Paul Paillet FR, b. 1986
Paul Paillet is a visual artist whose practice spans installation, sculpture, embossed paper works, and assemblage. Rooted in autobiographical fragments, his work explores the intersections between intimacy and collective experience, weaving together references to addiction, popular culture, spirituality, domestic space, and the mechanisms of contemporary capitalism.
Through handcrafted techniques such as casting, embossing, ceramics, and the use of recuperated materials, Paul Paillet develops layered environments in which objects and symbols oscillate between attraction and disillusionment. His works often evoke states of emotional suspension, fragility, and dependence, while confronting themes such as desire, immobility, consumerism, and social alienation. Literary, cinematic, and musical references — ranging from Hermann Hesse to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and BTS — coexist within installations that blur the boundaries between personal memory and broader cultural narratives.
Among his notable exhibitions are Swiss Art Awards 2025 in Basel, where he received the Swiss Art Award, Araucaria at Pauline Perplexe in Arcueil, Paths of Desire Pass Through Chaos at Villa Bernasconi in Geneva, Fantasy at Salle Crosnier in Geneva, and Fascination for Fire at the Centre d’Édition Contemporaine in Geneva. In 2017, he was also laureate of the Mécènes du Sud prize in Marseille, and previously received the Prix Jeunes Talents Côte d’Or in 2013.
Paul Paillet has also participated in numerous group exhibitions and international projects in Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including presentations at Pace Gallery in New York, and various independent art spaces in Geneva, Marseille, Paris, and London.
Born in Dijon (FR) in 1986, Paul Paillet lives and works in Geneva (CH).
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Untitled (The Path), 2020Purchase -
Untitled (The Path), 2020Purchase
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Untitled (The Path), 2020Purchase
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Untitled (The Path), 2020Purchase
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Untitled (The Path), 2020Purchase
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Untitled (Cassina for JM), 2024Purchase
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Untitled (The Family), 2024Purchase
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hr lie ea w y o (after William Morris), 2025Purchase
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Philosophème, 2025Purchase
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Untitled (Spike), 2025Purchase
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Untitled (Spike), 2025Purchase
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Untitled (Cassina Grand Confort grand modèle 1), 2026Purchase
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Untitled (Cassina Grand Confort petit modèle 1), 2026Purchase
EDUCATION
2014–2015 Post-grade DAS, HEAD Genève, Switzerland
2009–2011 DNSEP Fine Arts, ENSA Dijon, France
2005–2008 Bachelor in Art, Institut Saint-Luc, Liège, Belgium
AWARDS AND PUBLICATIONS
Swiss Art Awards 2025 (Awarded), Bâle
Frühstück mit Drachenjagd, Kunstbulletin, 2020
Brume, Bourgeon, Brise, Soleil, CEC Genève
Postdisasterresidencies, Le Cri, Lyon, 2019
Mécènes du Sud (laureate), 2017
Merde au Contexte, Galerie hit / Éditions Ripopée, 2017
Chronique du Chantier de l’Arsenal, Presses du Réel, 2013
Prix Jeunes Talents Côte d’Or, 2013
EXHIBITIONS
2026
Quant au reste du monde, il était perdu, sans place précise, et comme n’existant pas — KALI Gallery, Lucerne
Maintenance ? Développement ! — Le Commun, Genève
The Faussaires — Le Trou, Genève
Swiss Artists for Palestine — Halle Nord, Genève
L’esprit en thérapie — Société Étrange, Marseille
2025
Swiss Art Awards 2025 (Awarded), Bâle
Just an Everyday Object, Krone Couronne, Biel/Bienne
Tempo d’Oro, Kaligallery, Lucerne
2024
Araucaria, Pauline Perplexe, Arcueil (FR)
Paths of Desir Pass Through Chaos, Villa Bernasconi, Genève
Cryptgame, Cryptgame, Marseille
2023
Swiss Art Awards, Art Basel, Bâle
Limerence, STANDARD/DELUXE, Lausanne
Videos: New and Revisited, C.E.C., Genève
2022
Esprit d’Escalier, C.E.C., Genève
Sublime Rage, French Place, London
Eartheater, Placement de Produit, Paris
Fantasy, Salle Crosnier, Genève
Art au Centre Genève, Halle Nord, Genève
2021
No Firing, Espace 3353, Genève
Exercice de Parade, EAC Les Halles, Porrentruy
Atmosphères, Pace Gallery, New York
Thundercage #27, Paris
2020
ILOVE#ARTISTEDICI, FMAC, Genève
Fascination for Fire, Centre d’Édition Contemporaine, Genève
Cast a Shadow, Pace Gallery, Genève
Les Belles Idées Naissent en République, Marseille
2019
Ambrosetti, Villa Ambrosetti, Genève
Placenta + Pigeon, @BIG / One Gee in Fog, Genève
Falbala and I, local-int, Biel/Bienne
2017
Les Prétendantes de Sainte Clotilde, Espace Pneu, Genève
Naturellement, Troinex
Systèmes Solitaires, espace ru, Genève
Nobis, Zoo Galerie, Nantes
2016
Les Mondes Désunis, Galerie oÙ, Marseille
2015
Barbotine Conspiracy, CERCCO / HEAD, Genève
Monuments pour la Société Cauchemar-esque, Interface, Dijon
2014
Jeune Création, Le Centquatre, Paris
Partido Alto, Paris
2013
Monumental Forget, Dijon
Modifications, ZKU, Berlin
2012
10/06/2012, Dijon
Doom, Le Consortium / FRAC Bourgogne, Longchamp
