François Durel

b.1993 in Caen, France.

Most notable exhibitions include group presentations at: Unto dust – Fitzpatrick, Paris (2023); A few tricks up the sleeve and a dagger in the heart – Galerie Treize, Paris (2022); Happier than ever – Galerie ExoExo, Paris (2022); first artist’s solo exhibition Score for a broken toy – zaza’, Milan (2023).

François Durel’s work explores notions of discipline, violence, eroticism, and the sacred in relation to architecture and the built environment, in order to understand broader dynamics of power and control, and to analyze their impact on the behavioral agency of individuals. Durel’s work considers the potentials of autobiographical elements as a material and implements them as such. His precise, strict leather sculptures allude to figures of authority and stealth surveillance.

Solo exhibitions

2025 “Summer Breeze”, Galerie Duret, Paris, FR
2024 Artissima solo booth, Blue Velvet Projects, Torino (IT)
2024 Bad Posture, Zaza’, Paris (FR)
2023 Score for a broken toy, zaza’, Milan

Group exhibitions

2025 Group exhibition at Clarissa, London
2025 “Peace of Mind”, Galerie Duret, Paris, FR
2023 Unto dust, Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
2022 A few tricks up the sleeve and a dagger in the heart, Galerie Treize, Paris Happier than ever, Galerie ExoExo, Paris
2022 Potentials, 122 Minories Street, London
2020 Freewalls gallery, London
2018 Trente-deux, Dulcie Gallery, Nantes
2018 Dulcinéa, Galerie Marchepied, Nantes
2018 Homecoming, Public Storage Gallery, Los Angeles
2018 And now it begins, GX Gallery, London
2017 Alluring shapes, Tempting spaces, Galerie Eva Meyer, Paris
2017 The Object Habit, Petrie Museum of Archeology, London
2017 Locus Solus, Wickwood, London
2017 Ne pas pouvoir, my body can’t move, Guest Project Gallery, London