Michel Henry
Michel Henry is one of the leading French master painters of the late 20th century, and was awarded France's highest honor, the Légion d'honneur. He gained worldwide popularity with his bright, joyful paintings featuring flowers, earning him the nickname "Painter of Happiness." He is also known as "The King of Poppies" in America due to his frequent depictions of poppies. The flowers painted by Michel Henry bloom against backgrounds of beautiful buildings in Paris and Venice, as well as wild fields and seas. Born in Langres, France, in 1928 and passing away in the suburbs of Paris in 2016, his works continue to convey their charm and emotion worldwide.
Michel-Henry Oil and Watercolor Paintings here
1: Michel Henry Biography
1928 Born in Langres, a fortress city in western France built by ancient Romans.
Distant view of Michel Henry's hometown, Langres ↓
1947~ Enrolled in the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Studied in the Narbonne class, known for its powerful compositions. Bernard Buffet was in the same class but dropped out.
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (also known as Beaux-Arts) where Michel Henry studied ↓
1950~ Studied in the Chapelin-Midi class, known for its beautiful colors, and graduated at the top of his class. Cassignol enrolled as a junior in Chapelin-Midi's class, and Michel Henry was the interviewer for Cassignol's enrollment.
1954 Dispatched to Barcelona to exhibit works as a representative of the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts.
1955 Dispatched to Berlin to exhibit works as a representative of the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Awarded the Taylor Prize.
1956 Awarded the Descartes House Prize, leading to a state-sponsored study abroad at Descartes House in Amsterdam.
1957-58 Awarded the Casa de Velázquez Prize, leading to a scholarship study abroad in Madrid.
Casa de Velázquez in Madrid, where Michel Henry studied abroad ↓
1958-65 Signed with Galerie Romanet, a top gallery on the prestigious Rue de Matignon in Paris.
Galleries on Rue de Matignon today ↓
1960 Awarded the Palais Royal Prize, the Paris City Exhibition Silver Medal, and other awards. From this year, he moved away from the dark painting style of the post-war period and began painting with brilliant colors.
1961 Henri Farman Prize
1965 Grand Prize for Young Painters at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts
1965-2010 Lived in Chagall's former studio on Rue Leclerc in Montparnasse.
Michel Henry standing in front of his studio ↓
1967-85 Signed with Wally Findlay Galleries in the United States (Paris, Chicago, Palm Beach, New York, London). Traveled to the United States annually during this period.
1974 Visited Iran as a representative of the Salon d'Automne and met the Shah of Iran.
The Shah and Empress of Iran with Michel Henry ↓
1975 Solo exhibition in Geneva.
1977 Awarded the Gold Medal of the Société des Artistes Français.
1981 Awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. Awarded the Gold Medal of the French National Horticultural Society.
1982 Solo exhibition in Geneva.
1983 Appointed Secretary-General of the Salon d'Automne.
1984 Awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre du Mérite Agricole. The Salon d'Automne held a Michel Henry retrospective.
1985 First visit to Japan as a representative of the Salon d'Automne, exhibiting works at the National Museum of Western Art in Ueno.
Bernardaud, a French Limoges porcelain company, produced and sold ceramics with Michel Henry's designs.
1986 Awarded the Special Prize of the City of Paris.
1987 Michel Henry's paintings exhibited in Japan as part of the World Orchid Exhibition.
1989-95 Signed with Etienne Sassi Gallery on Rue de Matignon.
Michel Henry and Brazilier became the two main artists of Etienne Sassi.
1990 Appointed Vice President of the Salon d'Automne.
1991 Salon de Ville Gold Medal. Retrospective exhibition at Château de Cédière, led by Mrs. Chirac.
1992 Onoda Cement (now Taiheiyo Cement) in Japan commissioned a painting calendar for 1994-95.
Solo exhibition at Etienne Sassi Gallery in Paris. Solo exhibition in New York.
