Marie-Anita Gaube(b. 1986, France) began painting after receiving a scholarship to the Centro Nacional de las Artes in Mexico in 2010–2011, and she graduated from the École nationale des Beaux-Arts de Lyon in 2012. Drawn early on to figurative painting, she has since developed a practice centered on large, vibrant canvases filled with detail, immersing viewers in lush, surreal landscapes. Her Edenic scenes, filled with exotic flora, waterfalls, and sun loungers, combine joyful imagery with an underlying sense of unease. Influenced by Eisenstein’s cinematic approach, she seeks to create a visual frenzy through layered composition and rhythmic, chromatic intensity. Gaube’s work explores heterotopias—“other spaces” embedded in reality, as defined by Michel Foucault—positioning painting as both a response to the world and a space for projection and protest. Beneath the vitality of her scenes, subtle tensions emerge: figures appear adrift, partially absorbed by their surroundings, hinting at deeper emotional or existential undercurrents.
Solo exhibitions include Troubles fêtes- Galerie Veyssière, Tours, France (2023); Landscapes of the soul- Anne+ art contemporain, Paris (2022); Odyssées- CCC OD (Centre de création contemporaine Olivier Debré, Tours, France, comissariat Isabelle Reiher (2020/2021); Passeurs-Vog centre d’art contemporain de Fontaine, Isère, France (2020/2021); Meeting point- Galerie Françoise Besson, Lyon, France (2017); At the landscape’s corner-Progress Gallery, Paris, France (2016); Out Of Place Esox-Lucius Château de Grandvaux, France (2016); Nouvelles Aires- Galerie Françoise Besson, Lyon, France (2015); Dérives- Progress Gallery - Paris, France (2014).
Group exhibitions include (Upcoming) Growth of the Soil, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2025); à venir: lkon Gallery, Birmingham, Royaume-Uni (2024-2025); Friends in Love and War-L’Éloge des meilleur·es ennemi·es- MAC LYON, Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon, France (2024); Rencontre., duo show, Le Garage, centre d’art d’Amboise , France (2024); Illusions- Fondation François Schneider, France (2023-2024); De l’autre côté du miroir, galerie le Réservoir, Paris, France (2023-2024); Varia” Centre d’art contemporain de Meymac, Meymac, France, comissariat J.Paul Blanchet (2022); Secrets de fabrique, musée Paul dini, France (2022); Constellations, DDA-RA, Bourse du travail, Valence (2021); De la peinture, espace 29, Bordeaux (2021); 10 ans de Documents d’artistes Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Maison du Livre (2020); Nature et figure, oeuvres de collection du musée paul Dini, Musée Paul Dini (2020); Elles, question de genre?», Musée Paul Dini, Villefranche sur Saône, France (2019); Chacun son trait, 11/04 au 08/06, Galerie Françoise Besson, Lyon, France (2019); Commissariat Sophie Matter, Françoise Besson (2019); Invitations, 28/04 au 25/08, Centre d’art de Lacoux, Hauteville Lompnes, France (2019); Commissariat Marc Desgrandchamps et Djamel Tatah (2019); Du voyage, l’oeuvre», Archipel art contemporain, Saint Gervais, France (2019); Les nouveaux sauvages, halles du Faubourg, Lyon, France (2018); Un peu avant la traversée, Fonderie du Péroux, Biziat, France (2018); Accross the landscape, Den nordiske ambassade, Copenhague, Denmark (2018); Exposition inaugurale, Hors Cadre, Bastille designe center,Paris, France (2018); Throught the mirror, duo show, Next Level galerie, Paris, France (2017); Le vent souffle où il veut, Galerie Françoise Besson, Lyon, France (2017); Exposition de fin de résidence/ Ateliers du Plessix Madeuc- Abbaye de Lehon (2017); Art Paris Art Fair / Galerie Françoise Besson (2015); Slick Art fair, Paris / avec Progress Gallery Paris, France (2015); OV galerie- Lyon, France (2014); Uncivilized Festival - Lyon (France) / Sub-situ - Lyon, France (2013); Sub-situ - Lyon, France (2011) Galeria de arte contemporaneo Veracruz, Mexico (2012); Cenart Mexico, Mexico (2011).
Highlights and collections
She has recently featured curated shows at the François Schneider Foundation, MAC Lyon, CCCOD in Tours as well in England (IKON gallery, Birmingham), Denmark, Mexico and France (art gallerys and institutions). In 2022 she was awarded a prize by François Schneider Foundation and by the Colas Foundation in 2015.