John Fou to Present New Paintings in ‘Ce qui révèle’ at Galerie Strouk

Galerie Strouk will present ‘Ce qui révèle’, a solo exhibition by French artist John Fou, from 10 September to 10 October 2026 in Paris. The exhibition will mark a new stage in Fou’s practice, bringing together paintings that extend an approach previously centred on drawing. A vernissage will be held on Thursday, 10 September, from 6pm to 9pm, with the artist in attendance.

The exhibition will take place at Galerie Strouk, 2 avenue Matignon, 75008 Paris. It will be open from Monday to Saturday, from 10:30am to 7pm, during the run. The presentation follows the gallery’s summer pause and introduces a body of canvases described as varied in format and made, notably, with oil sticks.

Fou is known for a demanding drawing practice developed across paper, scrolls and tinder fungus. According to the gallery, his recent move into painting has allowed him to loosen the precision and repetition associated with drawing and to work with greater spontaneity. In the new paintings, gestures become faster and more instinctive while retaining the imagery that has defined his visual world.

That imagery includes horses, deer, winged dogs, horned beasts and enigmatic figures. These motifs are interwoven in dense, crowded compositions rather than presented as isolated subjects. The exhibition’s title, ‘Ce qui révèle’, is presented as a reflection of this transition and of the freedom Fou has found through painting.

Born in 1983 in Les Lilas, Fou lives and works in Paris. He is self-taught and comes from the performing arts, including circus, dance and theatre. His figurative paintings stage social interactions between different animal species, which the gallery describes as metaphors for his own experience and, more broadly, for human relationships.

Fou’s visual language draws on mythology, prehistoric cave painting, psychology, dance, video games, animation and classical painting. He combines these references in a narrative and symbolic universe. His work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions, including the 2023 group exhibition ‘Al Dente: A Feast for the Senses’ at Berntson Bhattacharjee Gallery in London. His work is held in public and private collections including the X Museum in Beijing, the Fondation Hermès in Paris and the Greenline Foundation in Paris.

The exhibition text is by Margaux Bonopera. ‘Ce qui révèle’ will remain on view at Galerie Strouk through 10 October 2026.