A greedy record producer sells the soul of his submissive music composer to the devil. In exchange, he receives occult ovens that can bake baby birds into singing and dancing wooden dolls. Half-girl, half machines, the gifted humanoids are dressed stylishly by a nurturing choreographer with a unique creative vision. Mass-produced, hardworking and seemingly interchangeable, each puppet secretly has its own impassioned heart that dreams of soaring. They are built for the stage but destiny has got only one spotlight.
Through painting, drawing and comics, Julien Ceccaldi (b. 1987, Montréal, Canada) portrays characters in search of love and success. Inspired by the archetypes of the Shoujo manga tradition, his stories focus on personal and sentimental relationships involving androgynous figures. Tracing along the line between cute and morbid, his work depicts the constraints of fashion and public image.
Ceccaldi lives and works in New York. He has participated in several exhibitions in institutions and galleries including the Kölnischer Kunstverein, Cologne; the Consortium, Dijon; Mamco, Geneva; Gaga, Los Angeles and Mexico City; Jenny’s, New York; and Lomex, New York. He has been featured in various publications including Artforum, Frieze and Mould Map, and is the author of several self-published comic books.
Installation
views
Works
Julien Ceccaldi
The Viper Room, 2023
Gouache and ink on paper; framed
22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Difficult Financial Circumstances, 2023
Gouache, ink and pencil on paper; framed
22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Emancipated Girl Group on the Red Carpet, 2023
Gouache, ink and pencil on board; framed
22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Hollywood Girl, 2023
Gouache, ink and pencil on board; framed
22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
A Contract Signed in Lip Gloss, 2023
Gouache and ink on paper; framed
22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Hot as a Stove (G), 2023
Enamel paint, marker and silkscreen on Formica and MDF
42.52 x 19.29 x 22.83 inches
108 x 49 x 58 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Faustian Producer (R), 2023
Acrylic on canvas, silkscreen on Formica, MDF
70.87 x 47.24 x 19.29 inches
180 x 120 x 49 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Homunculus (L), 2023
Acrylic and marker on Duralar, gouache on MDF, silkscreen on Formica, MDF, and aluminum pan
42.52 x 19.29 x 22.83 inches
108 x 49 x 58 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Born to Sing, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
35.43 x 70.87 inches
90 x 180 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Speak, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
35.43 x 47.24 inches
90 x 120 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Hard Work, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
35.43 x 47.24 inches
90 x 120 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Family, 2023
Gouache, ink and pencil on board; framed
22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
The Prodigal Daughter, 2023
Gouache and ink on board, holographic foil on Duralar; framed
22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Ma Chérie La Poupée, 2023
Gouache and ink on board; framed
22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Choreographer, Producer, Designer, and Entrepreneur, 2023
Gouache and ink on board; framed
22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Race Against Time, 2023
Gouache and ink on board; framed
22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Mannequin Rising, 2023
Acrylic on Duralar and board, holographic vinyl;
framed 22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Blurry Eyes, 2023
Gouache and ink on board, acrylic on Duralar; framed
22.44 x 28.35 inches
57 x 72 cm
On verso
Installation
views
Works
Cosima von Bonin
MAE DAY I (PINK MAE WEST VELVET VERSION WITH LOBSTER, M.W. MIRROR PROP AND FLOWERPOT, 2022
Mixed Media
Overall 47.24 x 25.98 x 35.43 inches / 120 x 66 x 90 cm
Base 26.18 x 22.05 x 22.05 inches / 66.5 x 56 x 56 cm
Cosima von Bonin
MAE DAY II (PINK STRIPED VELVET VERSION WITH FAN AND BENCH), 2022
Mixed Media
Overall 43.31 x 71.26 x 29.92 inches / 110 x 181 x 76 cm
Base 15.16 x 71.26 x 19.69 inches / 38.5 x 181 x 50 cm
Cosima von Bonin
MAE DAY III DISH RAG VERSION WITH M. W. SCARF AND TURTLE BOX) & MAE DAY IV (LINNEN VERSION WITH FAN AND TURTLE BOX), 2022
Mixed Media
Overall 69.69 x 39.37 x 64.96 inches / 177 x 100 x 165 cm
Cosima von Bonin
MAE DAY V (GREY BROWN CHECKED VERSION WITH FAN AND STEPP LADDER), 2022
Mixed Media
Overall 82.68 x 25.98 x 47.24 inches / 210 x 66 x 120 cm
Base 66.14 x 14.57 x 47.24 inches / 168 x 37 x 120 cm
Cosima von Bonin
nothing succeeds like excess, 2019/2021
Paper, wood, steel, foam, rubber, and velvet
45.28 x 92.52 x 66.93 inches
115 x 235 x 170 cm
Cosima von Bonin
Privato, 2022
Iron, lacquer
11.81 x 43.31 inches
30 x 110 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Palatable Pearls, 2022
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 inches
152.4 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm
Signed on verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Francis From the Back, 2022
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 inches
152.4 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm
Signed on verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Violet Bedsheets, 2022
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 inches
152.4 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm
Signed on verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Girly Bedroom, 2022
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 inches
152.4 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm
Signed on verso
Julien Ceccaldi
Francis, Marie-Claude, Charlotte and Charlotte’s brother (Set of four dining chairs), 2022
Chair (white/birch), acryl
31.89 x 18.11 x 20.08 inches
81 x 46 x 51 cm
Signed
Installation
views
Works
Julien Ceccaldi
The Influencer’s Mask, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 in
152.4 x 121.92 x 3.8 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
A Boarding House for Vampires, 2021
Mixed media
59.25 x 47.5 x 2 in
150.5 X 120.65 X 5.08 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Moonlit Meal, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 in
152.4 x 121.92 x 3.8 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Charlotte’s Brother, 2020
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 in
152.4 x 121.92 x 3.8 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Dessert Coma, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 in
152.4 x 121.92 x 3.8 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Vampiric Overbite, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 in
152.4 x 121.92 X 3.8 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Two Bad Listeners, 2021
Ink on paper
59.25 x 47.5 x 2 in
150.5 x 120.65 x 5.08 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Shower Spies, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 in
152.4 x 121.92 x 3.8 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Order in the Powder Room, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
60 X 48 x 1.5 in
152.4 x 121.92 x 3.8 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
The Millennial Dream, 2021
Ink on paper
59.25 x 47.5 x 2 in
150.5 x 120.65 x 5.08 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
A Thorough Lip Gloss Review, 2021
Ink, oil pastel and pencil on paper
59.25 x 47.5 x 2 in
150.5 x 120.65 x 5.08 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Charlotte’s Heritage, 2020
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 in
152.4 x 121.9 X 3.8 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
First Time Nailing, 2021
Ink and acrylic on wall
Dimensions variable
Julien Ceccaldi
Francis and His Girlfriends, 2021
Ink and oil pastel on paper
59.25 x 47.5 x 2 in
150.5 x 120.65 x 5.08 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Annoyed Punk Princess, 2021
Ink and acrylic on canvas
60 x 48 x 1.5 in
152.4 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm
“If God made us in his image
If so was His will
He should have taken umbrage
At the ill-inhabited Evil
Who infiltrates and feeds
On the immaculate innocence
Of my gentle child-like soul
I would like to understand
In this paradox
I am not complicit
Suffer, as another
Slips within me
Without logic
I leave myself
As satanic as I am
Angelic.
