Biography Dominique Rousserie b.1960 Metz, France
2024
The Museum of Modern Art of Santo Domingo in DR shows “This legend is a secret” a solo exhibition curated by
Frank Pimentel.
“Ver para no creer”a group show with Cordero and Escoffier curated by Frank Pimentel, Santo Domingo, DR.
2023
“Infrared” is curated by Sabrina Scher at Kostia Gallery, Paris.
“El libro de imagenes”, Santo Domingo, DR. Curated by Frank Pimentel.
2022
“Erotic drawings” curated by Patrick Amine for RSF Gallery, Paris.
2020
The WallHouse Museum of St Barthelemy hosts a retrospective of his art, a tribute to primitive art.
2019
In his St Barthelemy studio he works on the shamanic plant series, “Datura and Vanitas”, a fusion of foliage and
skeletal imagery interacting on his canvases.
2018
His project,“Illuminations” is an homage to poet Arthur Rimbaud , and are paintings made on silk hanging canvas .
These “Vanitas”are exhibited in London.
2017
Rousserie shows”Botanic Verses” , a rare orchid series of paintings displayed during his solo exhibition at The
Tripoli Gallery in Southampton.
2016
The aluminum and wood prototype of “The Smoking Room”submarine sculpture launches at The Jabuti Gallery in
St Barthelemy.
2015
Barthelemy.
Shamanic turtle skull and shell sculptures and his “L ile deserte” mapping painting are created and showned in St
2014
Painted ammunition cases from his “Toys are Us” series and “The Smoking Room”number one edition aluminum
sculpture are exhibited during a solo show at M+V Art Gallery in Miami and at Liaigre Gallery in Paris.
2013
Rousserie shows his “Skulls and Bones” and ”Toys R US” series at Tripoli Gallery in Southampton, NY.
2012
Rousserie shows his “Mapping” and “Molecular Structures” series at a solo exhibition at Space SBH Gallery St.
Barthelemy.
The Installation « Arawak » and The Concept “Terrae Incognitae” are exhibited at MuBE (“Brasilian Museum of
Sculpture”) in Sao Paulo.
During Miami Art Basel Rousserie launches the prototype of his aluminum sculpture “The Smoking Room”.2011
« Goat », « Snake on Bird » and « Dreamcatcher » mobiles are created in his St. Barthelemy studio.
The installation « Arawak » is finalized with a portrait series on canvas made with graphite on pigments.
2010
The death of his friend, writer and philosopher, Gerard Barriere. Rousserie meets indians Kogis along the Palomino
river, in Tayrona territory, near the Atlantic Colombian coast. Lysergic note book completed in Cartagena de las
Indias where also the concept « Arawak » is drawn, composed of a series of interventions on goat skulls and
shamanic objects.
2009
Other backgrounds appear as the painted gun on the World War II US army stretcher for the series « Toys are us »
and the poppy embroideries from the 18th century covered with intriguing « Molecular Structures » of mescaline and
serotonin. « Esthetical Import » is shown in East Hampton and New York. Birth of son, Arthur.
2008
Back in New York the « Mapping » series is extended to the « Terrae Incognitae » of the alchemists. Use of St.
Barthelemy and Montserrat Islands cartography. Rousserie chases dragons in Chinatown and traps them on his
canvases.
2007
Time spent in Berlin, Germany studying the life of Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) who discovered the Delta
of Orinoco in Venezuela. Rousserie follows the naturalist in the city, painting architectural details of the « Berliner
Dom » and begins work on the « Mapping » series.
2006
« The interior Geographies » are exhibited in Brussels, Belgium. Influenced by the world’s armaments Rousserie
paints « Toys are us ». Passion for Electro-music and as a tribute to the K&D Sessions, « Going under Machines »
appears on Rousserie’s canvas.
2005
Settled and painting in Ibiza. Work begins on the « Global Warming » series and « Subs ». Ibiza becomes the perfect
Laboratory for the series « Chasing the Dragon » about the use of psychotropic substances.
2004
Rousserie travels to the Dominican Republic, and studies the Art of the Taino and the orchids of the Botanical
garden of Santo Domingo. He is invited in tribute to « Miami Art Basel » to show the series « Dangerous Beauties ».
2003
Studio set-up in Saline on the island of St. Barthelemy, where the Tainos used to find shelter. Studies mainly
dedicated to Naturalism during this time. « Beyond Botanica » is exhibited in California and Colorado.
2002
Time often spent with friend and writer Gerard Barriere, in conversation about how the world can be rethought
through the ancient spirits. How do you become a naturalist with the « vegetalistos »? Painting in New York and
studying at the American Museum of Natural History. Rousserie then leaves for the Caribbean.
2001
The series « Botanic verses » travels through Argentina, United States and Ukraine. « The Cosmic Babies » are created
in the Paris studio, representing humanization and enlightenment of the World.
