Oda Jaune

Oda Jaune (b. 1979, Sofia) is an artist based in London. With a practice that includes painting and installation, Jaune investigates her surroundings; not only the bodily forms that she encounters but the conceptual and societal ideologies that can sometimes influence our thoughts and bodies. Focusing on the biomorphic, the collaged, the abnormal, ensures that her work continually evades the viewers grasp. Her work plays with the themes of ambivalence, attraction and withdrawal. Internal organs and emotional states blend together in imaginative, unreal, and occasionally gruesome ways, resulting in disturbing yet poetic works. Deformities, masks, and phallic-like growths distort the subject being portrayed and elude the viewers search for clarification.

Through a remarkably soft touch, Jaune is able to highlight the complexities inherent to the world through an exacting and carefully considered visual vocabulary, distilling and juxtaposing the humorous, touching, terrifying, and erotic parts of everyday life and the mystical realm. In her work, Jaune portrays a tormented yet deeply poetical world. In it, images that are tender, naive and violent, occasionally erotic and funny, are mingled together as Jaune continues her frank exploration of a subconscious freed from convention. Her paintings are unsettling, putting the viewer in a position where abandon is the only option and inhibition is futile.

Jaune studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (1998 - 2003). 

Solo exhibitions include ‘Miss Understand’, TEMPLON, New York (2024); ‘wOnderlust, TEMPLON, Paris (2022); ‘Hands’, Seen, Antwerp (2019);‘Beyond Gravity’, TEMPLON, Paris (2019); ‘Heartland’, National Gallery of Sofia, Sofia (2018); ‘White Sculptures’, Michael Fuchs Galerie, Berlin (2017); ‘All White’, TEMPLON, Brussels (2017); ‘Blue Skies’, TEMPLON, Paris (2016); ‘Masks’, TEMPLON, Paris (2015). 

Her works have been featured in group exhibitions at Frontviews, Berlin (2024); Kunstverein Göttingen, Göttingen (2024); Musée d’Art Contemporain, Lyon (2024); Fondation Francès, Clichy (2024); Maison Guerlain, Paris (2023); MO.CO., Montpellier (2023); FRAC Grand Large, Dunkerque (2023); Centre d’Art Contemporain, Meymac (2022); Musée de la Vie Romantique, Paris (2020); Phillips x V.O Curations, Paris (2019); TEMPLON, Brussels (2019); Chart Gallery, New York (2019); Michael Fuchs Galerie, Berlin (2018); Museum Abtei Liesborn, Wadersloh (2018); Studio 1 - Kunstquartier Bethanien, Berlin (2018); Galerie Michel Journiac, Paris (2018); CRAC, Sète (2018); Collection Mesdag-Musée Van Gogh, The Hague (2018); La Banque, Béthune (2017); Mu.ZEE, Ostend, Belgium (2017); Gaasbeek Castle, Lennik, Belgium (2017); Michael Fuchs Galerie, Berlin (2017); Musée des Beaux Arts de Dôle, Dôle (2017). 

Jaune’s works are held in the public collections of FNAC, Fonds National d’Art Contemporain, France; Maison Rouge, Antoine de Galbert Foundation, Paris; Francès Foundation, Senlis, France; Maison Particulière – Art Center, Brussels; Collection BOROS, Berlin; JP Morgan Chase & Co Art Collection, New York; SØR Rusche Sammlung Oelde/Berlin, Oelde-Stromberg. 

Oda Jaune is represented by Galerie Templon.