CV

Ken Sortais

© Courtesy of Ken Sortais and cadet capela
Biography

Born in 1983 in Paris, FR
Lives and works in Marseille, FR

Through his multi-faceted practice, Ken Sortais creates a wide variety of works, often focusing on the relationship between creation, subversion and the loss of identity. Working in a variety of mediums and techniques, from drawing and painting to video, sculpture and installation, illegality is an omnipresent component of the creative process. Transcended by illegality, this important aspect of the work contributes to the performative and theatrical side of his methodology, the starting point for technical manipulation and experimentation.

Ken Sortais is a graduate of École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris. His works are part of the collections of FRAC Paca, FRAC Bourgogne, the Fonds d’Art Contemporain Paris, and the Palais de Tokyo. In 2023, his work was shown in a solo exhibition at the 2angles residence and in the group exhibition “La Morsure des Termites” at the Palais de Tokyo, Paris.

Curriculum vitae

Solo and two-person exhibitions
  • 2024
    L’or mord l’os, with Christian Rex van Minnen, cadet capela, Paris, FR
  • 2023
    Exposition de Résidence, 2angles, Saint-Georges-des-Groseillers, FR
  • 2022
    J’aurai ta peau, Galeria Alegria, Barcelona, ES
  • 2021
    La peur du manque, cadet capela, Paris, FR
  • 2020
    Louche, Les Ateliers Vortex, Dijon, FR
  • 2019
    Rue du Canal, cadet capela, Paris, FR
  • Le fruit de nos entrailles, in collaboration with Rebekka Deubner, Kunstscenen, Copenhagen, DK
  • Antigone, with Julien des Monstiers, lauréats du prix mécènes du sud Montpellier-Sète, Montpellier, FR
  • 2018
    Ganaches, Le Chassis Editions, Paris, FR
  • 2017
    Les cauchemars de Kevin, curated by Le Chassis, Les barreaux, Paris, FR
  • Kevin, Hors/Les/Murs, Marseille, FR
  • 2016
    13, Straat galerie, Marseille, FR
  • Âme prise, Under Construction Gallery, Paris, FR
  • 2014
    93, Straat Galerie, Marseille, FR
  • Lasco project, “Biolensu” installation with Antwan Horfee, , Palais de Tokyo, Paris, FR
  • Les pérégrinations de si atroce, Galerie Celal, Paris, FR
  • 2013
    Patagane, with Antwan Horfée, Sunset résidence, Lyon, FR
  • 2012
    Nos pensées vont toujours vers vous, in collaboration with Guillaume Ginet, Sunset résidence, Lyon, FR
  • Princes of Darkness, galerie Goldstein, London, GB
  • 2011
    Dernier tour, modules du Palais de Tokyo, Paris, FR
Group exhibitions
  • 2023
    La morsure des termites, curated by Hugo Vitrani, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, ZM
  • 2022
    Scrollophage, organised by Katapult Art Fund, Les Rencontres d’Arles, Haos Galerie, Arles, FR
  • 2021
    TKT, Saeio Foundation Benefit Exhibition, Ruttkowski;68, Paris, FR
  • 2020
    Jeune Création, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Pantin, FR
  • White Spirit, curated by Karine Mathieu, MEMENTO, Auch, FR
  • 2019
    DECADE, ENSBA graduates, Paris, FR
  • 2018
    Bricks and Clicks 4, curated by Romain Semeteyes and Stéphane Corréard, Galerie Christophe Gaillard, Paris, FR
  • Aire Venga, with Anne-Lise Legac, La Station, Nice, FR
  • Décadence, curated by Thomas Havet, Paris, FR
  • 2017
    Post insulte, curated by Hugo Vitrani & Antwan Horfee, Clichy, FR
  • It’s OK to be K.O Darling, curated by Hélène Garcia, Under Construction Gallery, Paris, FR
  • Poil de carotte, Galerie 11-12, Moscow, RU
  • 2016
    Demain est une île, Villa Vassilieff, Paris, FR
  • Inner earth, curated by le Syndicat magnifique, Espace Champ Libre, Pantin, FR
  • A city without a sound, curated by Studiocur/art, Averard Hotel, London, GB
  • 2015
    Verto, curated by Studiocur/art, Paris, FR
  • The state of mankind, Matthew Rosen Gallery, Berlin, DE
  • Field Effects, Le Cap, Rencontres de la photographie, Arles, FR
  • Flexions/Extensions, Under Construction Gallery, Paris, FR
  • Autoconstruction, Curated by Le Chassis, Under Construction Gallery, Paris, FR
  • Seine-Saint-Denis-Style, atelier G8, Cité des arts, Paris, FR
  • Mapping the city, Somerset House, London, GB
  • 2014
    Novembre à Vitry, Galerie Jean Collet, Vitry-sur-Seine, FR
  • TOY, Exposition du collectif PAL, FRAC Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Dunkerque, FR
  • 2013
    Group show, Release Dystopie n°2, Doors Studio, Paris, FR
  • Old Boot, Further adventures in comic abstraction, Silvex House, London, GB
  • 2011
    Asbestos Curtain, Galerie Goldstein, London, GB
  • 2007
    Novembre à Vitry, Galerie Jean Collet, Vitry-sur-Seine, FR
Fairs
  • 2024
    ART OnO, cadet capela, Seoul, KR
  • 2023
    CAN Art Fair, duo booth with Breza Cecchini, Galeria Alegria, Ibiza, ES
  • Art Brussels, solo booth, Galeria Alegria, Brussels, BE
  • 2022
    Taipei Dangdai Art Fair, cadet capela, Taipei, TW
  • 2015
    The Others Fair, Straat Galerie, Turin, IT
  • POPPOSITIONS Art fair, Straat Galerie, Bruxelles, BE
  • Obscur-Clarté, Confidentielle du YIA, Bastille Design Center, Paris, FR
  • 2010
    Foire Internationale du dessin, Loft Nikki Diana Marquardt, Paris, FR
Biennials
  • 2015
    Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Étienne, “Tu nais, tuning, tu meurs”, Musée d’Art et d’Industrie, Saint-Etienne, FR
  • 2011
    Biennale de la jeune création de Montrouge, La Fabrique, Montrouge, FR
Residencies
  • 2024
    2angles, Saint-Georges-des-Groseillers, FR
  • 2020
    Les Ateliers Vortex, Dijon, FR
  • 2017
    La Station, Nice, FR
  • Les barreaux, curated by Le chassis, Paris, FR
  • 2015
    Usine Utopik Art Contemporain, Tessy-sur-Vire, FR
  • 2013
    Sunset résidence, with Antwan Horfée, Lyon, FR
  • Rockenberg Jail, mural painting in the prison compound, Frankfort, DE
Awards
  • 2017
    Coup de Coeur Prize, for the Antigone project in collaboration with Julien des Monstiers, Mécènes du Sud Montpellier-Sète, Montpellier, FR
  • 2011
    Prize of the General Council of the Hauts de Seine, Laureate at Salon de Montrouge, Montrouge, FR
  • 2007
    Jury Special Prize “Prix Robert Doisneau”, Laureate at Salon de Montrouge, Montrouge, FR
Collections
  • Bienlosu, permanent installation with Antwan Horfee, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, FR
  • Fonds d’art contemporain – Paris Collections, Paris, FR
  • Fonds Régional d’Art Contemporain Bourgogne (FRAC Bourgogne), FR
  • Fonds Régional d’Art Contemporain Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (FRAC PACA), FR
  • Servais Family Collection, Brussels, BE
Education
  • 2010
    DNSAP, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, FR
  • 2006
    DNAP, Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Rouen