The Paintings of Nicolas Monjo
Born at the Nouvelle-Aquitaine department of Lot-et-Garonne in 1975, Nicolas Monjo is a French self-taught contemporary painter. The central element of his work is the tenuous 
condition of humanity in a world that is both complex and often oppressive. To illustrate this fragility, Monjo presents the human figure enclosed, often crushed with others, inside the restrictive edges of the canvas.
Nicolas Monjo began painting at the age of twenty and, through study and technique, has developed his own unique style. His images are inspired by the complexities and sometimes tumultuous nature of human relationships, the struggles to overcome circumstances, and the power dynamics of a surrounding society.
Monjo’s vivid imagery features a tensive contrast between its harsh subject matter and the artistry of each painting’s composition. In an extremely personal way, he presents the fragility of the human condition that is often crushed by the harsh and cold world where the law 
of the strong prevails. Monjo’s figures are enclosed, both figuratively and literally, within the framework of the canvases they inhabit, a reminder of their inability to extricate themselves from their gloomy daily life.
Nicolas Monjo uses both acrylic and oil paints on his canvases with a preference for the colors gray and blue. Mixtures of oil and acrylic paint on the tablet are used for more marked relief effects. This soft, dark color palette creates a unique atmosphere for his evolving collection of characters. Mixed among these characters are recurring tropes such as rabbit ears, fish, dogs, gaping mouths and sunglasses. Other elements, almost always present in Monjo’s compositions, are the symbol of the heart, guitar, plates, forks and an abandoned glass on the floor. These are all objects that represent Monjo’s personal life.
Nicolas Monjo currently lives and works near the prefecture of Angouleme in the southwestern French department of Charente. His artwork is represented online by Bouillon d’Art at: https://www.bouillondart.com/en/93-monjo-nicolas
Monjo’s work can also be found at the online gallery Artsper located at: https://www.artsper.com/us/contemporary-artists/france/25687/nicolas-monjo
Top Insert Image: Photographer Unknown, “Nicolas Monjo”, Color Print, Artsper Gallery
Bottom Insert Image: Nicolas Monjo, “Le Conte à Rebours”, Oil and Acrylic on Canvas, 130 x 97 cm, Private Collection