Michel Delacroix

(French, b. 1933)

“We suddenly jumped fifty years into the past. No more cars in the streets, very few lights.
Paris suddenly became very quiet, very dark, and, though people were afraid,
there was a brotherhood and spirit that was very delightful.”
— Delacroix

A self-styled “painter of dreams and of the poetic past,” Michel Delacroix, celebrated master of the naïf tradition, has devoted five decades to painting a city he calls "the Paris of then." This is the magical place where he was born, where he spent his boyhood, and where he continues to find inspiration to this day. His charming historical scenes of Paris capture nostalgic and romantic moments. Memories of the stories Delacroix’s nanny told him about Paris before World War I are combined with his own early recollections. He painted only the splendor - horse drawn carriages, gas-lit lamps, hot air balloons, and bustling crowds. Although Paris has changed over the years, Delacroix’s scenes maintain timelessness because of the naïf tradition in which he paints. His style has been called “naïve” because of his candidness, however, his works are created with the skill and knowledge of a well-educated artist. He imbues each image with an intimate quality as he conveys the idealism of an era past. His skillful paint application, precise details, and subtle palette are beautiful and captivating.

Michel Delacroix was born in Paris, France, in 1933 and started painting at the age of seven. He studied two years at the École de Beaux Arts in Paris, and then temporarily suspended his formal education to explore the city. “I walked endlessly from district to district, inspecting every corner and absorbing all the nuances accumulating an endless store of impressions to draw upon for my paintings,” he said. During this time Delacroix worked for Marcel Marceau and experimented with set design. Delacroix eventually returned to complete his studies, and went on to teach art. Continuing to paint and experiment with a variety of techniques, Delacroix eventually developed his signature style.

Delacroix’s work has been featured in over 300 solo exhibitions in the US alone and many more in Europe and Asia. Delacroix has achieved some of the highest accolades and awards possible including the Prix Public-Prix Pro Art (Switzerland 1973), Grand Prix des Amateurs d’Art (Paris, 1975), Grand Prix de la Cote d’Azur (Cannes, 1976), and the Premier Prix de Sept Collines (Rome, 1976). In 1976 the Ministry of Culture purchased his work for Fonds national d'art contemporain, a prestigious public collection of contemporary art in France. They named him the Official Artist for the 1995 Special Olympics World Games and Official Artist of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.

American Fine Art, Inc. is proud to feature the original works and limited editions of Michel Delacroix. Visit our 12,000 sq. ft. showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona or call today. Our website is offered only as a limited place to browse or refresh your memory and is not a reflection of our current inventory. To learn more about collecting, pricing, value, or any other art information, please contact one of our International Art Consultants. We look forward to giving you the one on one attention you deserve when building your fine art collection.  We hope you find our website helpful and look forward to seeing you in Scottsdale soon.