Henri Michaux was a liminal character; he was resistant and reluctant, an individualist, someone who propagated complexity and refused comfort. In his art and literature, both of which he mastered like no other yet still considered separate entities, he searched for the gaps, for the worlds in between. Making and automatic painting are connected to his search for traces, a deeply human understanding of life and its multiple effects through new perspectives that need to be continuously created from scratch. His experience with hallucinogenic substances and his criticism of conventional ideas of how to deal with space artistically influenced him throughout his life. In 1985, shortly after Michaux’s death (1984), the first exhibition of his work took place at Fred Jahn in Maximilianstraße, Munich. A comprehensive publication appeared on the occasion of the artist’s solo exhibition at Galerie Jahn und Jahn in 2020.
Henri Michaux. Saying No, Tim Geißler / Rainer Michael Mason, Jahn und Jahn, 2020Vita
1899
Henri Michaux is born on May 24 in Namur (Belgium) and grows up in Brussels
1919—1921
After finishing his medical studies in Brussels, he hires as a sailor in the merchant navy
1922
After returning to Brussels, he begins to write
1924
Move to Paris
1925
Michaux studies the paintings of Paul Klee, Max Ernst and de Chirico
1927
His first important book is published: “Qui je fus”
1927—1937
Michaux travels through Turkey, South America, India, and China
He writes and publishes books: “Un certain Plume” (1930), “Un barbare en Asie” (1933), “La nuit remue” (1935), “Voyage en Grande Garabagne” (1936)
1937
Michaux begins to draw and paint on a regular basis
First solo exhibition at the Libraire-Galerie de la Pléiade in Paris
1946
He begins experimental painting under the influence of drugs
1955
Michaux becomes a French citizen
1959
Participation in the documenta 2
1960
Participation in the Venice Biennale
Michaux is awarded the Einaudi Prize
1964
Participation in the documenta 3
1965
Comprehensive retrospective at the Musée National d’Art Moderne in Paris
Michaux rejects the “Grand Prix National des Lettres” of the Republic of France
1977
Participation in the documenta 7
1978
Retrospective at the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, after that at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, and the Musée d’Art Contemporain, Montreal
1984
Henri Michaux dies on October 19 in Paris
Selected Solo Shows
2024
Henri Michaux Sur Fonds Noirs – Lee Ufan, Arles
2021
Henri Michaux – Livie Fine Art, Zürich
2020
Henri Michaux & Mu Xin, curated by François Michaud and Dong Qiang – Power Station of Art, Shanghai | Mu Xin Art Museum, Wuzhen
Saying No – Jahn und Jahn, Munich
2018
The Other Side – Guggenheim Bilbao, Bilbao
2016
Henri Michaux. Mit Rätseln Antworten (Answering in Riddles) – Galerie van de Loo Projekte, Munich
2013
Momente – Kunstmuseum Winterthur, Winterthur
2007
National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (retrospective)
2002
Henri Michaux. Frottages – Les Abbatoirs, Toulouse
2000
Untitled Passages – The Drawing Center, New York
Bilder. Arbeiten auf Papier (Pictures. Works on Paper) – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
1999
Henri Michaux. Peindre, Composer, Écrire – Bibliotèque Nationale Paris, Paris
1998
Centre Cultural Tecla Sala, Barcelona
Die Meskalinzeichungen von Henri Michaux (The Mescaline Drawings of Henri Michaux) – Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz
1997
Biblioteca d’Estat de Literatura Estrangera, Moscow
1995
Museu de Arte Moderno, Rio de Janeiro
Musée Felicien Rops, Namur
Maison de la Culture, Namur
1994
Kulturhaus der Stadt, Graz
Rupertinum, Salzburg
Musée Rath, Geneva
1993
Das bildnerische Werk (Michaux’s artistic work) – Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste (Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts), Munich
Musée Cantini, Marseille
Galerie Lelong, Paris
Ecole Régionale des Beaux-Arts, Nantes
1992
Werke 1972–1984 (Works from 1972–1984) – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Galerie Zell am See, Zell am See
David Nolan Gallery, New York
1991
Galerie Limmer, Freiburg
1990
Werke 1967–1984 (Works from 1967–1984) – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
1989
Galerie Karsten Greve, Cologne
Galerie Rudolf Zwirner, Cologne
1988
David Nolan Gallery, New York
1987
Museo de Bellas Artes, Buenos Aires
Museo de Bellas Artes, Montevideo
Galerie Di Meo, Paris
Bilder, Aquarelle, Zeichnungen, Gedichte, Aphorismen 1942–1984 (Paintings, Watercolors, Drawings, Poems, Aphorisms from 1942–1984) – Galerie Fred Jahn Baaderstraße, Munich (cat.)
