GALERIE MADY DE LA GIRAUDIÈRE

At the beginning of 2018, Mady de la Giraudière passed away a little before her 96th birthday, but her work continues to inspire, thanks in part to her daughter, Chin, who opened a gallery dedicated to her mother in January 2022, in her Lavelanet home. This was the artist's wish, as she had planned to open a gallery and exhibit her paintings and drawings. The grande dame of naive art spent her early years in this small Ariège town, which she cherished all her life. She would have liked to go to art school, but her father was firmly opposed to the idea, so Mady taught herself, perfectly self-taught. Away from directive masters, but also from influences and fashions, she developed a totally personal art and met with well-deserved success at her first Parisian exhibition in the late 1950s. From then on, she never ceased exhibiting and creating, meeting with ever-increasing recognition. Her soothing universe, populated by children, animals and plants, is enchanting and transports us into a world of poetry. Her colorful landscapes, captivating light and gentle compositions are her trademark. A unique artist, she worked all her life, right up to the end, and exhibited all over the world. Covered in prizes and awards, she always remained very attached to her little corner of Ariège. The church in Lavelanet also features several of her paintings.