Aude Herlédan
b. 1966, Paris, France
Aude Herlédan was born in Paris in 1966. After spending her childhood in Kinshasa, Congo, and her adolescence in Paris, she moved to London to continue her studies. There, a decisive encounter with Samuel-Francis Clapp, an American art collector, prompted her to study applied arts. She entered the École Estienne in Paris, from which she graduated in graphic arts in 1989. That same year, Herlédan also won the Parsons School competition in New York.
After completing her studies, Herlédan moved to Brazil—first to Recife, then to Manaus to live in a community of artists. She then led artistic missions for the United Nations in Nairobi, Kenya, where she met the American photographer David Blumenkrantz. The two founded a photographic laboratory for Kenyan journalists. In 1990, Herlédan made numerous photographic reports in East Africa in collaboration with the Kenyan Ministry of Culture.
Returning to Paris in 1992, Herlédan embarked on a career as creative director in an advertising agency, where she designed campaigns for major international brands. In parallel to this stimulating career, she studied nude drawing at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Paris and art history at the École du Louvre. Working in painting and sculpture, Herlédan expertly balances a contemporary sensibility with gestural forms reminiscent of the pioneering styles of the early twentieth century. Her work stretches from abstract to figurative, uniting organic geometries and lush textures into harmonious and peaceful compositions.
Herlédan now lives in Paris and Sologne, where she has her studio. Her work is represented by 1831 Art Gallery, Paris.