Mathieu Questel

Born in Rouen, France, Mathieu Questel is a French painter whose practice is deeply shaped by American visual culture. After working in visual communication and digital image-making, he turned to oil painting. His earlier series inspired by California and skateboard culture, explored memories of youth, freedom and the passage of time. His work now turns to the American West, where he continues this exploration through new figures and landscapes with a particular focus on inheritance and the bonds between generations.

Artistic statement

Mathieu Questel explores what we receive, what we carryvand what we pass on. The cowboy becomes a recurring figure within this narrative, appearing in scenes of work, learningvand everyday life, often alongside a child. A hand resting on a shoulder, a gesture being observed, a rope being learned to handle or a silent presence can become signs of knowledge and experience passed down over time. Alongside these intimate scenes, monumental compositions place figures and animals against the vast landscapes of the American West, elevating them into timeless symbols. The West is therefore portrayed not simply as a historical setting, but as a living world shaped by gestures, family bonds, responsibility and continuity. Working from images he composes and then translates into oil on linen, Mathieu Questel creates scenes that feel both realistic and timeless. The light, colors and textures evoke the visual language of an earlier era, while the relationships between his figures give each painting its human dimension.

“I am interested in the West not only as a place but as something people carry, preserve and pass on.” — Mathieu Questel