1993 Solo exhibitions in Lille and Munich, Germany.
1994 Visited Japan as Vice President of the Salon d'Automne to prepare for the following year's Japan feature.
Solo exhibition in Brussels.
1994~ Signed an exclusive contract with Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) in Japan. Visited Japan annually until 2009.
1995~ Michel Henry signed with Alexander Iolas Gallery on Rue de Matignon.
1995 Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan to hold "Michel Henry Paintings Exhibition in Japan" at Nihonbashi Tokyu Department Store, Tokyu Toyoko Store, and Galerie Adeka at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry exhibition hall in Sunshine City.
Retrospective exhibition at Chapelle des Jésuites. This retrospective exhibition.
1997 Michel Henry donated an oil painting to an auction in New York for a children's eye disease research fund. Princess Marianne Bernadotte of Sweden, the organizer, 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 President of the 2nd Contemporary Art Exhibition in Calvi.
Solo exhibition at Château de Vic-le-Comte.
Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan to hold "Michel Henry Paintings Exhibition in Okinawa" at Okinawa Mitsukoshi. Messages arrived for Michel Henry from Princess Ariane Bernadotte of Sweden, the former Prime Minister Raymond Barre's wife, and the Duchess of Orléans. The Okinawa Mitsukoshi store manager (who was previously the Paris branch manager) gave him a grand welcome.
1998 Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan to hold "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Kobe Oriental Hotel and Printemps Ginza in Tokyo.
Kobe Oriental Hotel hosted the "Michel Henry Paintings Exhibition" as the main event of the "French Fair in Japan" for Franco-Japanese exchange. Governor Kaihara of Hyogo Prefecture invited Michel Henry to the Hyogo Prefectural Guest House, presented him with the Key to Hyogo Prefecture, and treated him as an honorary citizen. Michel Henry appeared on Kobe's Sun Television, sending a message of encouragement to the citizens of Kobe, who were recovering from the earthquake.
Michel Henry paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Alain Nahoum, the French Consul General in Osaka-Kobe.
To commemorate the "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Printemps Ginza, President Chieko Ishii requested Michel Henry to create a mural, and Michel Henry painted a mural for Printemps Ginza in response to President Ishii's request.
Hinode Cape Hotel in Oumu Town, Hokkaido, decorated its hotel with Michel Henry's oil paintings, creating a Michel Henry Gallery.
With the special patronage of President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic, a Michel Henry exhibition was held at Château de Val, a castle floating on a lake in central France. It attracted 300,000 visitors in three months. Lithograph posters and original lithographs of Château de Val created by Michel Henry were sold for charity. Michel Henry donated the proceeds to the restoration of Château de Val.
1999 To commemorate the year 2000, Michel Henry unveiled a series of original lithograph prints called "Michel Henry's Paris 2000 Series." Michel Henry's Paris 2000 depicts 20 famous Parisian landmarks, such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre Museum, in 20 different original lithograph prints.
Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan to hold "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Printemps Ginza and Chiba Mitsukoshi, and at Galerie Adeka in the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry exhibition hall in Sunshine City. Michel Henry held autograph sessions at each venue.
2000 Hyogo Prefecture held "Japan Flora 2000," an exhibition of flowers and greenery, to commemorate the earthquake recovery. Governor Toshitami Kaihara of Hyogo Prefecture, as a representative of the French National Horticultural Society, invited Michel Henry, an honorary citizen of Hyogo Prefecture, Mr. Alain Nahoum, the French Consul General in Kobe-Osaka, and Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka, all three of whom attended.
Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan to hold "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Nagoya Mitsukoshi, "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Shinjuku Takashimaya, and "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Kyoto Daimaru.
2001 Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan to hold "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Ikebukuro Mitsukoshi and "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Chiba Mitsukoshi.
French Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Gourdault-Montagne, co-hosted a Michel Henry welcome party with Galerie Adeka at the French Ambassador's Residence in Japan. Ambassador and Mrs. Gourdault-Montagne welcomed guests to the cocktail party. Michel Henry attended the welcome party accompanied by Mrs. Dewi Sukarno, former First Lady of Indonesia and a collector of Michel Henry's paintings. Opera singer Masafumi Akikawa also attended at Mrs. Dewi's invitation. Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka served as MC.
2002 Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan to hold "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Sapporo Mitsukoshi and "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Okayama Tenmaya Main Store. Sapporo Cultural Broadcasting extensively reported on Michel Henry's visit to Sapporo Mitsukoshi. Michel Henry, Mr. Yoshikazu Kinashi, President of Sapporo Cultural Broadcasting and Honorary Consul of France in Sapporo, Mr. Fieschi, First Secretary of the French Embassy, and Mr. Gilles Guiot, Director of Alliance Française de Sapporo, attended the opening party with Michel Henry and Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka.
A Michel Henry welcome party was held, hosted by Kenichi Tahara, mayor of Oumu Town, which operates the town-owned Hinode Cape Hotel decorated with Michel Henry's paintings. Michel Henry was joined by Mr. Fieschi, First Secretary of the French Embassy, Mr. Gilles Guiot, Director of Alliance Française de Sapporo, and Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka. ↓
2003
Yoshikazu Kinashi, Honorary Consul of France in Sapporo and President of Sapporo Cultural Broadcasting, and Yasuhiro Takeda, President of Galerie Adeka, visited Michel Henry's hometown of Langres as a mission from Oumu Town. This was to deepen friendly relations between Oumu Town, which has a Michel Henry Gallery, and Langres, which plans to build a Michel Henry Museum. Mr. Matsubara, Japanese Consul in Alsace, also attended, and the Mayor of Langres hosted a welcome party.
Mr. Legros, a prominent figure in Langres, decided to purchase an old building in Langres to convert it into a Michel Henry Museum.
Satoru Nino, Principal of Esmod Paris, hosted a welcome party for Yoshikazu Kinashi at his home in Paris. Yoshikazu Kinashi, Michel Henry, Naotaka Isomura (former NHK news presenter, former NHK Europe General Manager, and first director of the Japan Cultural Institute in Paris) and his wife, Patrice de la Perrière (President of Univers des Arts magazine) and his wife, and Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka were among the invited guests.
Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan to hold "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Ikebukuro Mitsukoshi, "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Sendai Mitsukoshi, Hakata Daimaru, and "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Gallery Kimura in Kyobashi, Osaka.
Mr. Philippe Châtenay, French Consul General in Kobe-Osaka, and Mr. and Mrs. Oshima, former Mayor of Osaka, visited the Michel Henry Japan Exhibition at Gallery Kimura.
At the Michel Henry Japan Exhibition at Sendai Mitsukoshi, Sendai Television extensively reported on the exhibition.Yoshikazu Kinashi, Honorary Consul of France in Sapporo and President of Sapporo Cultural Broadcasting, visited the venue and reunited with Michel Henry and Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka. Mr. and Mrs. Norio Sugano, Mayor of Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture, also visited. Mayor Sugano had a dream of creating a museum of love, peace, flowers, and happiness by Raymond Peynet and Michel Henry in Iitate Village.
Michel Henry and Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka were invited to Hakata by Kazuo Ota, Chairman of Hakata Daimaru and President of Hotel Nikko Fukuoka. Hotel Nikko purchased Michel Henry's paintings and displayed them in the hotel.
At the Hankyu International Hotel, decorated with Michel Henry's paintings, were Michel Henry, Philippe Châtenay (French Consul General in Kobe-Osaka), Satoru Nino (Principal of Esmod Paris), Eiji Ogasawara (Vice President of the Kobe Franco-Japanese Association), and Yasuhiro Takeda (President of Galerie Adeka).
