Youri Leroux comes from the North of France, a region whose landscapes have seduced so many artists. His first exhibition was held at Le Masquerel (France) and included fifteen artists. He sold his first paintings. The highlights of 1997 and 1998 were his wedding and the birth of his first child. His painting evolved, his work focused more on the curves of the female body and the plumpness, sensuality, shapes and shadows that it emanate. After traveling in North Africa, be began to focus on his backing material – sand was a very successful and impressive medium, giving the viewer the urge to approach and caress his paintings. In 2000, he traveled to New York, where he feasted on verticality and asymmetries that were in sharp contrast to his supple work on the female body.
In early 2001, encouraged by true art lovers and the success of his paintings, he left his job as an architect to devote himself to his art. He subsequently applied these geometric ideas in a literary theme, more intimate and reassuring – perspectives, depth, repetitions, an enormous library or just three books with straight lines and the effects afforded by contrasting materials. Looking out from his open workshop, many things inspire him. Through the lovely Breton coast, he reveals to us his third pictorial theme – the combination of feminine curves and asymmetric libraries suggest old sailboat parts. A veritable sail dance! This is how he expresses his desire for freedom.
Starting from 2003, Youri “Literature” theme is becoming more about “Writing”. He is accumulating material and paint, brush it, scratch it in order to reach the first material. He is doing several layers, always looking for a new effect of light and colors. A touching and moving kind of small “writing” born from his new abstract paints…his fourth pictorial theme. Right up to today, his work remains centered around these four main themes of eroticism, travel, literature and writing.
 
Education and Background
1999-2002   
Interior architect, Cube Agency, Marcq-en- Baroeul (59), France
1999       
Degree in architecture, Interior, Design and Painting
1994-1998   
Institut St Luc (Saint-Luc Institute), Tournai, Belgium
1972       
Born in Croix, France

Selected Exhibitions
2010        
Palm Beach Jewellery, Art & Antique Show, Miami, U.S.A
2009        
Art-London, London (Grande-Bretagne)
SOFA, New York, U.S.A
Palm Beach 3, Floride, U.S.A
2008   
Mark Hachem Gallery, New York, U.S.A
Art-London, London (Grande-Bretagne)
"Tribes", Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong
"Be Here Now", Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong
New-York Design Fair + ArtExpo, New York, U.S.A
Art and Antique, Dubai (Emirats Arabes Unis)   
Palm Beach Jewellery, Art & Antique Show, Miami, U.S.A
2007   
"Art Summer", sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong
"40 Plus, 40 Minus", Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong
Group exhibition, Art Moscow (Vivendi Gallery), Moscow, Russia
Group exhibitions, Artexpo New-York and Art, Washington DC, USA
Washington (Vivendi Gallery), Palm Beach Miami, USA
2006   
"Art Saturdays", Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong
Solo exhibition, Vivendi Gallery, Paris, France
Group exhibition, Shangai Art fair (Vivendi Gallery), Shanghai, China
Group exhibition, Art-London (Vivendi Gallery), London, UK
"Lines of Life", Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong
Beverly-Hills Classic, Vivendi Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Art.Metz,, contemporary art fair, Metz, France
New York Design Fair + ArtExpo New York, New York, USA
Corporate Exhibition, Oddo et Cie, Paris, France
2005   
Antoing art Prize – 1st Prize, Antoing, Belgium
"Art Saturdays", Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong
Annie WABLE Gallery, Lille and Boulogne sur Mer, France
Art-London, contemporary art fair, London, UK
Art.Metz, contemporary art fair, Metz, France
Solo exhibition, Vivendi Gallery, Paris, France
2004   
"Le French May", Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong
Fortis Banque, Fortis Bank, Courtrai, Belgium
"La Teinturerie", Roubaix, France
Gallery, ING-Bank, Tournai, Belgium
2002   
Private Exhibition at Mme B. Poupard’s Residence, Paris, France
Exhibition at Space Gallery “Progressy”, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
2001   
Private Exhibition at Mr. F.E.Pollet’s Residence, Hameau Michel Ange, XVIth district, Paris, France
2000   
Exhibition at “Centre des affaires, Promod”, Marcq-en-Baroeul, France
Exhibition at “Palais des congrès, Grand Place”,  Auction in favour of the Non Profit making Association of Mr C.P.Derville, Lille, France