I select or invent processes and materials to fit each concept from multimedia installations to sculptures and original etchings. Intrigue and curiosity call visitors to explore new environments, traces, and collections. Some installations may recall displays in science or anthropology museums. Process-based pieces include series of sculptures created by the movements of everyday life including an ongoing series of worn minimalist shoes (221 pairs since 1991). I obsessively accumulate and transform conceptually interesting, useless but precious objects.
Many of my works indirectly comment on global contemporary society including wastefulness, environmental negligence, digital invasion, pharmaceutical foods, or lack of observation. Addictions, collections, or obsessive attachments to useless things such as food residues, single socks, empty pickle jars, junk food, weeds, plastic bags, or junk mail fascinate me. In recent projects with weed roots, potato peels, dryer lint, and single socks, I collect useless objects from my Facebook friends referring to changes in priorities in contemporary society. Collaborations and interactions with others are an essential part of the process. In recent interactive projects, I bring visitors to socialize around food and handmade objects. I am interested in social and experimental forms of art, in art that blends with life and makes people think.
My art is a series of experiments, chance discoveries, and reflections on everyday life. For me, if people remember what they see, it is art.
Viviane Le Courtois creates process-based, conceptual, and participatory art since 1989. Her installations, performances, sculptures, videos, and prints often intrigue visitors by connecting art to everyday life. Her works often comment on social and environmental issues. She has traveled in over 41 countries using 221 pairs of shoes as a sculptural performance. In 2004, she invented a non-toxic etching process using Kombucha.
Viviane Le Courtois was born in France in 1969. She moved to the US in 1994 and currently lives in Denver, Colorado. She received a Diplôme National Supérieur d'Expression Plastique from the Ecole Pilote Internationale d'art et de Recherches in Nice, France in 1992 and an MA in Art History from the University of Denver in 2000. She was awarded a Korea Foundation fellowship in 1993 and the Westword's Mastermind Award in Visual Arts in 2009. She has exhibited in the US, France, and Ireland including at the Passerelle Art Center in France and at the Regional Cultural Art Center in Donegal. Her works have been presented nationally at Mobius in Boston, The Williamsburg Art Center in New York, 601 Tully in Syracuse, Ohio State University, Neo Rio in New Mexico, and Speedwell Projects in Maine. She has shown works at many venues in Colorado, including Rocky Mountain School of Art + Design, Regis University, RedLine, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, the Denver Botanical Gardens, and the Center for Visual Arts (Metropolitan State University). In 2012, she presented her first solo museum exhibition: Edible?, 22 Years of Working with Food, at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. She has since created site-specific interactive projects for the city of Boulder, the Biennale of the Americas, the Denver Art Museum, and Neo Rio. She was an artist in residence at RedLine from 2008 to 2011, at Sustainability Park from 2011 to 2014, and at the Denver Art Museum in 2016. She was awarded the Octopus Initiative grant in 2018 to create a series of etchings for the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. She created a permanent installation at Meow Wolf Denver for their opening in 2021.
Viviane Le Courtois is also a curator, a teacher, and a world traveler. Since 2001, she is a Program Manager at DAVA (Downtown Aurora Visual Arts), a nonprofit community art center. She has taught at the Metropolitan State College of Denver, the University of Colorado in Denver, and the Community College of Aurora. She is the co-founder and conceptual director of Processus, the Institute for Art and Life, a studio space and art business. Processus opened in 2015 in collaboration with Christopher R. Perez.
