Patrick Altes
Il Faut Cultiver Son Jardin , 2015Mixed media on canvas150 x 130 cmPatrick Altes, of French and Spanish heritage, was born in Algeria and, following Algeria's independence, joined the exodus to France. Since then, he has lived extensively in Ecuador, South America, and most recently in the United Kingdom. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Altes finds it very complex to explore a sense of identity stemming from his cultural background. Still, he does not shy away from this exploration in his artistic practice.
Altes’ response to his intricate heritage and origins is evident across various series and mediums; he employs acrylic and household paint as well as water, inks, and unrefined pigments derived from clay, sand, and spices, which examine the uncomfortable and ambivalent notion of birthright and the diaspora’s shifting, uncertain attitudes towards belonging, dispossession, and migration.
He has received the prestigious Leverhulme Trust Award twice and has been widely exhibited in numerous public and private collections in the MENA region, including the Bahrain Art Fair, Algerianism 1 at the Nour Festival, and The Bridge in France in 2015. In 2016, he exhibited with Lahd Gallery at Art16 in "Trips to Colourful Thoughts" and "Africa My Africa: Connecting Boundaries" and was nominated for the 7th edition of the Prix Picket Award.