Artist Biography — Ecole d'Arts Décoratives

**James Coignard** James Coignard (1925-2008) is a French painter, ceramist, engraver and sculptor who had a traveling artistic career. He is considered to be a very influential figure in modern fine arts.Coignard, born in Tours, decided to study at the School of Decorative Arts in Nice, and ceramics in a studio in Paris, between 1948 and 1951, after a few years as a civil servant.With the help of his friend Marchand des Raux, he made his first exhibition at Beaulieu-sur-mer where he met Georges Braque, Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall. In 1950, he met Paul Hervieu, which led to a...