Viviane Le Courtois
Born in France in 1969. Lives and works in USA since 1994
EDUCATION
1990-1992 Diplôme National Supérieur d’Expression Plastique, (MFA equivalent), Ecole Pilote Internationale d’Art et de Recherches/ Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Art, Villa Arson, Nice, France
1987-1990 Diplôme National d’Arts Plastiques with Jury Honors, (BFA equivalent), École des Beaux-Arts, Nantes, France
1995 Ceramics, Molds and Multiples, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA
1997-2000 Master in Art History, (Contemporary Art/Asian Art), University of Denver, CO, USA
AWARDS / FELLOWSHIPS / RESIDENCIES
2018 The Octopus Initiative, Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, CO
2016 Creative in Residence, Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO
2011- 2014 Resident Artist at Sustainability Park, Denver CO
2012 Museum Art Educator of the Year, Colorado Art Education Association, CO
2008- 2011 RedLine Artist Residency, Denver CO
2009 Mastermind Award in Visual Arts, Westword, CO
1998-1999 Temple Hoyne Buell Fellowship, Denver, CO
1997-1999 Dean’s Scholarship, Department of Art and Art History, University of Denver, CO
1996 Visual Art Fellowship, Somerville Arts Council, MA
1993 Korea Foundation Artist Fellowship, Seoul, South Korea
1991 Erasmus Scholarship for study at Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland
1987-1992 Scholarships from the Ministère de la Culture, France
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS (*solo exhibitions)
2024 528.o Regional Juried Printmaking Exhibition —Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada, CO (Opening January 18th)
2023 As Performed, curated by Rian Kerrane, Experience Gallery, University of Colorado, Denver CO.
2022 Cultivate, curated by Cecily Cullen, Center for Visual Arts, Metropolitan State University, Denver CO.
2021 Meow Wolf Denver, permanent installation, Denver CO
2020 Platform Project/Walk, curated by Julie Poitras Santos, Speedwell Projects, Portland ME
2020 The Antidote Library, Outdoor temporary installation, Commissioned by Modern in Denver for Denver Design Week, CO
2020 Scratched and Corroded, Processus, Denver CO
2019 Altar(er) Hex, curated by Hexus Collective, @The Temple, Denver CO
2019 Iron Tribe, Burris Hall Art Gallery, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM
2018 Pre-Text, Juice Box, Denver, CO
2018 Trading Culture, Site specific interactive event, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Boulder, CO
2018 The Pirate Alumni Show, Pirate Contemporary Art, Lakewood, CO. Curated by Charles Livingstone.
2018 Pink Progression, Denver Public Library, Boulder Public Library, and Center for Visual Arts (May) CO. Curated by Anna Kaye, Artist
2018 Hand Pulled - Open Press, Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center, Parker, CO.
2018 Open Press group exhibition, Denver, CO.
2018 RedLine 10 X, RedLine Denver, CO. Curated by Cortney Lane Stell, Black Cube Executive Director and Curator
2017 Dirt Soup, site specific installation for Axis-Mundi, @The Land Library, in conjunction with the Biennale of the Americas. Curated by Regan Rosburg, Denver CO
2017 Moveable Feast in collaboration with Christopher R. Perez and RedLine, in Five Points, Denver. Commission/ socially engaged art project founded by The Denver Foundation
2016 Reconciliations, Sculptures for Humans and Pollinators, Site specific project created for Neo Rio, Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument, New Mexico. Curated by Claire Coté, LEAP
2016 Sand + Iron, Curtis Art and Humanities Center, Greenwood Village, CO
2016 Seeds, Dairy Art Center, Boulder, CO. Curated By Lee Lee
2016 Raw, Cooked, Fermented: Works by Viviane Le Courtois. Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver CO *
2016 Global thinking Pod, participatory installation/ artist residency, Denver Art Museum, Denver CO *
2016 The Etching Show, Open Press, Denver, CO. Curated by Mark Lunning, Master Printer.
2016 Hybrid. Regional Cultural Center, Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. US Irish exchange exhibition, curated by Rian Kerrane (Part 2)
2015 Fired, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada, CO
2014 Biotic, Pearl Conard Gallery, Ohio State University (Mansfield), OH. Curated by Jennifer Gard and Alana Yon (Ohio State University)
2014 Open Press, 25 years of Printmaking, McNichols Civic Center Building, Denver, CO. Curated by Mark Lunning, Master Printer.
2013 Rescued Memories, a temporary public art project commissioned by the City of Boulder + the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. The Flood Project: Rising Above and Restoring Boulder through Art.
2013 Nourish, An Exploration of Consumption, 601 Tully, Syracuse, NY. Curated by Jillian Nakornthap (Curator, 601 Tully, Syracuse University)
2013 Music for Animals, Biennial of the Americas, Civic Center Park, Denver, CO. Curated by Chris Kallmyer (Machine Project, LA; and Adam Lerner, Director, Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver).
