LaMontè French is an American visual artist born and raised in Houston, Texas. His name,
being a true testament of his passion to mix history of past (him being of Creole & German
descent) and concrete present. "LaMontè" being his birth given middle name and "French"
standing as the torch to pay homage to his Creole grandmother. "I feel as individuals in
this world, we must utilize every entity given to us, that is our right as human beings".
LaMontè French is a self-taught abstract-expressionist artist, naturally drawing influence from arguably the most famous expressionist artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat. Because he considers himself to be an extensive student of the history of art, he also draws influence from other artists before him such as Julian Schnabel, Keith Haring, Jackson Pollock, Jasper Johns, Picasso and more. But he also respects the influence of current greats such as Mark Bradford, John Doyle-Hancock, Henry Ascencio and Mark Cole. French compares his approach to his work as to the approach of his favorite philosophers, Erickson, Piaget and Nietzsche. He then
entangles the genius and freedom of creative minds such as Versace, Lagerfeld, Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Virgil Ibloh...their drive and passion, through fashion inspires him. He intertwines these two worlds in comparison to a Jazz tale being told by Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Being true to the description, his two favorite Jazz albums are "Bitches Brew" by Miles Davis and "In a Sentimental Mood" by John Coltrane/Duke Ellington.
Artist Statement
The work I create is based upon content. Content using history - past, present, foreseen futures and inevitable action. Content also being drawing inspiration from different styles and an array of various artists, past and present. Giving emphasis to a historical foundation and basis of the work. The materials are not specific to disciplined categories but more so driven from inspiration. I am an “abstract-expressionist” artist by a genre’s definition. A “simplistic complexity” is a more personal label of my work. Giving passages of a grander message through the windows of ordinary, everyday and even at times, childish images from daily life. Whether it pertains to entertainment, fashion, politics, art, etc. yet all in the pool of “history”, I blatantly know the image which is going to grab the eye of the consumer ... which is purposeful in it’s drawl, as a somewhat “trap”. The jolt of emotion through a deeper message
through dissertative explanation is the journey, the true griot of the art, of my work.