Matthieu Schaeffer

Born in 1998, Matthieu Schaeffer lives and works in Paris/Hossegor, France.

Having grown up in Kenya and the Paris region, he pursued engineering studies at EPFL in Switzerland, before obtaining a degree in aerospace engineering in Toulouse in 2021. During this time, he continued to develop his artistic practice, which began at the Rueil-Malmaison art workshops between 2012 and 2016.

Today, Matthieu explores the relationship between nature and artificiality through hyperrealistic paintings of animals made of ceramic and plastic. Inspired by the species he encountered during his childhood, he seeks to capture their fragility, using ceramic as a symbol of the precariousness of ecosystems. The precision of his style stems from his scientific background, while themes of childhood, memory, and dreams permeate his work.

His artworks challenge our aesthetic perception and raise awareness of nature’s fragility by transforming animals into smooth, artificial objects. This tension between reality and artifice invites viewers to rethink their relationship with nature and the living world.