2013 Launch Pad. Mission 2: The Land, Sunshine Canyon, CO. Curated by Petra Sertic and Alvin P. Gregorio.
2013 CSArt, Denver Botanical Garden and Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, CO (Commission and events)
2013 Iron Tribe, Burris Hall Art Gallery, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM. Curated by David Lobdell, Associate Professor of Art, New Mexico Highlands University
2012 Occupying Potato, Islip Art Museum, Long Island, NY
2012 Hybrid. US-Irish exchange exhibition (part 1), RedLine, Denver, CO. Curated by Rian Kerrane
2012 Edible? 22 years of working with food, including the new interactive installation The Garden of Earthy Delights. Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder, CO*. Curated by Petra Sertic.
2011 Au: Exchange, RedLine, Denver, CO. Curated by Cortney Stell, Gallery Director, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.
2011 Potato Revolution, Williamsburg Art Center, Brooklyn, NY. Curated by Jeffrey Allen Price.
2011 Design for the Other 90%, RedLine, Denver, CO. Curated by John Grant in conjunction with the Smithsonian National Design Museum Exhibition.
2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge Bicycle Art Project, Denver International Airport, CO. Curated by Ivar Zeile, Director, Plus Gallery, Denver, CO. Commission.
2011 Do It, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Lakewood, CO. Curated by Cortney Stell, Gallery Director, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
2011 Thought Objects, RedLine, Denver, CO. Curated by Mark Sink, founder, Month of Photography, Colorado
2011 Iron Tribe, Burris Hall Art Gallery, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM. Curated by David Lobdell, Associate Professor of Art, New Mexico Highlands University
2011 Just Paper, Art Student League of Denver, CO. Curated By Mark Lunning, Master Printer, Open Press and Emilio Lobato, Artist
2010 How to Eat an Artichoke?, RedLine, Denver CO. Curated by Elissa Auther, Independent Curator
2010 Chaussures, (126 pairs), Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver in conjunction with the Biennial of the Americas, Denver, CO. Curated by Adam Lerner and Paul Andersen
2010 National Iron, Missoula Art Museum, Missoula, MT. Juried by Stephen Glueckert, Curator, Missoula Art Museum
2009 DenMi, Denver Artists in Miami sponsored by the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, Art Basel, Miami, FL. Curated by John McEnroe
2009 Procrastinations #1- RedLine, Denver, CO
2009 Crossed Existence: 40 Years of (un) Related Memories; a collaborative installation with Andrew Novick and Sabin Aell. Hinterland, Denver, CO
2008 Trickle Down, Object and Thought, Denver, CO (3 person show). Curated by Paco Proano and Brittany Schall
2008 Process/Vision/Print, O’Sullivan Art Gallery, Regis University, Denver, CO. (4 person show). Curated by Eugene Stewart-Huidobro, Associate Professor of Fine Art, Regis University
2008 Sculpture/Figure, Emmanuel Gallery, University of Colorado-Denver, CO. Curated by Shannon Corrigan, Emmanuel Gallery
2008 Alumni Exhibition, Victoria H Myhren Gallery, University of Denver, Denver, CO. Juried by Lisa Tamaris Becker, Gallery Director, University of Colorado, Boulder
2007 Chaussures, (103 pairs) installation at Philip J. Steele Gallery, Rocky Mountain School of Art and Design, Lakewood, CO*
2006 Derniers Soupirs, installation at Ironton Gallery, Denver, CO*
2005 Contaminations, installation at Studio Aiello, Denver CO*
2004 digital.movement.04. Weilworks Gallery, Denver, CO. Curated by Tracey Weil, Director, Weilworks Gallery
2004 Open Press, Gallery of Contemporary Art/ University Of Colorado/ Colorado Springs, CO. Curated by Mark Lunning, Master Printer, Open Press