Organized by the Midi-Pyrénées region, where Albi is located,a Michel Henry retrospective exhibition was held at Moulin Albigeois, adjacent to the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum in Albi, Lautrec's hometown. Approximately 200 oil paintings by Michel Henry were displayed. Michel Henry and Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka attended and were interviewed by the local television station. Univers des Arts magazine published a special feature article.
2004
Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka became Secretary-General and founded the Friends of Michel Henry Association.Naotaka Isomura, former NHK news presenter, former NHK Europe General Manager, and first director of the Japan Cultural Institute in Paris, became chairman. Toshitami Kaihara, Governor of Hyogo Prefecture, Shoju Katagiri, President of Fuso Publishing, Kazuo Ota, President of Hotel Nikko Fukuoka, and Yoshikazu Kinashi, Honorary Consul of France in Sapporo and President of Sapporo Cultural Broadcasting, became directors.
Adeka Co., Ltd. (Galerie Adeka) invited Michel Henry to Japan to hold"Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Kobe Daimaru, and "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" at Hiroshima Mitsukoshi. Michel Henry and Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka paid a courtesy visit to Governor Ido of Hyogo Prefecture.
2005 In June, Michel Henry and the "Exhibition of French Masters" (featuring Michel Henry, Picasso, Chagall, Utrillo, etc.) were held at the Ebisu Westin Hotel for a special customer invitation event by Isetan Department Store.
In November, "Michel Henry Japan Exhibition" was held at Shinjuku Isetan, Matsudo Isetan, and Fuchu Isetan.
2006 Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Michel Henry Japan Exhibition
Sendai Mitsukoshi Michel Henry Japan Exhibition
Yokohama InterContinental Hotel Michel Henry Japan Exhibition
2007 Hôtel L'Ermitage Gantois, a luxury hotel in Lille, a major city in northern France, held a Michel Henry retrospective exhibition. Yasuhiro Takeda of Galerie Adeka was invited from Japan.
Ikebukuro Tobu Michel Henry Japan Exhibition
Kobe Daimaru Michel Henry Japan Exhibition
Hiroshima Mitsukoshi Michel Henry Japan Exhibition
Okayama Tenmaya Michel Henry Exhibition
2008 Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Michel Henry Japan Exhibition held
Fukuyama Tenmaya Michel Henry Japan Exhibition held (broadcast by Hiroshima Television)
Nagoya Mitsukoshi Michel Henry Exhibition
2009 Kobe Daimaru held a Michel Henry Japan Exhibition
Kyoto Daimaru held a Michel Henry Japan Exhibition
2011 Paris City Exhibition Gold Medal. Alexander Iolas Galleries in Paris and Cannes held Michel Henry solo exhibitions.
2012 Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Michel Henry Exhibition held
Kobe Daimaru Michel Henry Painting Exhibition held
2013 Exhibited as the main painter in the "World of French Contemporary Art" exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi.
Sapporo Mitsukoshi Michel Henry Exhibition held
2014 Michel Henry Retrospective Exhibition hosted by the city of Antony, a suburb of Paris.
December 25, 2016 Died 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: Collection of Works
Collectors:Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, Museo Botero, Musée de Valence, Musée de Langres, Sursock Museum, Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Orléans, Royal House of Saudi Arabia, Prince's Palace of Monaco, Royal House of Sweden, Royal House of the Netherlands, Royal House of Norway, Jacques Chirac (former President of the French Republic), Raymond Barre (former Prime Minister of France), Jeanne Moreau (French actress), Greta Garbo (American actress), Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (Canada), Hankyu International Hotel, Hotel Nikko Fukuoka, Juntendo University Hospital…etc
3: Awards and Honors
Paris City Exhibition Gold Medal, French Artists Association Gold Medal, Salon d'Automne Gold Medal, Young Painters Exhibition Gold Medal, Salon de Ville Gold Medal, and many others.
Légion d'honneur, Ordre du Mérite Agricole
Michel Henry Photo Album here →
Michel Henry Work Explanations here →