Robert Combas

Robert Combas (b. 1957 France) is a French artist and a leading figure in the Figuration Libre movement, which emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a reaction against the austerity of conceptual and minimalist art. Combas’s work is characterized by its vibrant, chaotic energy, bold colors, and a blend of high and low culture, often drawing on comic strips, graffiti, rock music, and everyday life. His paintings are densely populated with figures, patterns, and text, creating a dynamic, almost frenetic visual experience. Combas's style is playful yet deeply expressive, addressing themes such as violence, sexuality, and the human condition with both humor and intensity. As a pioneer of contemporary French art, Combas has significantly influenced the development of figurative painting in Europe. (Artist website)