2004 Fiberish, Fiber Arts Invitational, Studio Aiello, Denver, CO. Curated by Monica Aiello, Gallery Director, Studio Aiello
2003 Junk Mail, Installation at Studio Aiello, Denver, CO*
2003 Pickles, installation at Pirate: A Contemporary Art Oasis, Denver, CO*
2002 Fossilizations, Installations at Pirate: A Contemporary Art Oasis, Denver, CO*
2001 Residues, Installations at Pirate: A Contemporary Art Oasis, Denver, CO*
2000 The Mushroom Lab, Installation at Edge Gallery, Denver CO*
2000 Sculpted by Everyday Life, Installations at Pirate: A Contemporary Art Oasis, Denver CO*
1997 Ephemeral Rituals, Ink drawings and Photographs at Somerville Public Library, Somerville MA*
1997 Kombucha World: Graphic Prayers for the Beginning of Creation, Installation at Mobius, Boston, MA*
1996 Errances Insolites ou l’Eternel Retour de Voyage, Installations at Passerelle Art Center, Brest, France (3 person show). Curated by Bruno Chevillotte, Passerelle Art Center
1992 Les mystères de l’auberge espagnole, Villa Arson, Nice, France
1992 Pull!, Galerie Art Concept, Nice, France
1992 DNSEP (MFA) Exhibition, Installations at Villa Arson, Nice, France*
LECTURES, PANELS and EVENTS
Cultivate artist panel, Center for Visual Arts, Metropolitan State University, Denver CO, October 2022
Cleveland Art Institute, guest artist lecture, April 2022
Platform Project/Walk, Speedwell Projects Live (on zoom), September 2020
Brunch Artist, Talk with your Mouth Full, Black Cube, Englewood, CO, February 2020
Tattle Talks with Urban Forager Kate Armstrong, Platte Forum, 2018
Axis Mundi, Platte Forum, CO, 2017
Make/Shift Mondays, RedLine Denver, 2017
Neo Rio, Cerro, New Mexico, 2016
University of Colorado Denver, CO, 2016
Denver Botanical Gardens, Denver, 2016
Seminar on Creative Placemaking, University of Denver, 2015
American Public Garden Association Conference, Denver CO, 2014
Colorado Photographic Art Center, Denver, CO 2014
601 Tully, Syracuse, NY, 2013
University of Colorado Denver, CO, 2013
Pecha Kucha Denver, CO, 2012
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, CO, 2012
Red Rocks Community College, CO, 2011
RedLine, Denver, CO 2011
Art Student League of Denver, CO 2011
Red Rocks Community College, CO, 2010
Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, 2010
University of Colorado, Denver, CO, 2009
University of Denver, CO, 2009
Regis University, Denver, CO, 2008
University of Colorado, Denver, CO, 2007
Denver School of the Arts, Denver, CO, 2006
Ironton Gallery, Denver, CO, 2006
Self Made, Denver, CO, 2005
Downtown Aurora Visual Arts, Aurora, CO, 2005
Alliance for Contemporary Art, Grant St. Studios, Denver, CO, 2004
Colorado State University studio tour and lecture, Grant St. Studios, Denver CO, 2004
Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, CO, 2002
Metropolitan State College of Denver, Contemporary Art. Denver CO, 1999
Mobius, Boston, MA, 1997
Somerville Public Library, Somerville MA, 1997
Passerelle Art Center, Brest, France, 1996
COLLECTIONS
Octopus Innitiative, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (Library), CO, 2018
CSArt Colorado, 2013
University of Denver Library Special Book Collection, Denver (CO)
Denver Print Collector’s Club, Open Press, Denver, (CO)
Private collections in the US, France and Australia
PUBLICATIONS:
Rescued Memories, book, blurb,com, 2014
Artist's Footprints, Exhibition catalog, blurb.com, 2010
Chaussures, blurb.com, 2010
Making Art Come Alive: A Role for Live Animals in Installation and Performance Art in the 1990’s. Eye Level, A Quarterly Journal of Contemporary Visual Culture, issue # 1, Autumn 2001: 3-5
Journey through the Ink: The Paintings of Gao Xingjian. Eye Level, a quarterly Journal of Contemporary Visual Culture, issue # 2, winter 2002: 10-11.
