Exclusive Interview with Artist Vincent Bardou
Between faith, painting and the quest for freedom
In this interview, Vincent Bardou looks back on a journey marked by contrasts: his childhood in Vitry-sur-Seine and the values of solidarity it instilled in him, his motorcycle accident that changed his relationship with life, and his travels that opened him up to other cultures and nature. From the street to the studio, he explains how painting became a matter of course, almost like a sacred language.
Through his answers, a profoundly spiritual vision of art and existence emerges: the importance of childhood and its pure gaze, the revolt against the destruction of nature, the homage to indigenous peoples, but also the need for solitude, silence, and meditation to create. Rejecting ego and competition, Vincent affirms that art is not a question of hierarchy but of authenticity. A conversation in which we discover a man in search of truth, for whom each canvas is an emotion, a prayer, a trace of life.
Interviewer — You were born in Vitry-sur-Seine and grew up there until you were 25. What did this city leave in you?
Vincent Bardou — Vitry is my matrix. It’s sometimes a tough place, but with incredible human richness. In these neighborhoods, I learned the value of solidarity, mutual aid, and loyalty. You are not judged by what you own, but by who you are. Growing up there forged my mindset, my resilience, my ability to take hard blows and get back up. But above all, Vitry gave me a love of diversity: cultures, faces, languages. That’s where I understood that humanity is beautiful in its differences. This raw energy, this mix of beauty and harshness, I still carry it in my paintings today.
Interviewer — Your schooling wasn’t easy, but you earned a Master’s in design. What lesson did you take from that?
Vincent Bardou — I wasn’t a model student. I experienced failure and self-questioning. But I learned early that the education system only cares about results. The path doesn’t matter, the destination does. Understanding this freed me: I stopped comparing myself to others and started paving my own path. Getting this degree wasn’t just a piece of paper; it was a victory, a symbol that someone from a modest neighborhood, facing difficulties, can still reach for what they want. I’ve kept that perseverance in my art: a finished canvas tells the story of all the invisible battles behind it.
Interviewer — You had a motorcycle accident that nearly cost you your life. How did it change you?
Vincent Bardou — That accident was a shock, a brutal awakening. When you face your fragility and realize everything can collapse in a second, your vision changes. I understood that nothing is guaranteed, that everything can stop tomorrow. So I chose to live stronger, more truly. I decided to pursue what truly made me vibrate. After the accident, I went to the south of France to breathe again, then I took a backpack and traveled the world. Those journeys were therapy. Every country, every face, every landscape added color to my scars.
Interviewer — Your travels greatly influence your work. What do you find there that you don’t find here?
Vincent Bardou — Travel teaches humility. You arrive somewhere knowing nothing, owning nothing important, just a human among others. There, you see what really matters: the welcome, the looks, the helping hands, the simple beauty of a sunset, the strength of a mountain, the energy of an unknown city. I was deeply marked by indigenous peoples, particularly Native Americans. Their connection to the earth, their respect for nature and ancestors, moved me profoundly. They remind us that we are part of a whole and must protect our surroundings. This ecological awareness is now an important part of my work. Every year, I go to “reconnect.” These pauses help me return to what’s essential.
Interviewer — How did you enter the art world?
Vincent Bardou — It’s almost a mystery. One day, I picked up a brush without really knowing why, as if something guided me. Maybe God put me on this path. It was instinctive. And then something opened. I realized it was a language I didn’t yet know but had always been inside me. I started painting, renting galleries, sometimes even sleeping there. I experienced precariousness, but I never gave up. I had no contacts, no knowledge of the art world. Everything I learned came from the street and life itself.
Interviewer — Then came a decisive meeting: a gallery in Le Marais.
Vincent Bardou — Yes, after two years living a bit like an art nomad, painting, exhibiting, sometimes sleeping in galleries, I met a gallerist who saw something in me. It was at “Le Repère” in Le Marais. He believed in my work when I still doubted myself. He guided me, advised me, helped me structure my style without betraying it. That meeting changed everything. Doors opened, other galleries, other exhibitions, and gradually collectors arrived, some coming from the other side of the world to see my paintings.
Interviewer — You often talk about themes like the environment, childhood, or rebellion. Why are they so present?