2000
Exhibition in Osaka, Japan and exploration of the use of the « Kyonoren », hanging cloth curtain which typically
graces many Japanese temple doorways. The Noren’s symmetry will be seen in Rousserie’s tankas. Time studying
wild orchids in the North of Thailand and the islands of the Siam Gulf. Rousserie meets with Raoni, chief of theKayapo Indians from the Xingu region of Brazil and completes a painting titled « Plant your tree! »
1999
After a study about Mayan mushroom stones in Guatemala, Rousserie lives with Peruvian shamans in the Amazon
and with them expands his knowledge about Plants of the Gods and their visions.
1998
Visits India and Nepal in search of new fabrics to make his « Tankas », and later on, paints them in the Miami studio.
The concept « Indi » is a study of « Interior Views », « Spiritual Transmutation » and « Shamanic » curative, and
hallucinogen plants painted on large canvases. Rousserie is named Honorary Member of the National Committee
for Artistic Education of France.
1997
Following the exhibition of the « Time Track » concept in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rousserie decides to travel
through the Amazon jungle from Canaima, Venezuela, where the Table Mountains « Los Tepuyes » are located, to the
delta of the Orinoco. Two studios opened in succession, one in Miami and the other one in St. Barthelemy, French
West Indies.
1996
While traveling to the coast and Center of Venezuela, Rousserie prepares a series of paintings called
« Transmutation ». Later on, these works are exhibited in Los Angeles and Miami.
1995
New studio established in Santa Fe, Caracas, Venezuela.
Rousserie returns to Mexico and United States and discovers new pigments in Margarita, Venezuela. Time spent at a
foundation that protects sea turtles in Los Roques Islands.
1994
Rousserie travels to the gate of the Kingdom Queen of Saba, Yemen and the Red Sea. Work done on the theme
“Spiritus Universalis” for the exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Sofia Imber, Caracas, Venezuela.
Birth of daughter, Emma.
Preparation for an exhibition based on signs, for the museum of Prehistory in Bougon, France. The French Cultural
Center of Barcelona, Spain, hosts the « Spiritus Mundi » exhibition.
1993
On the south coast of Turkey, aboard the sailing boat « Sea Prince », Rousserie visits the land of the Lycians, west of
the Antalyan Gulf. His exhibitions are dedicated to the cryptograms and mythology of old civilizations. He paints
on the Catalan coast, Spain.
1992
Rousserie studies the Sumerian civilization and exhibits the Sumerian canvases in Sweden, France and Italy. Time is
also spent exploring the desert in the south of Tunisia.
1991
Study of archaeological graffiti in Stockholm, Sweden along with the rune stones of the Vikings. Exhibition of
works at the Scandinavian Art Forum.
Birth of son, Charles.
1990
Tuscany, Italy.
Study of Etruscan Art.
Back in Europe, exhibition of Brazilian canvases at « La Defense », Paris. Studio established in Bagni di Lucca,
1988 – 1989
Upon return to Brazil, Rousserie establishes his studio in an old fisherman’s house in Paracuru. In the states of
Amazonia and Ceara, he works and then exhibits the canvases. The concept of the « Pictorial Compressions » is
based on water, fire, earth and air.1986 – 1987
After visiting the coral atolls of Venezuela and Bahamas, Rousserie ends up in Florida, and prepares a trip to the
Maya civilization in Belize, Guatemala and the Mexican peninsula of Yucatan. He parts with his boat.
1984 – 1985
Rousserie sails across the Atlantic. Discovery of the use of latex and natural pigments in Bahia, Brazil and study of
the influence of the African Fetishism in Bahia. Work is exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro.
The rest of the year is spent in the Amazon jungle.
1983
Rousserie leaves France. The compass is directed towards Cape Finistere, « Land’s End », in Galicia, Spain, the land
of grand men that came from the sea. Study of the Celtic influence along the coast of « Rio de Padron ». Further on
in the Canary Islands, Rousserie discovers the Art of the Guanche people, descendants from Atlantis. Then traveling
along the coast of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea and Sierra Leone and working with local artists in villages, bushes,
forests, and lost islands, where Animism and Fetishism have not disappeared yet. Canvases « Icones Animistes » are
exhibited in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
1981 – 1982
Rousserie sets out to focus his research on primitivism, signs and ancient symbols deciding to travel with his boat
named « Shiva-Shakti » which serves as a traveling studio.
1980
Rousserie heads to Israel and the Red Sea and decides to paint the nuclear war shelter in the city of Urim. The
exhibition « Life and Death » is later exposed at the Cultural Center.
Study in Galles, Sri Lanka, of the variation of colors for gemmology by thermical and spectral action.
1979
Starts up an Action Painting group at the Cultural Center of Presles, France.