Lauri Lynnxe Murphy: From Macro to Micro. Life and Art beyond Grid Paintings. A Quarterly Journal of Contemporary Visual Culture, issue # 3, summer 2002
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
Juror, Cherry Arts Festival at Stanley, Colorado, 2016
Juror, student exhibition, University of Denver, Colorado, 2016
Juror, 528.0 Denver: A Regional Juried Printmaking Exhibition, The Invisible Museum, 2012
Juror, RedLine artist in residence selection committee, 2011
Public Art Selection Panel, City of Denver, Colorado, 2009-2010
Juror, Tiny Iron, Downtown Aurora Visual Arts, for the Western Iron Casting Conference, 2008
Juror, Metro Now, Student exhibition, Emmanuel Gallery, Metropolitan State College of Denver, 2008
Active member of RINO Art district, Denver, 2005-2020. www.rivernorthart.com
Public Art Selection Panels, City of Aurora, Colorado, 2004-2005
TRAVELS:
From 1987 to 2023, traveled in France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, Senegal, Gambia, Turkey, Russia, Mongolia, China, Nepal, Tibet, India, South Korea, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and USA (31 States)
LANGUAGES:
Fluent in French and English, intermediate level of Spanish.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2D Design, Art Appreciation, Community College of Aurora, 2020-2021, Adjunct Faculty
Ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, fiber arts, interdisciplinary projects, Downtown Aurora Visual Arts (DAVA), Aurora CO. 2001- present. Program Manager
Sculpture, Ceramics and Printmaking, Processus, Denver, CO, 2014- present, Private Instruction
Installation Art, University of Colorado at Denver, Fall 2016. Visiting Artist
Sculpture and Printmaking, Art Student League of Denver, 2016- 2017. Instructor
3D Design/ Sculpture, University of Colorado at Denver, 2009 - 2013, Lecturer
Art and Social Practice, University of Colorado Boulder, 2012, Guest Critic
Sculpture, University of Colorado at Denver - Fall 2007, Visiting Artist/ Substitute Professor
Iron Casting, Iron pours and preparation workshops with University of Colorado, Denver at Ironton Studios; Global Artists Symposium, Vail, CO; Western Cast Iron Conference, Denver, CO; Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO; Iron Tribe, New Mexico Highlands University, NM; and other locations regionally. 2006-2016, Guest Artist
Art Appreciation, Metropolitan State College of Denver, 2000- 2001, Adjunct Faculty
French, Alliance Française, Denver, 1998-2001, Instructor
Ceramics, Villa Arson, Nice, France, 1991-1992, Teaching Assistant
CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE:
Co-Founder and Curator, Processus, Denver, 2014-present
Gallery Manager, Downtown Aurora Visual Arts (DAVA), Aurora, CO, 2001-present.
Curator, Artists' Footprints, RedLine Denver, in conjunction with the Biennial of the Americas, Denver, CO, 2010
Chair, Exhibition Committee, RedLine Denver, 2009-2011
Exhibition Coordinator, 2nd degree of Separation, RedLine Denver, 2010
Exhibition Coordinator, Denver/ Miami Cultural Exchange, DenMi, 2009
Exhibition Co-Coordinator, Spatial Investigations, RedLine Denver 2008
Volunteer/Staff, PR and Education, Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, 1998-1999
Curatorial Intern, Denver Art Museum, Asian Art, 1998-1999
