Where others need walls, he seeks open sky: French contemporary artist Richard Texier has created an outdoor studio on the Île de Ré, a place where nature and art merge. Wind, light, and the salty Atlantic air become active collaborators in his creative process.
The short film Private View: Richard Texier – released on the renowned cultural platform Nowness – – follows the artist as he produces his first works in this open-air studio. Director Virgile Texier observes him over the course of a week in spring. The island itself almost becomes a character, with its light and natural forces shaping each day and every brushstroke.
“The presence of the island is almost like a character,” says the director. “The weather, the wind, the sunlight, the smells – everything influences the artwork and the rhythm of the day.”
Through successive layers of paint, each work emerges in a process of balance between control and surrender. The colors need time to dry, the artist steps back, and the wind leaves its mark. Just a hundred meters from the ocean, the canvas responds to the waves’ rhythm; textures in the pigment map inner landscapes, turning painting into a meditative dialogue with the elements.
About Nowness
Nowness is one of the leading digital platforms for short films in art, design, fashion, and culture. Curated by an international team, it showcases videos that are visually striking, sensually engaging, and narratively compelling. The film on Richard Texier is part of this curated selection of visionary artist portraits – a quiet, poetic look at creativity in harmony with nature.