Olivier Wahl is a man of art who has dedicated his entire life to artistic practice. For the past 45 years, his journey has unfolded through a series of works and workspaces, akin to walking a tightrope. His initial passions were cinema and video, which reemerged five years ago after a two-decade hiatus, filling him with joy as he accessed the world through the lens of his camera.
Olivier Wahl is most of all a prominent figure in the contemporary art scene, excelling as a painter, consultant, gallery director, teacher, and writer. His diverse career has seen him transition from screenwriting and filmmaking to painting, with participation in numerous exhibitions and art fairs that highlight his talent both in France and internationally.
In 1999, Wahl founded “Le temps de peindre,” a painting school that has become a hub for aspiring artists. He offers a range of classes and workshops, along with educational visits to museums, fostering a deep appreciation for art among his students. His innovative approach integrates painting as a tool for change management in corporate environments, showcasing the versatility of art in various contexts.
As the director of “Les Vergers de l’Art,” an esteemed gallery in Paris, Wahl plays a pivotal role in promoting contemporary artists through carefully curated exhibitions. His literary contributions further enhance his profile, as he reflects on the artists’ role and the creative process in several insightful publications.
Olivier Wahl’s commitment to art education, consultancy, and curation marks him as a significant contributor to the artistic landscape, bridging the gap between creation and pedagogy.
Painting has been the cornerstone of his professional activity for over thirty years, remaining a fundamental aspect of his artistic quest. Through painting, he has created a playground to question the very nature of creation and art. Currently, he focuses on a series of small formats, 20 cm x 20 cm, expressing his joy of creation and his endless exploration of color, shape, material, and gesture.
Wahl’s painting style aligns with what he describes as “the way of the heart”—a direct, unmediated approach that fosters a deep connection with the act of creation. He delves into the essence of inspiration, contemplating the creative process through direct engagement with materials, his vision, and the world around him.
This approach, free from preconceived ideas or plans, has been enriched by his lifelong relationship with writing. He has written daily—at least three hours a day—since adolescence, cultivating a habit of recording every thought that crosses his mind. This discipline has evolved into a profound exploration of the soul’s territory, illuminating its every corner.
His writing practice has taken various forms, including writing six poems a day for 66 days as part of an exhibition titled I Lost the Thread of Loving in September 2019, followed by 33 poems a day for over two years, and currently reaching an impressive rhythm of 150 poems a day since January 2021. For him, writing serves as a means of listening to himself and expressing the infinite drift of consciousness.
These artistic practices have led him to create and organize numerous exhibitions, performances, and events that intertwine visual arts and poetry:
- Exhibitions of crumpled poems: Landscapes of paper balls scattered across gallery spaces.
- The 24 Hours of Poetry: A continuous reading event featuring 48 readers alternating for 24 hours.
- The Cathedral of Poems: A construction of poems inscribed on cards.
- The Poetry Desk: Offering custom-written poems on demand.
- Monthly Evenings of “Drunk on Poetry”: Centered on publishing Poems of Stillness, exploring the theme: What Makes the World Still?
- A poetic performance titled Every Moment Makes TILT: On November 28, 2024, he wrote 1,000 poems in 18 hours, verified by 18 witnesses.
Wahl’s interest lies in the intersection of visual art and poetry, developing what he calls a “theater of poems”—spatial installations that utilize poetry as foundational material. Poetry captivates him as it allows him to listen to the world, a notion he considers essential to his artistic activity. He believes that an artist tunes into creation, art, society, and the world in all its abundance.
This practice of listening has fostered connections with others and inspired him to share his sensitivity and openness. For 25 years, he has taught creation through the workshop The Time to Paint and has consulted for companies on the notion of change, intrinsically linked to creation. Currently, he is launching a training program focused on the art of listening at the request of the association l’art pour dire.
Through listening, art finds its place at the heart of society, offering an escape from the tyranny of time and the freedom to engage deeply with existence. This listening experience is open to everyone, and he takes immense pleasure in sharing it with those curious about becoming present.
Teaching, for him, is a fully-fledged artistic act, akin to painting, creating installations, writing, or filmmaking. He considers himself an artist of connection, feeling deeply in tune with creation during moments of transmission, whether organizing exhibitions, managing a gallery, or running an artist residency in the countryside for those wishing to explore art.
Amidst his diverse activities, filmmaking remains a profound joy—a means to approach the world and explore its many facets. His current projects include:
- A documentary about Laura Loriers, a printmaker who has committed to creating one engraving each week for three years based on a painting by Suzanne Valadon. This film explores the relationship of transmission between these two artists—one contemporary and the other from another century—highlighting the act of working at the heart of artistic activity.
- A series of short documentaries, each 20 minutes long, examining daily life in a retirement home. He is deeply moved by the interviews with caregivers who dedicate their lives to assisting individuals who have lost their independence.
These endeavors fill every moment of his life, intrinsically tied to the essence of art. Recently, through his encounter with Ada Gabor, he developed an Instagram account, which he views as an artistic platform. Since its launch in September 2024, this medium has brought him immense pleasure, allowing him to connect with an audience and share his delight in creation, the world, and all things artistic.
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