultural Broadcasting gave extensive coverage to Michel Henry's visit to Japan at Sapporo Mitsukoshi, and Michel Henry, Sapporo Cultural Broadcasting President and Honorary Consul in Sapporo Yoshikazu Kinashi, First Secretary of the French Embassy Fieskey, and Gilles Guiot, President of the Alliance Française Sapporo, attended the opening party together with Michel Henry, Galle Adeka, and Yasuhiro Takeda.

A welcome party for Michel Henry will be held by Kenichi Tahara, the mayor of Omu Town, who runs the town-run Hotel Hinode Misaki, which is decorated with paintings by Michel Henry. Along with Michel Henry, First Secretary Fieskey of the French Embassy, ​​Gilles Guiot, President of the Alliance Française Sapporo, and Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka will also be attending.

2003

The Honorary Consul of France in Sapporo, Mr. Yoshikazu Kinashi, President of Sapporo Bunka Broadcasting, and Mr. Yasuhiro Takeda, President of Galerie Adeka, visit Michel Henry's hometown of Langres as a mission for Omu Town. The purpose is to deepen the friendly relationship between Omu Town, where the Michel Henry Gallery is located, and Langres, where the Michel Henry Museum is planned. The Mayor of Langres will hold a welcome party, with the attendance of Mr. Matsubara, Consul of Japan in Alsace.

Mr. Legros, a notable man from Langres, decides to purchase an old building in Langres and turn it into the Michel Henry Museum.

Principal of Esmod Gakuen Paris Headquarters, Nino Satoru, held a welcome party for Kinashi Yoshikazu at his home, with guests including Kinashi Yoshikazu, Michel Henry, former NHK news anchor Isomura Naonori, former NHK European Bureau Chief, the first director of the Japan Cultural Center in Paris and his wife, Patrice de la Perrière, president of Univers des Arts magazine and his wife, and Galerie Adeka Takeda Yasuhiro.

Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan and held the Michel Henry Japan Art Exhibition at Ikebukuro Mitsukoshi, Sendai Mitsukoshi, Hakata Daimaru, and Gallery Kimura in Kyobashi, Osaka.

The Michel Henry Art Exhibition at Gallery Kimura will be attended by Philippe Chataigneux, Consul General of France in Kobe and Osaka, and former Osaka mayor Mr. and Mrs. Oshima.

At the Michel Henry Art Exhibition at Sendai Mitsukoshi, Sendai TV gave extensive coverage of the exhibition. The Honorary Consul of France in Sapporo and President of Sapporo Cultural Broadcasting, Kinashi Yoshikazu, visited the venue and reunited with Michel Henry and Galerie Adeka Takeda Yasuhiro. Mayor Kanno Norio of Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture, and his wife also visited the exhibition. Mayor Kanno had a desire to create a museum of love, peace, flowers and happiness in Iitate Village, in honor of Raymond Peynet and Michel Henry.

Michel Henry and Galerie Adeka Yasuhiro Takeda are invited to Hakata by Kazuo Ota, chairman of Hakata Daimaru and president of the Fukuoka Nikko Hotel. The Nikko Hotel purchases a painting by Michel Henry and displays it in the hotel.

Michel Henry at the Hankyu International Hotel decorated with paintings by Michel Henry, Philippe Chataigneux, Consul General of France in Osaka, Satoru Nino, Principal of Esmode Gakuen Paris, Eiji Ogasawara, Vice President of Kobe Franco-Japanese Association, Yasuhiro Takeda, President of Galerie Adeka

A retrospective of Michel Henry was held at the Moulin Albigens, adjacent to the Lautrec Museum in Alby, Lautrec's hometown, sponsored by the Midi -Pyrenees region, and about 200 of Michel Henry's oil paintings were exhibited. Michel Henry and Gale Adeka's Yasuhiro Takeda attended the exhibition and were interviewed by a local TV station. A feature article was published in the magazine Univers des Arts.