Staff, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1996
Curatorial intern, Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, 1996-1997
Intern, Howard Yezerski Gallery, Boston, 1997
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Exhibition Catalogs:
Edible? 22 years of working with Food, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder, CO, 2012
Do it, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Lakewood, CO, 2011
Carnets de Voyages, Passerelle Art Center, Brest, France, 1996
Website Links and Bibliography :
Rinaldi, Ray, October 10, 2022. https://www.denverpost.com/2022/10/10/center-for-visual-arts-banana-craze-food-insecurity/?fbclid=IwAR0q4D51xoDPh0JNuqdHhXSMVcij-jAOXWj3YE-sTyXrnFE_lAoTJ8qDmZE&mc_cid=101c638d74&mc_eid=0093384844
https://octopus.mcadenver.org/artists/viviane-le-courtois
https://mcadenver.org/blog/viviane-le-courtois-symbiotic-relationship-between-life-and-art
http://dikeoucollection.org/artco/artist/
https://rinoartdistrict.org/go/viviane-le-courtois
Hegge, Lauren, https://denverartmuseum.org/article/creative-residence-viviane-le-courtois
Rinaldi, Marc Ray, Quick take: “Axis Mundi” sprawls across Curtis Park, One Good Eye, October 4th, 2017. http://onegoodeyeonline.com/2017/10/04/quick-take-axis-mundi-sprawls-across-curtis-park/
Bishop, Bojinka, Talk, shoes, mushrooms, What is Art? January 2017. http://flyinghighsolo.com/2017/01/talk-shoes-mushrooms-art/
Rinaldi, Marc Ray, Don’t Miss This : Art you can Eat, The Denver Post, June 4, 2016, http://www.denverpost.com/2016/06/04/dont-miss-this-viviane-le-courtois-art-you-can-eat/
Froyd, Susan, Raw, Cooked, Fermented, Westword, http://www.westword.com/event/raw-cooked-fermented-works-by-viviane-le-courtois-7585045
Kopke, Jaime, help artist Viviane Le Courtois Create a Global Thinking Pod, Denver Art Museum, March 10, 2016. http://denverartmuseum.org/article/help-artist-viviane-le-courtois-create-global-thinking-pod
Rupersburg, Nicole, Viviane Le Courtois creates processes and Processus, Creative Exchange/ Springboard for the Arts, August 2014, http://www.springboardexchange.org/people/vivianelecourtois.aspx
http://www.confluence-denver.com/features/viviane_le_courtois_082014.aspx
Froyd, Susan, Viviane Le Courtois helps Boulder flood victims pick up the pieces through Rescued Memories, Westword Blog, December 9th, 2013.
http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2013/12/rescued_memories_viviane_le_co.php
Davis, Bre, Life as Art, Westword Calendar, December 5th, 2013. http://www.westword.com/2013-12-05/calendar/life-as-art/
Froyd, Susan, Artist Viviane Le Courtois seeks Boulder flood relics for new sculpture, Westword blog, November 1, 2013.
http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2013/11/viviane_le_courtois_rescued_me.php
Rubino, Joe, Boulder Residents encouraged to participate in post flood art projects, Boulder Daily Camera, October 25th, 2013.
Rinaldi, Ray Mark, The Denver Post. http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_23725005/biennial-americas-highs-and-lows-city-wide-smash#ixzz2aJLqGqjT
Jacobson, Aileen, The Potato, as Art and Instrument, The New York Times. P L19, October 14, 2014 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/nyregion/three-exhibitions-elevate-the-lowly-potato-at-the-islip-museum.html?
