Duaiv

Born in 1952 near Bordeaux, France, Duaiv grew up surrounded by creativity—his mother was a classical pianist and his father a sculptor. He picked up his first paintbrush at age three and completed his first oil painting by nine. When his family moved to a nearby island, his father discouraged an artistic path and bought him a cello instead. Having met renowned cellist Pablo Casals at age eight, Duaiv embraced the instrument but never abandoned his love of painting. He pursued classical training in both disciplines, studying cello under Bernard Michelin at the Conservatoire Nationale de Musique in Paris and painting at the École des Beaux-Arts.
At twenty-three, Duaiv met Salvador Dalí, who encouraged him to blend his dual passions professionally. Today, Duaiv is represented by Park West Gallery and maintains a studio in Florida, where he obtained American citizenship in 2011. His colorful, contemporary Impressionist works draw inspiration from Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Johannes Vermeer, and Frans Hals. Working with palette knives, small brushes, and even his fingers, he uses only six to eight colors yet achieves a full spectrum of hues.
For Duaiv, art and music remain inseparable. He practices cello each morning and paints four to six hours nightly, always accompanied by music, creating uplifting works that capture landscapes, cityscapes, and portraits with dynamic brushstrokes and pastel tones.