Mai-Thu Perret

Mai-Thu Perret is an artist whose creative tapestry weaves together a myriad of influences.

Biography of Mai-Thu Perret

Mai-Thu Perret was born in 1976 in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1997, she earned a BA (Hons) in English from Cambridge University, UK. Later, from 2002 to 2003, she studied at the Whitney Independent Study Program at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, NY.

The artist has received numerous grants and awards, including the Swiss Federal Prize for Fine Arts in Basel, Switzerland (2006); Studio Grant, Maison des Arts du Grütli, Geneva, Switzerland (2006-2009); Manor Art Prize, Geneva, Switzerland (2011); Paul Boesch Art Prize, Bern, Switzerland (2018), and more. 

Her recent solo exhibitions include "Moon Palace" at Blondeau & Cie in Geneva, Switzerland (2015); "Mai-Thu Perret" in Viewing Room at Simon Lee Gallery in London, UK (2018); "Mai-Thu Perret: Agua Viva" at Galerie Barbara Weiss in Berlin, Germany (2019); "Pièces Enfantines" at Galerie Elisabeth & Klaus Thoman in Vienna, Austria (2020); "News From Nowhere" at Simon Lee Gallery in Hong Kong (2020); "Portrait of a Woman" at Galerie Elisabeth & Klaus Thoman in Innsbruck, Austria (2022), and many more. 

Mai-Thu Perret's artistic endeavors are in numerous collections, including Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles, CA; Fond National d'Art Contemporain (FNAC), Paris; Collection Kunsthaus, Zurich; Bonnefanten Museum Maastricht, Maastricht; Rubell Family Collection, Miami, FL, and many more. 

Mai-Thu Perret's Art Style

Her multidisciplinary practice is a captivating fusion of feminist politics, literary inspiration, homemade crafts, and a deep appreciation for 20th-century avant-garde and radical art movements, including Constructivism, Dada, and Bauhaus design.

Intriguingly, Perret's artistic journey extends beyond the visual realm. She delves into Eastern religions, the occult, and the wonders of the natural world, forging connections that resonate throughout her work. She describes her practice as 'more like a symphony than a single voice,' a sentiment reinforced by her ambitious fictional narrative known as "The Crystal Frontier," which she first brought to life in 1999.

However, "The Crystal Frontier" is more than just a work of art; it represents a profound exploration of personal and communal identities. Perret's ever-expanding fiction delves into how both individuals and objects operate within the intricate cultural and social systems that surround them. It encourages contemplation of the nature of utopia and the compelling forces of revolution and ritual.