A Master in the world of imaginary symbols Born in les Sables d'Olonne (Vendée, France). After being a student at Ecole des Arts Decoratifs and at Ecole des Beaux arts (The High school of Fine Arts ) in Paris, he was a stained glass painter in Chartres, Tours and Paris. His first private exhibition was at Galery CARMINE in 1946. His early work belongs to the so called "Reality Poetique" movement. Then, as he had never entered an agreement with a particular gallery, the free-lance painter was at liberty to approach his art in search of greater depth, enhancing the fascination of what in unreal in images of truly poetic drama drawn with peerless perfection. In his prophetic vision he introduces us to the unknown and the unconscious in our souls. We behold his mind 'eye in his seascapes at low ebb, his deserted Palaces with statues living an inside life, his empty cities opposing modern and past...This part of his art suggest "Symbolic surrealism". His last period. He has taken part in the main annual art exhibitions in Paris such as the Salons "Les Grands et les Jeunes" (The Great and the Young), "Les Peintres témoins de leur temps" (Painters : witness of their time), Trois Dimentions (Three dimensions), Comparaisons, Peinture à l'eau, ... He is responsible also of many private exhibitions in France and abroad (New-York, San Antonio, Dallas, Montréal, Tokio,Celles, Munich, Goteborg, Mexico, Paris -Galery Ror Volmar-, Cannes, Nantes...). He became a permanent member of the Salon d'AUTOMNE (Fall Exhibition) Paris in 1954, and was Vice President of Société Nationale des Beaux arts (National Society for Fine Arts(1958/2000). He has won several prises : Grand prix de l'Ile de France, Grand prix Signatures, Grand prix Michel Ange (Cannes,) Grand Prix Puvis de Chavannes. A number of Museums have purchased his work: The City of Paris, The French State (for the Paris Museum of modern art), many cities in France and abroad (Germany, USA, Japan, Iran...). In the word of the art critic Philippe Harald Thomas: "His quest goes on for ever. His symbolic surrealism addresses both what is real and what is imaginary. This Artist is an exceptional figure among French contemporary painters".Paintings permanently at the following address : Jean Paul BUFFET 11bis rue Maurice Berteaux 92310 SEVRES (4 Kms near Paris)