Vincent Bardou — Because they touch me deeply. Nature is in danger, and it angers me. Art allows me to pay tribute to what disappears and raise awareness, but always with beauty. Native Americans I met on my travels showed me another way to see the world: a sacred relationship with the earth. Childhood symbolizes purity and hope. My paintings with children speak of innocence, but also fragility. And then there is “Rebel for Life,” a series where I wanted to show that sometimes you must disobey to protect what matters. This rebellion is constructive, full of love and life.
Interviewer — Your style constantly evolves. What do you seek in painting?
Vincent Bardou — I seek raw emotion. I don’t paint to decorate; I paint to make people feel. Each canvas must say something, touch something. I worked a long time with acrylic, but oil came to me naturally. It’s demanding, slow, requiring patience and precision. It imposes humility: each layer must wait for the next; every detail counts.
Interviewer — Your painting is very emotional. What do you try to convey?
Vincent Bardou — My paintings are like prayers, meditations. Every face, every animal, every canvas carries a message: fragility, beauty, anger, peace. I want to remind that everything comes from within, that humans must remain humble and connected to the Earth.
Interviewer — Your works have strong spirituality. Where does this dimension come from?
Vincent Bardou — I’ve always felt there’s more than meets the eye. Material is just a facade; the real treasure is inside. “Material is illusion, knowledge is the true wealth.” My travels, my wounds, my readings, my encounters led me to believe every painting can be a silent prayer. When I paint a face, I try to capture more than features: I try to capture a light, a breath.
Interviewer — You often speak about your love for solitude. Why is it important to you?
Vincent Bardou — Solitude is not isolation; it’s a space to breathe. It’s where I truly find myself. I need silence and distance to hear what’s happening inside me. In the noise of the world, it’s easy to get lost. When I step away, walk in nature, or paint alone, I regain clarity. These moments of withdrawal give birth to my best ideas; that’s when my canvases come alive.
Interviewer — What role does nature play in your balance?
Vincent Bardou — Nature is my refuge. In forests, by the sea, on mountain tops, I reconnect with the essentials. Everything slows down. Trees, wind, sunlight: they are silent guides. They teach patience, humility, harmony. It’s also an endless source of inspiration: colors, textures, shapes. Every time I paint an animal or an aged face, I think of this raw energy nature gives me.
Interviewer — Do you meditate?
Vincent Bardou — Yes, in my own way. Meditation isn’t always sitting cross-legged; it’s also walking alone, breathing deeply, watching a sunset without expectation. It’s a way to quiet the mind and let something else speak: intuition, maybe the soul. In the studio, painting becomes a form of meditation. Every gesture, every layer of paint puts me in a nearly hypnotic state where I feel aligned.
Interviewer — How do these moments of withdrawal influence your art?
Vincent Bardou — They help me avoid superficiality. When I return from these solitary moments, I know why I paint and what I want to convey. I need this distance to keep my art sincere. A canvas isn’t just an image; it’s a trace of my inner journey. Without this time to recenter, my paintings wouldn’t have such depth.
Interviewer — Do you think you are the best artist of your generation?
Vincent Bardou — I don’t believe there is a “best” artist. Art isn’t a race or a hierarchy. Every artist carries a unique truth, a personal light. What I do resonates with some people; what others do resonates differently elsewhere, and that’s fine. Art shouldn’t be measured, ranked, or compared. Many artists fall into the trap of ego, thinking they must be “bigger” than others. It’s a competitive environment, sometimes brutal, like in other fields. For me, ego is a veil that distances us from the essential. Creating isn’t domination; it’s sharing, transmitting, sometimes even healing. Simply put: I don’t seek to be the best; I seek to be true. Art needs authenticity, not winners.
Interviewer — And now?
Vincent Bardou — Now, I continue exploring. I work on multiple collections, try new techniques, always aiming to evoke something real. I always carry the themes dear to me: childhood, nature, freedom, rebellion for life. My goal is simple: if someone leaves with emotion, reflection, or a bit more hope, I’ve succeeded.
Interviewer — A message for those who want to follow their path?
Vincent Bardou — Don’t sell your soul to please the world. Trust your intuition. Fall, get up, leave, come back. Seek peace within. The rest will follow.
