Estèbe, Michel

1954 –
French

One of the few contemporary artists on my roster, Michel Estèbe’s mastery of print making is proof positive that the genre is alive and well.

Born near Bordeaux, France, Estèbe began as a lithographic printer before becoming an artist in the early 1980s.  His early works were black and white mezzotints heavily influence by Surrealism and pop culture.  With the birth of his daughter in 1990 his palate lightened and became more colorful and more realistic.  Estèbe has always prepared his own plates, “rocking” the surface, mixing the colors and printing each impression himself.  He continues to live and work close to the sea and his roots.