Visite Privée: Art Gallery Visit Series
April 16th, 2026—Grégory Derenne @ Backslash Gallery
Columbia alumni were welcomed to the inaugral show of Grégory Derenne at Backslash Gallery. The visit was guided by the artist and gallery co-founder Delphine Guillaud.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Grégory Derenne (b. 1978, France) graduated from the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts of Paris in 2007. His work has been shown in numerous international fairs and galleries. He recently took part in the exhibitions Immortelle at the Mo.Co in Montpellier and Le Jour des Peintres at the Musée d’Orsay.
Known for his luminous depictions of escalators and nocturnal urban landscapes, the artist now turns inward with a new body of still lifes that shift his focus from the flows of the city to quieter, more contemplative spaces. Initiated in 2020, these paintings arise from a patient and intuitive process: rather than staging compositions, Derenne paints objects that appear in his daily life—fruits, vases, and familiar items—revisiting the long tradition of still life through a distinctly contemporary lens. Drawing on a deep visual memory of artworks encountered in museums while avoiding direct quotation, he develops a personal pictorial language where light, matter, and time seem suspended. Each painting is presented in a carefully selected frame sourced from flea markets and reworked by the artist, becoming an integral extension of the work itself. In continuity with his earlier series—maintaining the same precision of framing and sensitivity to light—these intimate compositions invite viewers into a slower, more reflective mode of looking, where everyday objects quietly hold the traces of time, memory, and human presence.
GRÉGORY DERENNE
Le lapin blanc, 2025.
Oil on black canvas mounted on wood
39,5 x 29,5 cm
ABOUT THE SERIES
Each visit includes a guided tour led by an artist, curator, or gallerist, followed by an engaging discussion at a Paris art gallery or artist atelier. It provides a unique opportunity for alumni, artists and galleries to connect, fostering meaningful relationships around the world of contemporary art.
Posted by Victor Schaub Wong ’91 GSAPP