The wild world of Cathy de Monchaux revealed in exhibition at Paris's Palais de Tokyo
The artist who stormed onto the art scene in the early 1990s is only now getting her dues
Cathy de Monchaux's provocative and distinctive sculptures brought her acclaim as a standout artist of the 1990s. Her 1993 Chisenhale Gallery exhibition featured elaborate wall pieces adorned with baroque spikes, ribbons, and leather, contrasting sharply with her YBA peers. Her avant-garde work, such as the heart-shaped "Once Upon a Fuck," defied stereotypes and garnered rapid success, including a Turner Prize nomination and subsequent acquisitions by prestigious institutions.
Despite her work now receiving recognition only after more than a quarter of a century, de Monchaux remained dedicated to her craft, raising her child as a single mother and drawing inspiration from her childhood visits to museums in London. The Palais de Tokyo's major retrospective exhibition showcases her experimental work, avoiding a chronological approach and incorporating pieces from various decades.
These artworks, ranging from life-sized unicorns to intricate wall-mounted figures, evoke a profane, pan-cultural cathedral atmosphere. The artist's meticulous fabrication techniques and obsession with materials are on full display, as her studio at the Grand Palais serves as both a creative crucible and refuge.
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