Thierry Lamare

At the heart of Theirry Lamare's (born 1957, Paris, France) work is studied finesse and craftsmanship. His drawing and painting are as descriptive as it is accurate, and his compositions and presentation meticulous.  Lamare's intimate portraits describe the intricacies and depth of Bahamian life.  

Lamare had a passion for drawing at school and after a successful admission into Les Grandes Ecoles d'Art, decided instead to study interior architecture at the Ecole Camondo in Paris.  He continued to draw and travelled extensively, seeking inspiration for his work.  On a visit to the Bahamas in 1985, Lamare found his subject; he loved the saturated color, light and Bahamian architecture.  The new environment presented him with endless opportunities for drawing and painting.  The artist moved to Nassau and began a career painting the Bahamian landscape.  

In 1996, while visiting friends in Long Island, Bahamas, Lamare encountered Joyce, a woman in her mid-60's who lived in Clarence Town.  At the time, he was not exploring people as a subject, but her physical presence struck an emotional chord: she was beautiful, in her mid-sixty’s and was still a ‘peach’ as she once told the artist.  She would be Lamare's first human subject.  

He returned to Long Island frequently and during one of these trips met Ophelia.  He developed a great admiration for who she was and what she had accomplished with her children. Over time, they became friends and Lamare began painting Ophelia in her everyday life. He describes the experience, "I just wanted to be a humble witness of what her simple life was about and immortalize her through my art.  She still has countless stories to tell providing a great source of inspiration. " We have come to know Ophelia through Lamare's paintings over the past 15 years.  

Lamare's work is widely sought-after and collected.  He exhibits bi-annually in a solo exhibition and works out of a studio in Nassau.