Rinaldi, Ray Mark, At RedLine, Colorado and Irish artists take on each others' lands, The Denver Post, August 19, 2012. http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_21331228/colorado-and-irish-artists-take-each-others-lands#ixzz28aCKlDk0
Accomazzo, David, Boulder Weekly, Uncomfortable Cuisine. June 7, 2012 http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-8864-uncomfortable-cuisine.html
Young, Quentin, Boulder Daily Camera, BMoCA's 'Edible?' makes views both hungry and queasy, April 5, 2012. http://www.dailycamera.com/variety/ci_20254245/bmocas-edible-makes-views-both-hungry-and-queasy
Berkovitch, Ellen, Adobe Airstream, interview on A2 media, March 5, 2012 http://adobeairstream.com/a2- media/edible-social-action-through-an-art-installation-at-bmoca/
Froyd, Susan. Follow the Decay of Viviane Le Courtois’ earthborn artworks at BMoCA, Westword,
February 25, 2012
Garneau, Nicole. How would you define edible? Denver Museum of Nature and Science Blog,
Friedmann, Kali and Growald, Danny. Affordable design comes to Denver-“Design for the other 90%” – Paul Polak’s Blog. http://blog.paulpolak.com/?m=201107
Cross, Andy. A Kind of Spoken Art, Denver and the West, The Denver Post, Friday August 5, 2011, 1B
RedLine Denver Blog. Interview with Viviane Le Courtois. http://redlineart.org/blog/art-blog-design-for-the-other-90.html
Froyd, Susan. Westword Art and Culture Blog. Design for the Other 90% reinvents the wheel and more, tonight at RedLine. Fri., Jul. 8 2011. http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2011/07/design_for_the_other_90_redline.php
Isaac, Eric and Keen, Michael, Untitled Art Show (interview), June 2011, www.untitledartshow.com
Andersen, Paul and Lerner, Adam, Energy Effects: Art and Artefacts from the Landscape of Glorious Excess, Arcade, Architecture and Design in the Northwest, Volume 29, Winter 2010. http://www.arcadejournal.com/public/IssueArticle.aspx?Volume=29&Issue=2&Article=426
Froyd, Susan, Westword blogs, November 23, 2010. http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2010/11/viviane_le_courtois_redline.php
Isaac, Eric and Keen, Michael, Untitled Art Show (interview), October 7th, 2010, www.untitledartshow.com
Dyer, Erin, Juxtapoz, Jux in Denver, Aug 27,2010, http://www.juxtapoz.com/Erin+Dyer/26335-jux-in-denver
Hunt, Holly, California Literary Review, Energy Effects at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, August 18, 2010, http://calitreview.com/11059
MacMillan, Kyle, The Denver Post, Art, artifacts and excess collide in a combustible energy exhibit at Denver's MCA, August 6, 2010.
Goebel, Leanne, Adobe Airstream.com, Art Review: Energy Effects at MCA Denver -The art and fictions of excess. July 18, 2010, http://www.adobeairstream.com
Madrigal, Alexis, The Atlantic.com, Nuclear Bombs as Art: A Stunning Exhibition About the (Physical) Powers That Be, Jul 15 2010, http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2010/07/stunning-exhibition-slideshow/59842
Paglia, Michael, Westword, Marvelous Contemporary Shows fill RedLine and Edge, October 27, 2009.
Froyd, Susan, Westword, Kindred Spirits, June 2009
Paglia, Michael, Westword, Mastermind Awards 2009, February 18-24, 2009.
Froyd, Susan, Westword, Trickle Down, October 2008.
Hamel, Ken, denverarts.org, January 2008. http://denverarts.org/exhibits/student_and_alumni_exhibition_at_du.html
Griffith, Kristal, DU today, January 10, 2008.
Paige, Molly, Art Laced with Commentary, Cairn, Colorado’s Cultural Guidepost. http://www.cairnmag.com/content/view/40/59/
Taft, Katie, This Week in Denver, June 2007. www.thisweekindenver.com
Paglia, Michael, Thinking Hard, Westword, February 1-7, 2007: 42
Darnell, Meredith, Colorado Expression Magazine, August-September 2006: 78-79
Hadley-Hooper Jill, Interview, The Rino Crow, Electronic Newsletter, August 2006. www.rivernorthart.com
Froyd, Susan, Last Breaths, Westword, July 20-26, 2006: 5,33
Cumming Rice, Anne, DAVA peppering senses, The Aurora Sentinel and Daily Sun, June 30th, and June 31st, 2005
Heller, Jason, preview, Feast your Eyes on This. Westword: 36, June 30th-July 6th, 2005
Paglia, Michael, review, artbeat, Westword, April 14th, 2005
Chandler, Mary Voelz, review, Rocky Mountain News, April 15th, 2005
Paglia, Michael, In Stitches, Westword, July 1-7, 2004
Renoult, Marie, Les moisissures, source d’alteration et de création dans l’art contemporain. Mémoire, Ecole d’Art d’Avignon, France, 2002-2003.
Mac Millan, Kyle, Studio Aiello Ideal for Large Scale Art, Video Installations, The Denver Post, June 6, 2003 : 20FF
Chandler, Mary Voelz, A Surplus of Inventive Ideas, Rocky Mountain News, June 6, 2003: 19D.
