Ralph Petty was born in the Alamosa, Colorado in 1952, moved to Fairbanks in 1971-2, received a BFA in
painting at UC Davis in 1976, came to Paris soon after to work in the etching studio, Atelier 17, of Sir Stanley W.
Hayter, and has remained in France since that time. He teaches drawing and painting at The American
University of Paris and is the University Curator. He continues to paint, draw and sculpt and is an active
musician.
EXHIBITIONS
2008
Combes Gallery, The American University of Paris, paintings, prints and sculptures.
2007
Parsons School of Design Paris, group show of lithographs printed at Atlantis Studio Paris.
2006
Angelina College Gallery, Nacagdoches, Texas, watercolors, oil paintings and drawing.
2005
Combes Gallery, The American University of Paris Permanent Collection Exhibition, paintings.
Stage set (design and execution) for Samuel Beckett’s Play for the London based
Godot Theatre Company.
2003
Combes Gallery, The American University of Paris, drawings and paintings, one-man show.
L’Atelier de la Charpente, Saint Mandé, drawings and paintings, one-man show.
Stage set (design and execution) for Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot for the
London-based Godot Theatre Company.
2000
Belenky Gallery, New artists, group show, paintings, New York.
“France, 2000-2001, Chile,” Espace d’Art Interactif, Santiago, Chile, drawings.
Center Street Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming.
Firedworks Gallery, Alamosa, Colorado, Paintings.
1999
Cline Contemporary Art Gallery, “New Artists,” Sante Fe, New Mexico.
“Arte por la Vida: Esperanza para Nuestros Ninos,” art auction, Washington, D.C.
(Whitman Walker Clinic).
Center Street Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming, paintings and drawings.
Firedworks Gallery, Alamosa, Colorado.
1998
Daniel Smith Gallery, Seattle, Washington.
Center Street Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming.
Figures Libres, Group exhibition, Paris 8e City Hall.
Firedworks Gallery, Alamosa, Colorado, paintings.
1997
American Artists in France 1958—1998, Mona Bismark Foundation, Paris.
Center Street Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming.
Cline Contemporary Art Gallery, Group show, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Nicole Buck Gallery, Strasbourg, France. “The Nude” Group exhibition, drawings.
Saint Mande City Hall, France. Landscapes, group exhibition
1996
Center Street Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming. Permanent exhibition.
Montreuil City Gallery, Montreuil. Group exhibition.
Corriane Gallery, Paris; Group exhibition.
1995
Gallery Mailletz—Femme Imaginaire, four-man exhibition
1994
Mairie de Vélizy. Three-man exhibition
Gallery Mailletz, Paris—Paintings and drawings, one-man show.
Gallery Fulgance, Paris. Three-man exhibition.
1993
“Itinéraire 93,” Levallois. Invited to participate in exhibition of American artists.
American Chamber of Commerce, Paris—Curator and participant in exhibition of works
by professors of Parsons School of Design.
Instants Chavirés (Jazz Club), Montreuil—Paintings and drawings, one-man show.
Commission to decorate the Salle de Conference de la Bibliothèthque de la
Ville de Montreuil.
Painting purchased by the Commission des Arts Plastiques de la Ville de Montreuil.
1992
Eglise St. Pierre-St. Paul, Montreuil—Installation. 250 sq. m. of paintings
in the church for the 500th anniversary of discovery of America.
The city of Montreuil—Paintings, three-man show "Des Amériques".
Parsons School of Design, New York—Drawings.
1991
Instants Chavirés (Jazz Club), Montreuil—Paintings and drawings, one-man show.
Triptych for St. Pierre-St. Paul, a 13th-century Romanesque church in Montreuil,
sponsored by the Monuments Historiques de France.
W.I.C.E., Paris—Paintings and drawings, group exhibition.
Paris—restoration of 17th-century ceiling for the Monuments Historiques
in conjunction with Atelier Genevesio.
1990
Finalist in a competition for the design of a 20-meter-high fresco, Montreuil
(Méliès Building).
La Ville de Montreuil—Paintings for the celebration of the French Bicentennial,
group exhibition.
1989
Parsons School of Design, New York—Drawings.
1988
Prague National Gallery—Paintings, selected for the exhibition: “Contemporary
Art in France.”
G.A.R.E. de Montreuil—Drawings.
1987
Parsons School of Design, Paris—Paintings.
“November à Vitry”—Paintings (jury selection).
1986
Exposition Internationale de Desertines 1986, France—Paintings (First Prize).
1982
Château de Nieul, France—Paintings, sculptures, stained glass, etchings.
Design, creation and presentation of a 13-meter dragon on the esplanade of the
Georges Pompidou Center, Paris (concurrent with the Nieul Exhibition).
A.C.T., Paris—Sculptures, group exhibition.
1981
Galerie l'Oriflamme, Paris—Sculptures, group exhibition.
1980
Maison Internationale, Cité Universitaire, Paris Paintings and Sculptures,
group exhibition.
1978
Fondation des Etats Unis, Paris—Paintings, one-man show.
1977
Maison Internationale, Cité Universitaire, Paris Paintings and Etchings, one-man show.
Fondation des Etats Unis, Paris—Works on paper, group exhibition.
1975
Alpha-Omega Gallery, Sacramento, California—Paintings, group exhibition.
University of California, Davis—Etchings, one-man show.
1973
Cabrillo College, Aptos, California—Drawings, one-man show.
TEACHING/WORK EXPERIENCE
Institutions
2004-7
Appointed Curator of the American University of Paris and Director of the Combes Art Gallery.
