Jean-Claude Barthel

Jean-Claude Barthel is a self-taught French abstract artist known for his vibrant, elemental paintings inspired by nature’s forces—water, air, earth, and fire. Originally trained as an industrial draftsman, he turned fully to painting in the late 1970s after settling in Auvergne. Barthel’s works, often in oil or acrylic, feature rich textures, layered glazes, and bold gestures that convey energy and emotion. His art seeks to evoke sensations—light, movement, warmth—through color and composition. Exhibited widely in France and Europe, including Paris, Vichy, and Vienna, his paintings are held in private collections and represented by several galleries like SIMPARGA. Barthel’s work offers a sensory journey into the essence of the natural world.