Three models wearing replicas of Yves Saint Laurent’s Piet Mondrian dress walked through Venice during the 1993 Biennale as part of an exhibition by Sylvie Fleury. Born in Geneva on June 24, 1961, the Swiss artist utilizes sculpture, photography, and installation to examine consumer culture, gendered consumption, and the fetishistic links between commercial objects and the history of art.
Early Development and Education
After completing her initial schooling in Switzerland, Fleury traveled abroad to work as an au pair. She became involved with a circle of students at NYU creating short art films before enrolling at the Germain School of Photography in 1981. During this period, she gained professional experience working for a single day as an assistant to fashion photographer Richard Avedon. Following these experiences, she spent time in India, where she studied Bharatanatyam dance.
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Upon returning to Geneva, she worked for the Red Cross. She eventually adopted the pseudonym Silda Brown to collect items marked with a red cross. She also utilized a practice facility to convert her apartment into a dentist's cabinet. In 1990, she joined the professional circle of Swiss performance artist John Armleder. The two later moved to Villa Magica, an old town house located on the outskirts of Geneva.
Career Milestones
Fleury debuted at the Rivolta Gallery in Lausanne in 1990 alongside Olivier Mosett and John Armleder. Her subsequent participation in Eric Troncy’s 1991 exhibition, No Man's Time at the Villa Arson in Nice, France, marked her emergence in the international scene. She has since been featured in notable publications, including Parkett #58 with Jason Rhoades and James Rosenquist, and her work resides in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, and the Museum der Moderne Salzburg.
Collaborative Ventures
In 2004, Fleury, John Armleder, and Stéphane Armleder established the Geneva-based record label Villa Magica Records. The entity published various LPs and CDs from artists including Fleury, John Armleder, Rockenschaub, and John B. Rambo, an alias for Stéphane Armleder. Throughout her career, critics have categorized her practice as post-appropriationist, focusing on the intersection of sentimental attachments and the aesthetic qualities of consumer goods. She was awarded the Prix de la Société des arts de Genève in 2015.
Fast facts
- Born: 24 June 1961, Geneva
- Citizenship: Switzerland
- Occupations: Artist, sculptor, photographer, textile artist, installation artist, video artist
- Major Award: Prix de la Société des arts de Genève (2015)
- Record Label: Villa Magica Records
- Language: French
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Sylvie Fleury's artistic work?
Her work addresses consumer culture, gendered consumption, and the relationship between art history and fetishized consumer objects.
Did Sylvie Fleury ever record music?
Yes, through Villa Magica Records, the label she co-founded in 2004, which published CDs and LPs featuring her work.