2004

Galerie Adeka's Takeda Yasuhiro becomes Secretary General and establishes the Michel Henry Friendship Society. Isomura Hisanori, former NHK news anchor, former NHK European Bureau Chief and first Director of the Japan Cultural Center, Paris, becomes Chairman. Kaihara Toshitami, Governor of Hyogo Prefecture, Katagiri Shoju, President of Fusosha Publishing, Ota Kazuo, President of the Fukuoka Hotel JAL, and Kinashi Yoshikazu, Honorary Consul of France in Sapporo and President of Sapporo Cultural Broadcasting, become officers.

Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan and held a Michel Henry Japan Art Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Kobe Daimaru, and Hiroshima Mitsukoshi. Michel Henry and Galerie Adeka's Yasuhiro Takeda paid a courtesy visit to Hyogo Prefecture Governor Ido.

June 2005: Michel Henry and French Masters Exhibition held at the Ebisu Winstin Hotel as a special invitational event for Isetan Department Store customers (Michel Henry, Picasso, Chagall, Utrillo, etc. were exhibited).

November: Michel Henry's Japan Art Exhibition held at Shinjuku Isetan, Matsudo Isetan and Fuchu Isetan

2006 Michel Henry Art Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi

Michel Henry Art Exhibition at Sendai Mitsukoshi

Michel Henry Exhibition at Yokohama Intercontinental Hotel

In 2007, the luxury hotel Hermitage Gantroy in Lille, the capital of northern France, held a retrospective of Michel Henry. Gale Adeka's Yasuhiro Takeda was invited from Japan.

Michel Henry Exhibition at Ikebukuro Tobu

Michel Henry Exhibition at Kobe Daimaru 

Michel Henry Exhibition at Hiroshima Mitsukoshi

Michel Henry Exhibition at Okayama Tenmaya

2008: Michel Henry exhibition held at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi

Michel Henry's Japan Exhibition held at Fukuyama Tenmaya (broadcast by Hiroshima TV)

Michel Henry Exhibition at Nagoya Mitsukoshi

2009 Kobe Daimaru holds Michel Henry art exhibition

Michel Henry's Japan Art Exhibition held at Kyoto Daimaru

2011 Paris Exhibition Gold Award Winner Michel Henry solo exhibition at Gallery Alexandre Leozuz in Paris and Cannes

2012 Michel Henry Exhibition held at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi

Michel Henry Art Exhibition held at Kobe Daimaru

2013: Exhibited as the main artist at the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi French Contemporary Art World Exhibition

Michel Henry Exhibition held at Sapporo Mitsukoshi

2014: A retrospective of Michel Henry was held by the city of Antony, a suburb of Paris.

Died on December 25, 2016 in the suburbs of Paris

Other Michel Henry exhibitions in Japan (Shinsaibashi Daimaru, Kyoto Daimaru, Umeda Daimaru, Okayama Tenmaya, Takamatsu Tenmaya, Hiroshima Mitsukoshi, Umeda Daimaru Kichijoji Tokyu, Tama Plaza Tokyu, Machida Tokyu, Machida Odakyu, Iwaki Daikokuya)

 

2. Collector of artworks

Collectors : Museum of Modern Art, Bogota Museum, Valence Museum, Langres Museum, Beirut Museum, Orleans Museum, Saudi Arabian Royal Family, Monaco Royal Family, Swedish Royal Family, Dutch Royal Family, Norwegian Royal Family, former French President Jacques Chirac, former French Prime Minister Raymond Barr, French actress Jeanne Moreau, American actress Greda Garbo, Calgary Rock Hotel, Hankyu International Hotel, Fukuoka Nikko Hotel, Juntendo Hospital , etc.

3. Awards and Medals

Gold Prize at the Paris Exhibition, Gold Prize at the French Artists Association, Gold Prize at the Salon d'Automne, Gold Prize at the Young Artists Exhibition, Gold Prize at the Salon de Ville, and many others.

Legion of Honor, Agricultural Merit Award

Michel Henry's photo collection can be found here →

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