While each time we chat
We let ourselves drift
I do believe by heritage
My silence is murderous
You find me looking pale
Fixed to your oh so tender eyes
I might just inadvertently
With scissors cleave them”
Lyrics by Mylène Farmer (Sans Logique, 1988)
Installation
views
Works
Julien Ceccaldi
Four Eyes, 2019
Acrylic on canvas
70.87 x 55.12 x 1.57 inches
180 x 140 x 4 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Crawling Over A Guy, 2019
Oil on canvas
70.87 x 55.12 x 1.57 inches
180 x 140 x 4 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Out the Window Towards the Bavarian Castle, 2019
Oil on canvas
70.87 x 55.12 x 1.57 inches
180 x 140 x 4 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Gloomy Dinner, 2019
Acrylic on canvas
70.87 x 55.12 x 1.57 inches
180 x 140 x 4 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Poppy Flower Field, 2019
Oil on canvas
70.87 x 55.12 x 1.57 inches
180 x 140 x 4 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Guest Coming Over, 2019
Oil on canvas
70.87 x 55.12 x 1.57 inches
180 x 140 x 4 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Closet Under the Stairs, 2019
Found banister and acrylic paint on wall
92.32 x 63.39 x 7.48 inches
234.5 x 161 x 19 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Red Light District, 2019
Oil on canvas
70.87 x 55.12 x 1.57 inches
180 x 140 x 4 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Arachné Hugging Pillow, 2019
Acrylic paint on punching bag and chains
38.19 x 14.17 inches
97 x 36 Ø cm
Twenty years is the time that has passed since Fernando joined Air de Paris to do an internship.
A Sentimental Education: it is the story of a young man, he must have been eighteen, this romantic and sensitive anti-hero who arrives in Paris where lead by a coup de coeur he finds himself a rich new world that he barely understands, filled with questionable characters (like himself), where he negotiates (or dialogues) with past and future revolutions and his own desire.
This double title of novels was composed at eight hands by Air de Paris and House of Gaga as an exquisite corpse and could become the chorus of a song. House of Gaga is the name of the gallery later founded by Fernando Mesta with José Rojas in Mexico City (and now also in Los Angeles). And before Air Paris moves to Komunuma in Romainville, this is a community we wanted to celebrate.
Footnotes
Sentimental Education, Gustave Flaubert, 1869
Installation
views
Works
Julien Ceccaldi
Hooded Corpse, 2018
Skeleton model, melted plastic, chicken wire, synthetic wig, hoodie, underwear, socks, slipper and woodstain and acrylic paint
Julien Ceccaldi
Secret Base, 2019
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 18 inches
61 x 45.7 cm
Julien Ceccaldi
Secret Base ~ 10 Years Later, 2019
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 18 inches
61 x 45.7 cm
Nicolas Ceccaldi
Untitled, 2017
Crucifix, mirror, plastic frame
23.62 x 15.75 inches
60 x 40 cm
Nicolas Ceccaldi
Untitled, 2017
Crucifix, holographic vinyl, plastic frame
23.62 x 15.75 inches
60 x 40 cm
Nicolas Ceccaldi
Moment On The Bridge, 2013
Glicee and acrylic on canvas
39.5 x 47 inches
100.3 x 119.4 cm
Vivian Suter
Untitled, n.d.
Acrylic, glue and mud on canvas
71.65 x 89.76 inches
182 x 228 cm
Trisha Donnelly
Untitled, 2016 Stone
110 x 60 x 10 cm
Bruno Pelassy
Sans titre. Série Perles, 1995
glass beads, nylon, wood
220 x 90 cm
Bruno Pelassy
Sans titre. Série Créatures, 2000-2001
silk, silicone, beads, lace, in an aquarium on plinth aquarium
53 x 90 x 40 cm; plinth
122,5 x 90 x 40 cm
Bruno Pelassy
Sans titre. Série Créatures, 2000-2001
silk, silicone, beads, lace, in an aquarium on plinth aquarium
53 x 90 x 40 cm; plinth
122,5 x 90 x 40 cm
Trisha Donnelly
Untitled, 2008
Digital video 6 min, looped
4/5, 2 AP