1986
Aquarelle und Pastelle aus den 40er- und 50er-Jahren (Watercolors and Pastels from the 40s and 50s) – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Espace Berthelot, Lyon
1985
Biennale de Paris, Paris
Hommage à Michaux – Abbaye de Beaulieu, Ginals
Galerie Le Point Cardinal, Paris (presentations since 1967)
1984
Musée de Valencia, Valencia
1983
Seibu Museum of Art, Tokyo (retrospective)
1981
Institut Français, Athens
1980
Galerie Ziegler, Zurich
1979
Galerie Pudelko, Bonn
1978
Musée national d’Art Moderne, Centre Georges-Pompidou, Paris (retrospective)
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (retrospective)
Musée d’Art Contemporain, Montreal (retrospective)
1977
Galerie Van de Loo, Munich
Galerie Thomas Borgmann, Cologne
1976
Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul-de Vence (retrospective)
Stadtmuseum, Graz (retrospective)
Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts, Vienna (retrospective)
Galerie Edwin Engelberts, Geneva
1975
Galerie Lefebre, New York
Moderna Museet, Stockholm
1974
Galerie Erker, St. Gallen
1972
Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels (retrospective)
Kestner-Gesellschaft, Hannover (retrospective)
1971
Palais des Beaux-Arts, Charleroi (retrospective)
Musée de Beaux-Arts, Gant (retrospective)
1969
Von der Heydt Museum, Wuppertal
Galerie Van de Loo, Munich
Musée d’Art et d’Industrie, Saint-Etienne
1968
Galerie Edwin Engelberts, Geneva
1967
Galerie Le Point Cardinal, Paris (further presentations until 1986)
Galerie del Naviglio, Milan
Michaux a Venezia – Palazzo Grassi, Venice
1966
Galerie Edwin Engelberts, Geneva
Galerie Rudolf Zwirner, Cologne
1965
Musée National d’Art Moderne de Paris, Paris (retrospective)
Cordier-Ekstrom Gallery, New York
1964
Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (retrospective)
1963
Robert Fraser Gallery, London
Cordier-Ekstrom Gallery, New York
Galerie van de Loo, Munich
1962
Galerie Daniel Cordier, Paris
Silkeborg Museum, Silkeborg, Denmark
1960
Biennale, Venice
Galeria Blu, Milan
1959
documenta 2, Kassel
1958
Galleria dell’Ariete, Milan
1957
Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels
1956
Maison de la Culture française, Cairo
1952
Galerie Nina Dausset, Paris
1951
Pour connaître mieux Henri Michaux – Galerie Rive Gauche, Paris
1949
Dernières peintures à l’eau – Galerie René Drouin, Paris
1948
Galerie René Drouin, Paris
1946
Galerie Rive Gauche, Paris
Peintures et dessins – Libraire-Galerie La Hune, Paris
1944
Galerie Rive Gauche, Paris
1942
Galerie de l’Abbaye (Léon Zack), Paris
1938
Galerie Pierre Loeb, Paris
1937
Librairie-Galerie de la Pléiade, Paris
