Etienne Cail (B.1991)

Biography

Etienne Cail is a French painter born in 1991.

Etienne Cail's painting is an invitation to plunge into a universe where intensity and emotional depth reign supreme.

Known for his striking portraits and figures shrouded in mystery, his work has long captured attention for its ability to capture the essence of his subjects.

Until 2019, Étienne Cail has been renowned for his portraits of Asian figures. These works, marked by an acute sensitivity, seduced by their depth and their ability to tell stories beyond appearances. The intensity of the painted glances testifies to a desire to reveal the soul of his subjects.

After such dazzling success, it was time for a break, a need to detach himself in order to rediscover himself. This voluntary retirement allowed Étienne to re-evaluate his artistic approach, to rediscover passion from a new angle. Five years of silence were the seedbed for a profound inner transformation.

Today, his palette has broadened, embracing new themes such as the female nude. Scenes come to life in the intimacy of his studio, where Caucasian faces now replace Asian features. This evolution marks a transition to a more peaceful expression, where the gaze, as intense as ever, is accompanied by a serene detachment, a reflection of artistic and personal maturity.


This journey towards simplicity is reflected in every brushstroke. Each canvas tells a story of celebrating the beauty found in details and quiet moments. Étienne Cail's painting is both a return to his roots and a bold exploration of new perspectives.

In short, Étienne Cail's work is an introspective and poetic voyage, a dance between the old and the new, where each painting is an open window on the human soul.



Selected artworks

Etienne Cail

Scène de pose et Cacatoès, Atelier

Oil on canvas signed et dated on the back

180 x 230 cm / 70.86 x 90.55 inches

2025

Etienne Cail

Léopard, Atelier I

Oil on canvas signed and dated on the back

160 x 120 cm / 63 x 47.2 inches

2018

Etienne Cail

Valentina III

Oil on canvas signed and dated on the back

160 x 120 cm / 63 x 47.2 inches

2024

Etienne Cail

Katline, Atelier

Oil on canvas signed and dated on the back

101 x 81 cm / 39.76 x 31.89 inches

2025

Etienne Cail

Barbara, pose atelier

Oil on canvas signed and dated on the back

160 x 120 cm / 63 x 47.2 inches

2024


Main exhibitions (selection)

2025

Galerie Sarto (à venir)

2018

Mazel Galerie, The great race, Singapour.

Mazel Galerie, Flowers, Bruxelles, Belgique.

Galerie Prune Duclos, Peindre les oubliés, Paris,France.

Mazel Galerie, Beirut Art Fair, Beyrouth, Liban.

Mazel Galerie, Sealdah, Bruxelles, Belgique.2014

Galerie RZG, Off Line, Cité de la mode et du design,Paris, France.

22 Gallery, Etienne Cail / Yoann Merienne, Lyon,France.

Asfap Gallery, 1830, Bruxelles, Belgique.

2017

Galerie Prune Duclos / Galerie Detais, Paris, France

Mazel Galerie, Orients, Bruxelles, Belgique.

Mazel Galerie, French touch, Singapour.

Galerie Pruno Duclos, DOMUM, Lille, France.

2016

Galerie Guido Romero Pierini, Fenêtre sur cour (en duoavec Pascal Vilcollet), Paris, France.

Mazel Galerie, 50 ans après Walt..., Bruxelles,Belgique.

Mazel Galerie, St-Art Art Fair, Strasbourg, France.

2015

22 Gallery, Nouvelle peinture narrative: le réeltransfiguré, Lyon, France.

Musée Delacroix, Effervescences - Jeunes artisteschez Delacroix, Paris, France.

La lune en parachute /CENTRE D’ART, Invasions,Epinal, France.

Galerie Hervé Lancelin, la Tentation de l’Orient,Luxembourg

2013

22 Gallery, Résonances - Biennale off d’artcontemporain, Lyon, France.

Awards & Residences

2015

Révélation, Lille Art’up, Lille, France.

L’étoile, Vernou-sur-Brenne, France.

2014

Asfap Gallery - Bruxelles, Belgique.

2013

2nd Price - Paliss’art, La Source, La Guéroulde, France.

MUCEM, Performance, Marseille, France.

Press

2017

KUNST+UNTERRICHT p. 81 (Allemagne), Décembre 2017,Erscheinungen vertauschen und Kulturen verbinden: Etienne Cail

MIROIR DE L'ART #80 (France), 18/02/2017, Regards surl'Orient

EGO LA REVUE #36 p. 88-89 (France), 06/2017, Etienne Cail,peintre débridé

LE PROGRES Loire p. 42 (France), 06/07/2017, Etienne Cailpeint l'Orient "avec une liberté énorme"

2016

L'ECONOMISTE (Maroc), 09/08/2016, Quand deux artistesfrançais revisitent l'orientalismeLA VIE ECO (Maroc), 15/07/2016, Etienne Cail et OlivierMasmonteil, deux plasticiens à la rencontre du Maroc

LE 360 (Maroc), 03/06/2016, Deux peintres francais en résidenceartistique à Rabat

LA DEPECHE DU MAROC (Maroc), 09/06/2016, Face à faceavec Etienne Cail

VH (Maroc), Juin 2016, Etienne Cail et Olivier Masmonteil,Résidence au Maroc

BEAUX ARTS MAGAZINE n°383 (France), 04/2016, Latentation de l’Orient

LE MATIN (Maroc), 24/08/2016, Etienne Cail et OlivierMasmonteil dévoilent leur "vue sur Tanger"

ACTUELLES (Maroc), 17/08/2016, Peintres des lumières

LA TRIBUNE (Maroc), 26/08/2016, "Vue sur Tanger"

LES ECO (Maroc), 01/09/2016, Un amour pictural du Maroc

2015

LE QUOTIDIEN (Luxembourg), 16/07/2015, Changer l’histoirede l’art

TAFMAG (France), 10/02/2015, Etienne Cail repeint sesclassiques sous influence chinoise

2014

ART'S VICE (France), 07/2014, Etienne Cail et Yoann Merienne

ORANGE EXPO MUSÉES (France), 07/2014« Quoi mesgueules? »: Rencontre avec le peintre Etienne Cail

FOCUS (Belgique), 06/2014, Fort en gueules

ARTSPER (France), 05/2014, Rencontre avec un jeune talentArtsper

WEGOTALENT (France), 03/2014, Etienne Cail, Les gueules del’empire du milieu

2013

DOMODECO n°43 (France), Nov./Dec. 2013, Etienne Cail,Empreinte affirmée

BOUM BANG! (France), 05/2013, Lorsque les grands classiquespicturaux se brident les yeux et les sens

HOUHOUHAHA (France), 05/2013, Etienne Cail