A scientist by training, Lionel Bayol-Thémines graduated from ENSP-Arles. He is a resident of the Fondation nationale des artistes and teaches photography at L'ESADHaR in Rouen.

Inspired by the philosopher Vilem Flusser - who questioned the history of images and their creative process - and artists such as Joan Fontcuberta, who worked on the “truth” of photography and its capacity to represent reality, Lionel Bayol-Thémines creates singular images that challenge the capacity of digital photography to generate other “realities”. The artist also asserts the material dimension of images, creating devices that are true photographic sculptures.

Lionel Bayol-Thémines experiments with landscape representation using Google Earth software and the impact of artificial intelligence on the representation of our living spaces. His work focuses on exploring and documenting these virtual models, questioning the distribution of images and the programs that generate them. In 2018 his project “Flux Scape”, was selected for the national photographic commission “Flux a society in motion” Ministry of Culture, CNAP. In 2019, his project “After Nadar” was selected for the photographic commission of the Mission Photographique du Grand Est. From 2019 to 2021, he was invited by the University of Strasbourg for the Supplementary elements residency, which led to the “Low Space Oddity” project initiated with the Center for Space Documentation in Strasbourg (CDS). In 2022, he began collaborative work with neural networks (AI) and explored other possibilities linked to experimental photography and its history. To date, several research projects have been undertaken, including “War.AI”, “Ai Ge- nerated (another story of experimental photographs with machines)” and “Playing with John Baldessari and machines”.

Born in 1968, Lionel Bayol-Thémines lives and works in Paris, France.

SOLO SHOWS

2022 “Mission photographique du Grand Est“ Projet “After Nadar,“ The automated image, a new means of documentation and analysis of the territory?, L’arsenal, Metz, France
2022 Supplémentary Elements, CNRS Research Residency, CDS, Projet Low Space oddity, SUAC, Strasbourg, France
2021 “Mission photographique du Grand Est“ Projet “After Nadar,“ The automated image, a new means of documentation and analysis of the territory?, Festival Urbi & Orbi, Sedan, France
2020 “Flux une société en mouvement”,Ministry of Culture, CNAP, project “Flux Scape“, Photaumnales Beauvais, France
2019 “Google as a medium“ Korea International Photo Festival, Seoul, South Korea
2019 “Google as a medium“, galerie ESADHaR, Le Havre, France
2018 “High Land“ Edition Enigmatiques, le Studiolo Gallery de France, Paris
2017 Artotheque, Contemporary Art Space of Caen, France
2016 Photo18 Festivals Brussels, Belgium
2015 St Etienne International Design Biennale, France
2012 Paris Photo, Saint-Germain-des-Près, Gallery Maia Muller, Paris, France
2009 Le Cube, Art 3OOO, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
2009 PPP (Parcours parisien de la Photographie), Gallery 1900-2000, France
2008 Biennale internationale de la photographie, Timisoara, Romania
2005 National Foundation for Graphic and Plastic Arts (FNAGP), Hotel Salomon de Rotschild, Paris, France
2004 Art Paris, solo show, Carrousel du Louvre, Gallery Christian Croset, Paris, France
2003 Gallery Past Ray, Yokohama, Japon
2002 Museum ATHA, Vitoria, Espagne
2002 Gallery H2O, (Primavera Fotográfica), Barcelona, Espagne
2000 Gallery 1900-2000, Paris, France
2000 Gallery H2O, Biennale de Barcelone (Primavera), Espagne
1999 Gallery Issis, Kyoto, Japon
1999Gallery Hokari, Tokyo, Japon
1998 Photo Espana 98, Gallery Buades, Madrid, Spain 1996 Gallery XS, Bâle, Switzerland
1995 International Biennial of Photography, Turin, Italy

GROUP SHOWS

2024 “What if it was all just a mirage?”, Bigaignon, Paris, France
2024 Extended Approche Commissariat Dominique Moulon, Emilia Guenuardi, Paris, France
2024 (UN) REAL, Commissariat Dominique Moulon, Janine Sarbu, Santiago Torres, Paris, France
2024 “Réactivations”, Danae.Io, Paris, France
2023 “La photographie à l’épreuve de la matière”, BnF, Paris, France
2023 Paris Photo, Bigaignon, Paris, France
2023 Marais DigitArt, Bigaignon, Paris, France
2022 “Reinventar las orillas”,Museum of Water, Medelin, Colombia
2022 “Radical Perspectives”, Bigaignon, Paris, France
2021 “Des mondes Possibles“, Mérignac, France
2020 “La photographie à l’épreuve de l’abstraction”, Frac Rouen Normandie, France

DISTINCTIONS 

2020 Short listed order Public Tisséo Metro de Toulouse 3rd line station Ecole Polytechnique
2019 Winner of public procurement “Mission photographique du Grand Est“
​2018 Winner of public procurement “Flux une société en mouvement“Ministère de la Culture, CNAP
2005 New Museum Research Grant Mac/val Vitry on Seine
2004 Residency for the National Foundation of Graphic and Plastic Arts Paris
2000 Recipient of individual creative assistance (Ministry of Culture)
1995 Recipient of individual creative assistance (Ministry of Culture)

COLLECTIONS

CNAP, France
Frac Normandie, France
BnF, Paris, France
Région Grand Est, France
Arent Collection, Luxembourg
National Foundation of Artists, France
MEP, France
Fond Raphael Tous – MACBA Museu d’Art contemporani, Espagne
Fondation Auer Ory, Suisse
Collection Ruan Redon – Fondation Colectania, Espagne
Museum ATHA Vitoria, Espagne
Museum ken Damy, Italie
Collection the city of Lyon, France
Artotheque of Caen, France
Artotheque of Nantes, France