Concept
Michel Degand (15 November 1934 – 19 October 2021) was a French painter, sculptor, cartoonist, and graphic artist. During his youth, Degand's grandfather, an art glazier and orchestra conductor, taught him music and drawing and made him choose a profession in lithography taught at the Collège technique Baggio de Lille. At the age of 17, he began working as a photoengraver for La Voix du Nord while taking courses at the École des beaux-arts de Lille. For his compulsory military service, he was sent to Paris to serve in the French Navy. While in Paris, he attended the Académie de la Grande Chaumière before returning to Lille and learning tapestry. He produced over 250 tapestries for the Ateliers Pinton in Felletin. He also produced tapestries for the Gobelins Manufactory. He stayed in the United States and held exhibitions at the Wenger Studio in San Francisco and the Carlson Tower Gallery in Chicago. In 1979, a retrospective of his works was held at the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille. Another retrospective was held in 2013 at the Musée des beaux-arts d'Arras. Degand created several monumental works in tapestry and sculpture at the Palais de justice de Lille, the Post Oak Hotel in Houston, metro stations in Lille, the Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art, Euralliance, the Hôtel du Département du Nord, and others. Starting in 1993, he devoted himself primarily to painting and held numerous exhibitions for the Musée de la Tapisserie de Tournai, Saint-Riquier, the Matisse Museum, La Piscine Museum, the Musée d'art moderne et d'art contemporain, and the Musée du dessin et de l'estampe originale de Gravelines. In addition to the retrospective at the Musée des beaux-arts d'Arras, another one was held at the Prieuré d'Airaines in 2019. On 4 October 2019, the city of Loos opened the Espace Michel Degand, a permanent exhibition in dedication to the artist. In 2013, the poet Pierre Henry wrote a biography on him, titled Michel Degand ou l'art du poétique. Michel Degand died in Tourcoing on 19 October 2021 at the age of 86.