Paglia, Mickael, Artbeat: Surplus, Westword, May 29- June 4, 2003.
Chandler, Mary Voelz, Review, Rocky Mountain News, February 21, 2003.
Brown, Randy. Watch Out! Eye Level: A Journal of Contemporary Art and Culture, issue #4, Winter 2003: 15
Shoenfeld, Zoe. Knocking your Socks off, GO-GO Magazine, March 7-21, 2002: 25
Chandler, Mary Voelz. Review, Rocky Mountain News, Spotlight, March 2, 2002: 5E
Schroeder, Dennis. Freedom is... Rocky Mountain News, Spotlight, December 15th, 2001
Chandler, Mary Voelz. Review, Rocky Mountain News, March 2, 2001
Froyd, Suzan. Night and Day, Westword, February 22, 2001.
Knowles, Dana. Video Interview and documentary about The Mushroom Lab (installation at Edge Gallery) for Channel 9, Denver, News at 10, March 2, 2000.
Fletcher, Harrisson. Beauty and the Yeast. Westword, March 2-8, 2000: 9. www.westword.com
Gluckstern, Jay. ‘Sculpted,’ Surrealities’; Through Personal Glimpses, Artists Reveal Stuff of Life. Boulder Daily Camera. Friday January 28, 2000: 12
Chandler, Mary Voelz. Review. Rocky Mountain News. January 28, 2000.
Wildman, David. An Artist Translates a Cultural Message. Boston Sunday Globe, June 29, 1997.
Le Courtois, Viviane. Kombucha World: Graphic Prayers for the Beginning of Creation. Mobius Newsletter, Boston’s artist run center for experimental art in all media., Vol 14, #2, January 1997.
Gatineau, Anne-Cécile, Une Oeuvre Mystique et Poétique, Viviane Le Courtois expose à Passerelle. Ouest France,1996
Gatineau, Anne-Cécile, Carnets de Voyages, Partances insolites, trois étrangers exposent à Passerelle. Ouest France, 1996
Upcoming events in 2024:
January 18th, 6- 9 pm: Opening reception for 528.o Regional Juried Printmaking Exhibition — Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities.
March 24th: 10- 4 pm: Open Studio day at Processus and print sale in conjunction with Mo' Print. More info soon.
December 11th: Lecture at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Ongoing display:
25 of my etchings have been part of the Octopus Initiative Collection at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver since 2018. Some are on display on rotation in the MCA Library.
View and like one of my prints in the Octopus Initiative here and you will be entered in a lottery to borrow one of my etchings from the MCA. Prints are available for sale out of my studio!
Contact me at vivianelecourtois@gmail.com for details.
Read more about the project, my art, and life on the MCA blog
A participatory installation with porcelain planters, soil, lettuce, ink pen drawings, rugs, table, lights, volunteer seed library, hand-written recipes, pencils, paper.
The installation was made of 18 porcelain planters and a collection of 67 drawings created over the summer 2022 from all the edible plants I grew in my urban backyard. I planned a daily routine to select, draw and prepare something from the yard every evening all summer. Each day, I took a garden tour to see what was ready to pick, drew it, and prepared it for dinner. I planted so many different species that looking for food is like walking through a forest and suddenly finding something ready to eat. Volunteers from last year’s seed pop up randomly, producing quantities of salad greens. The line of black and white drawings surrounding the space is chronological and acts as a farmer’s almanac in the order plants become ready to eat. Growing up in a farm, I grew up eating from the garden, and cooking with what was available. This study shows what grows well in an urban garden in the Denver area.
Living in a neighborhood classified as a "food desert" with no grocery store at a decent walking distance, I wanted to show how much one household can grow in a regular size backyard to get fresh vegetables and herbs for at least half of the year, and even indoors int eh winter. This has significantly reduced trips to a grocery store and the cost of fresh foods, while increasing the nutritious value and quality of all meals. Gardening and cooking, along with ceramics and drawing has also been a way to destress and focus on what is at home during the pandemic. Visitors were invited to exchange garden tips and recipes while sitting on rugs at a low table, lettuce was harvested and shared weekely.