Galerie Claude Bernard

AMERICAN REALISM 70-80
Group show

  • ROBERT BIRMELIN, The stadium alight blue city, acrylic on canvas,183 x 198 cm. Courtesy Galerie Claude Bernard

ROBERT BIRMELIN, The stadium alight blue city, acrylic on canvas,183 x 198 cm. Courtesy Galerie Claude Bernard

Galerie Claude Bernard presents a group exhibition dedicated to a generation of American realist painters active in the 1970s and 1980s. Bringing together some thirty works—paintings and drawings—by William Bailey, Jack Beal, Robert Birmelin, Bruno Civitico, Mary Ann Currier, Rackstraw Downes, John Gordon, Michael Mazur and others, the exhibition invites visitors to rediscover a constellation of artists who remained on the margins of the dominant narrative of post-war art, even though they are now widely represented in major American public collections.
In contrast to the abstract painting and conceptual, minimalist, queer, graffiti and Pop art movements that defined the New York art scene at the time, these artists chose realistic figurative painting. Their work is now seen in a new light, at a time when figurative art is making a comeback and there is a renewed focus on the real world.
Group show of William Bailey, Jack Beal, Robert Birmelin, Bruno Civitico, Mary Ann Currier, Rackstraw Downes, John Gordon, Michael Mazur, and other artists from the same movement.
From March 26 to May 31, 2026
7-9 Rue des Beaux Arts
Paris, France 01 43 26 97 07 claude-bernard.com/index.php?lang=fr

The gallery

The gallery was founded in 1957 by Claude Bernard, near the School of Fine Arts in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Internationally recognized for its exhibitions such as Bacon in 1977, Picasso in 1980, Hockney in 1975, 1982 and 1985, or Giacometti in 2012 to name but a few, the vocation of the gallery is the presentation of contemporary artists in both painting and sculpture.

After the death of Claude Bernard in November 2022, the adventure continues with his nephew Michel Soskine.
Founder of the galleries Claude Bernard Ltd. New York and Michel Soskine Inc. Madrid-New York, he is now leading the gallery in Paris.

New program, new artists, this historical gallery opened in 1957, is making a new start.

Gallery artists

Angel Alonso, Geneviève Asse, Abel Barroso, Ronan Barrot, Jean-Pierre Bertrand, Peter Blake, Juan Cardenas, Henri Cartier-Bresson, César, Leonardo Cremonini, Antonio Crespo Foix, Roël d'Haese, Robert Doisneau, Martine Franck, Alberto Giacometti, Alan Glass, Ipoustéguy, Horst Janssen, Denis Laget, Lee Jin Woo, Eugène Leroy, David Levine, André Marfaing, Armando Morales, Zoran Music, Agathe Pitié, Louis Pons, Paul Rebeyrolle, Maryan S. Maryan, Saul Steinberg, Antonio Seguí, Edik Steinberg, Sam Szafran, Gao Xingjian, Daniel Zeller

In the thematic « Art moderne »

Sonia Delaunay, Projet de couverture pour le livre de Jacques Damase,

Galerie Zlotowski

"Sonia Delaunay, today" — Group show
Jean Hélion, Autoportrait, 1959, huile sur toile, 46 x 55 cm

Galerie Alain Margaron

"Derain, Deux, Hélion, Music, From Model to Self-Portrait" — Group show
Kees van Dongen, Composition Florale, Avec Une Pipe, circa 1945-1950 © HELENE BAILLY MARCILHAC

HELENE BAILLY MARCILHAC

Kees van Dongen , Netherlands

In the thematic « Modern Art »

Gérard SCHNEIDER (1896 - 1986), Opus 50E, 1960 oil on canvas, Signed and dated on the lower left : «Schneider 11-60» 97 x 130 cm

Galerie Jean-François Cazeau

"Maîtres du XXe siècle" — Group show
Jacqueline Lamba, Maison et forêt, 1947, Oil on canvas crédits DURAZZO

DURAZZO

"Spring show" — Group show
Adrianna Wallis, Bijou Bougie, 2012. Courtesy of Anne-Laure Buffard and the artist.

Galerie Anne-Laure Buffard

Adrianna Wallis / Diane Esmond

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"Il restera la gravité"

In the thematic « Painting »

Tiffanie Delune, Alchemy, 2023. Mixed media on paper Fabriano © Galerie CHRISTOPHE PERSON

Galerie CHRISTOPHE PERSON

"Matières à abstraction, écho à l’histoire d’un lieu" — Group show

galerie anne barrault

Tiziana la Melia , Italy

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"Kitten Healer Litter"

L'artiste au travail, Mayura Torii, photo : JC Lett

22,48 m²

Mayura Torii , Japan

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"Artiste au travail"

In the thematic « Peinture »

Kiki Smith, Columba, 2025, bronze, 50

Galerie Lelong

Kiki Smith

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"Flight"

Khalif Tahir Thompson, « State Fair », 2026, Oil, Acrylic, Handmade papers, on canvas, 170 x 240 cm (66 7/8 x 94 1/2 in). Courtesy Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery and the artist.

Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery

Khalif Tahir Thompson , United States

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"Songs In The Key of Life"

Galerie Lelong

Paula Rego , Portugal

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In the tour « Saint-Germain-des-Prés »

Galerie Dutko

Jean-Michel Wilmotte

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"ROCKSTONE by Wilmotte"

Larry Sultan, Mike Mandel, Evidence, 1977, © Estate Larry Sultan, courtesy Galerie Thomas Zander, Cologne

Zander Galerie

Larry Sultan et Mike Mandel

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"Evidence"

Yann Bagot - Myriades, 2023 - encre de Chine et sel marin sur papier - 76 x 56 cm. Courtesy Galerie Berthet-Aittouarès

Berthet-Aittouarès

The gallery is celebrating its 40th anniversary — Group show