Discover the contemporary work of David Oppenheim

David OPPENHEIM, painter, atypical and anarchic, is born the 27th November 1937 in the south of France. Asserted with a strong personality, Oppenheim has made his worldwide search for inspiration a life time experience. His life is filled with travelling, adventures and experiences which resulted in a constant evolution of his painting. His professional path is defined by encounters. The year 1959 is the trigger of Oppenheim’s artistic career. In 1959 and 1960, he exposes in Gallery Merciano and Gallery Nègre which both will support him during his long career with regular exhibitions. In 1968 he starts to travel and each destiny, each encounter, will lead to new exhibitions; first in Mexico City, in the gallery Peganin’s, followed by London and Germany in the gallery Kunst-Amendt. It will be in Aix-la- Chapelle that a wealthy manufacturer, filled with passion for his work, sets up a magnificent studio in his buildings. From than on, exhibitions become frequent, with gallery Siebel and gallery Glaüb being highlights in this period. In 1972 another exceptional meeting, this time in Florencia, with Franco Bettazzi, who as well is token with the style of Oppenheim’s paintings, results in a nine month collaboration with exclusive work for him. In 1973 he returns to France where he exposes in the Parisian gallery Beauvois. In 1974, he realizes 43 drawings as a tribute to Leo Ferré, coinciding with the release of the album “Il n’y a plus rien”. The drawings are bought straight away by a Texan art collector who commissions a further 10 lithographs, which later will be part of a set called “Obsession”. In 1975 Bob Dylan visits Oppenheim in Haute Savoie, where David has than his residence. Dylan asks him to illustrate the cover of his new album to be released; “Blood on the Tracks”. Together they travel through France during several months. From 1976 to 1981 a great number of exhibitions take place all over France and Germany, where his work is specially appreciated. The period 1981-1985 gets a new dimension, undertaking gigantic frescos and outside wall paintings at the ‘théâtre Toursky’ in Marseille. Similar works follow, among which the ceiling of the ‘théâtre de Salon de Provence’ and a 200 square meters fresco in Paris. In 1990 he returns to the region of Marseille where he makes friends with a well known surgeon who kindly offers him to share his client list and invites him to Corse where Oppenheim will paint a great part of his work. In 1992 and 1993 new exhibitions take place in Marseille, in gallery Sylvestre and in 1994 in gallery Elysée-Matignon. After some years of reflection, David Oppenheim gets married again and settles in the south of Spain where he’s taken up again his painting skills.