Born in 1952 in Roumazieres (France) Bernard Pras is one of the most highly acclaimed contemporary French artists. Bernard studied at the School of Art in Poitiers, and in Toulouse. In 1974 he wins the city of Toulouse price for Painting. After three years as teacher and still painting he starts working as an etching publisher. He invents in 1989 a new etching process called "aquagravure".
Bernard Pras is a painter by training, though it is difficult to define his work as a single art form. A painter, a sculptor, a photographer, Pras is above all a portraitist. His new approach to work was first exhibited in Paris in 1998, and the success of this exhibition brought him renown as one of the most original emerging artists in Europe. His work has since been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout Europe, the States and Brazil.
Bernard Pras is an extraordinary image maker. He composes all his portraits through photographing the assemblage of dozens (or hundreds) of found objects, on the principle of anamorphosis (an image which appears distorted unless viewed from a particular angle). The final product is a large Cibachrome print, which is best viewed from a certain distance. When observed up-close, Pras images may seem a jumble of brightly colored objects, which we recognize from our daily lives - products of our consumption. As one gains distance from the print, however, a larger image becomes clear - a portrait - which has been brilliantly constructed.
Pras is mostly focusing on portraits of cultural icons: Marilyn Monroe, Jimi Hendrix, Einstein, Che Guevara, Mickey Mouse, which are made with a great sense of humor and social awareness.
Bernard Pras lives and works outside Paris.