Frédéric Lère has lived and worked in Hell’s Kitchen and the Garment District in Manhattan for many years. His neighborhood, which includes Hudson Yards and the Vessel, has become an endless painting ground.
Ten years ago, Lère opened a new painting studio in France, in the Loire Valley. This provided an opportunity to revisit the French Renaissance cradle. He enjoyed investigating the extent to which 16th century people were aware of the expeditions to the Americas. That took him down a rabbit hole of endless research. And of course, a large body of work devoted to that period was created, which has been featured in a number of exhibitions.
The paintings reveal that the issues faced during the 16th century are not that different from the ones we are facing today. Les Amériques et la Réforme, a subset in that series, opened on March 15. It will remain on display at the Musée du Protestantisme – De la Réforme à la Laïcité, Ferrières, Tarn, until June 15, 2026. On May 23rd, during La Nuit des Musées, Lère will be present at the Museum to present his work.
Following on previous exhibitions of the 16th century series at the Possonnière Manor, starting in May, an exhibition will focus on gardens and chateaux in the Loire Valley and beyond. It will continue through September 2026.
Maze in the Possonnière Garden, oil on canvas, 29 x 21 inches, 2026
New York City, 2023
As a painter, Lère always enjoys making live sketches of his neighborhood, some of which are later developed in the studio as oil paintings. In a fast changing environment, he documents some of the neighborhood landmarks, from Lincoln Tunnel, to the New York Times building.
The nearby Chelsea galleries provide another source of inspiration, where the observer becomes observed. There is always a lot to capture: interesting buildings, street scenes, and temporary or permanent art installations: from artwork on the HIgh Line, to the new Big Button in the Garment District, or Nick Cave’s Soundsuits on subway stations mosaics.
In Manhattan’s fast changing environment, Lère documents the action taking place on his neighborhood landmarks. As the Port Authority Bus Terminal may soon be revamped, he decided to celebrate the current building, reimagining it as a Roman bath in the style of the old Penn Station. Inspired by George Bellows documenting the Penn Station excavations over a century ago, he added some of the kids Bellows portrayed in other paintings.
Some of Lère’s Manhattan paintings have twice been shown on over 1,900 LinkNYC digital kiosks across the five boroughs of New York City, as part of the Art On Link program, an initiative developed by the City of New York.
Lère in his Hell’s Kitchen Studio
Image Copyright Ana Luiza Cortez, 2022