1990-current
American University in Paris—Assistant Professor of Fine Arts.
1997-00
Institut d’études politiques, Paris—Conferencier sur l’art contemporain.
1987-97
Parsons School of Design, Paris—Painting and drawing instructor.
1994-95
Coordinator for N.Y. Parsons Summer Program in Paris.
1992-94
Gallery Director of Parsons School of Design, Paris.
Companies
2006-curent
Designer for Flesh and Flora bedding company, London
1978-1982
Assistant product designer under Michel Diehl at Carré Noir, Paris
Conferences / Workshops
2002-2007
President and founding member of the “Art Ephemérè” Association which organizes an international
competition for environmental sculpture created and installed near the village of Jaujac in
`the Ardeche,
France and supported by the Conseil Municipal de Jaujac, Département de l’Ardeche, La Région de Rhônes-
Alpes and The European Union.
2000
Lome, Togo. Conference of contemporary American art and workshops with West
African artists as part of the Ewole festival (under the auspices of the American
Cultural Services, U.S. Embassy, Paris.
1999
Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris: Presentation/discussion of works (in conjunction with the
anniversary celebration for FRANK, a literary journal).
France Telecom: conference on figurative art at the end of the 20th century.
The Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, Colorado (life drawing from the model).
Daniel Smith Inc. workshop program, Seattle, Washington (life drawing from the model).
Jackson Community Art Association, Jackson, Wyoming (life drawing from the model).
1998
The Americana Museum, El Paso,Texas (life drawing from the model).
The Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, Colorado (life drawing from the model).
University of Oklahoma, Sante Fe summer program, New Mexico (landscape
painting).
Jackson Community Art Association, Jackson, Wyoming (life drawing from the model).
Kirkland Art Center, Kirkland, Washington (life drawing from the model).
Daniel Smith Inc. workshop program, Seattle, Washington (life drawing from the model).
1997
Jackson Community Art Association, Jackson, Wyoming (life drawing from the model).
PUBLICATIONS
2008
Book cover illustration for the Brazilian publisher L&PM Editores for Dolce Agonia
by Nancy Huston (publication date: January 2009)
The Computer, The Painter, The Image and His Brushes, article written for the website:
www.digitalapplejuice.com (under ‘Art Commentary’)
The Computer, Slow Food and Stone, article for the website: www.digitalapplejuice.com
2007
Illustration and text for children’s book “Créer avec Warhol”, published by Editions Courtes et
Longues
Illustration and text for children’s book “Créer avec Vermeer”, published by
Édition Courtes et Longues ,
2006
Co-Editor of Catalogue for The Permanent Art Collection 2006 of
The American University of Paris
2001
Cover illustration Dolce Agonia, Nancy Huston (Actes Sud, 2001)
2000
Cover and illustrations of CD jacket, Ralph Trio
1999
Paris Atlantic, featured artist (cover and illustrations) in Paris-based literary journal
(published by the American University of Paris)
Variations, featured artist (illustrations and article entitled “Festin”), published by the Fédération des
relais enfants parents, Montrouge, France
Illustration for book cover: Our Lady, Dale Gershwin (Mosaic Press, 1999)
1998
Frank (interview and illustrations), Paris.
1997
The Pueblo Chieftain, Pueblo Colorado—Profile in March 11, 1997 edition.
1993
Catalogue—“Itinéraire 93,” Levallois.
1990
Frank (International art and literary journal)—Interview and reproductions of work, Paris.
1982
Zephyr Calendar—Design: Davidson/Petty, Illustrations: Petty. L.N. Fowler and Co. London.
1979
Pholden—Text and illustrations for a children's book (unpublished)
1975
Once Upon a Time, L.E. Bean—Illustrations.
1975
Land of the Sky-Blue People, L.E. Bean—Illustrations.
PUBLICATIONS OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
Paris Atlantic, illustrations,2007, 2005, 2004 and before; Core, illustrations,2001, 2008
Keystone, interview and painting illustration, 2005
Scissors and Tooth, “Language without Words”, 2007
VIDEO
An American Artist in Paris: Ralph Petty—directed by Michel Gales and Lorna Monohan,
with the cooperation and assistance of the French Telecom.
EDUCATION
1980-84
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Appliqués, Paris—Diploma
(Stained-glass, painting).
1976-78
Atelier 17 (Stanley Hayter), Paris—Etchings.
1974-76
University of California, Davis—BFA Painting and Etching (with honors).
SCHOLARSHIPS
1981
Study grant from the Italian government for mosaic, Ravenna.
1977-78
Harriet Hale Wooley Scholarship for American artists in Paris.
OTHER ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES
• President and founding member of the “Art Ephemérè” Association which organizes an international
competition for environmental sculpture created and installed near the village of Jaujac in `the Ardeche,
France and supported by the Conseil Municipal de Jaujac, Département de l’Ardeche, La Région de Rhônes-
Alpes and The European Union.
• Member of the Selection Committee for choosing artworks for the British Hospital.
• Art Director and Designer for the English textile company specializing in bedding Flesh and Flora
Execution of series of granite sculptures for Cheylas architectural and12 hectare park project in the Ardeche.
• Lecture to Chelsea Art Club on my work invited by John Calder of Calder Publications, London
(Lecture took place May 31, 2008 in Calder’s offices in Montreuil).
tel: 06 16 55 84 58
Born in Alamosa, Colorado, USA, in 1952; resident of France since 1976.French/American citizenship