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Paule Vézelay

Paule Vézelay was born in England in 1892, but by the 1930s she had become an active member of the Parisian avant-garde after moving to France and adopting the name Paule Vézelay. Her long career and wide-ranging practice encompassed early figurative works, Surrealism and the mature abstract works for which she is best known.

England & Co have represented the Estate of Paule Vézelay since 1988, and held several solo exhibitions, including a retrospective in 2004. These pages show selected works from various periods of her career: including archive sold works from past gallery exhibitions, and selected currently available works.

In 2010, the exhibition Lines in Space: Paule Vézelay & Linda Karshan featured Linda Karshan's contemporary minimalist drawings as a complement to the purity of Paule Vézelay's constructions (the 'Lines in Space' series) and related drawings spanning the 1930s to 1970. Drawings by Vézelay were also featured in the exhibitions Wandering Lines i and Wandering Lines ii at England & Co in 2011 and 2012. Paule Vézelay: Abstraction-Creation to Le Groupe Espace was held in 2012.

Vézelay's sculpture Five Forms (1935-36), acquired from England & Co by Tate in 2000, was displayed in Modern British Sculpture, at the Royal Academy, London in 2011. Tate holds an extensive collection of the work of Paule Vézelay and they have been included in major Tate collection displays such as Poetry and Dream (Tate Modern) and she was the subject of a solo Spotlight room display (Tate Britain). Her work is held in several UK and international museum collections.

England & Co's held a solo presentation of Paule Vézelay at Frieze Masters in the Modern Women section (stand MW9) in October 2023. (Press release).

In 2025, a retrospective exhibition, Paule Vézelay: Living Lines, was arranged at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) in Vézelay’s home city of Bristol. This exhibition will tour to the Towner gallery, Eastbourne.



BIOGRAPHY   
 
Constructions and mixed media   Drawings and works on paper   Paintings   Prints   Sculpture   

ALL



Five Forms - Details


Five Forms 1935-36
10.75 x 19 x 10 inches
Plaster sculpture

Acquired from England & Co for Tate, London.



Black Silhouettes on Grey - Details


Black Silhouettes on Grey 1976
Paper size 22 x 30 inches
Silkscreen print. Black on grey, edition of 35
Ref: 5a
Lines in Space No.56 - Details


Lines in Space No.56 1969
21.5 x 22.5 x 4.5 in (50 x 54 x 11 cm)
Mixed media construction
Ref: PV299
Deux Femmes Couchées - Details


Deux Femmes Couchées 1930
15 x 18 inches
Oil on canvas
Ref: PV584
Garden (Object in Three Dimensions) - Details


Garden (Object in Three Dimensions) 1935
23.5 X 16.5 X 3 inches
Plaster sculpture
Ref: PV56 Reserved
Black Silhouettes on Brown - Details


Black Silhouettes on Brown 1976
Paper size 22 x 30 inches
Silkscreen print. Black on brown/ochre, edition of 30
Ref: 5c
Construction No.45 - Details


Construction No.45 1965
14 x 25 x 2.25 inches
Mixed media construction
Private collection
Ref: PV294
Untitled - Details


Untitled 1953
9 x 10.75 inches
Pastel on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV391
Fragments and Circles - Details


Fragments and Circles 1959
54.5 x 73 cm
Oil on canvas
Ref: PV491
Black Silhouettes on Red - Details


Black Silhouettes on Red 1976
Paper size 22 x 30 inches
Silkscreen print. Black on red, edition of 35
Ref: 5b
Lines in Space No.44 - Details


Lines in Space No.44 1964
14.75 x 16.75 x 3.25 inches
Mixed media construction
Private collection
Ref: PV182
Untitled - Details


Untitled 1934
14.25 x 10 inches
Coloured pencil and pastel on paper
Ref: PV398
Untitled (Two Vases) - Details


Untitled (Two Vases) c 1934-5
5 x 6 x 3.25 inches
Plaster
Private collection
Ref: PV407
Three Forms on a Green Ground - Details


Three Forms on a Green Ground 1935
18.3 x 15 inches (46.5 x 38 cm)
Oil on canvas
Ref: PV508
Two Forms and Two Dots - Details


Two Forms and Two Dots 1976

Silkscreen print. Black on grey, edition of 35
Ref: 4a
Composition - Details


Composition 1933
28.75 x 36 inches.
Pastel on canvas
Acquired from England & Co by the Scottish Museum of Modern Art
Ref: PV230
Three Forms - Details


Three Forms c 1936
5 x 7 inches
Ink on paper
Ref: PV143
Untitled - Details


Untitled c 1935
8 x 12.5 x 8.5 inches
Plaster sculpture (three pieces)
Ref: PV256
Construction No.46 - Details


Construction No.46 1965
13.75 x 16 x 2.75 inches
Mixed media construction
Private collection
Ref: PV295
Two Forms and Two Dots - Details


Two Forms and Two Dots 1976
Paper size 22 x 30 inches
Silkscreen print. Black on ochre, edition of 25
Ref: 4b
Fragile Construction - Details


Fragile Construction 1934
10 x 8 inches
Ink and pastel on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV35
Lines in Space No.30 - Details


Lines in Space No.30 1953
7.75 x 13.25 x 2 inches
Mixed media construction in glass and wood case
Private collection
Ref: PV296
Lines in Space No.53 - Details


Lines in Space No.53 1965
9 x 11 x 5 inches
Wire construction
Private collection
Ref: PV300
Two Forms and Two Dots - Details


Two Forms and Two Dots 1976
Paper size 22 x 30 inches
Silkscreen print. Black on red, edition of 30
Ref: 4c
Formes - Details


Formes 1934
10.25 x 12.5 inches
Pencil on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV171
Drapeaux d'Hiver - Details


Drapeaux d'Hiver 1930
38 x 57.5 inches
Oil on canvas
Ref: PV414
Lines in Space No.6 - Details


Lines in Space No.6 1942
12 x 8 x 1.75 inches
Mixed media construction
Private collection
Ref: PV297
Untitled – Lines in Space series - Details


Untitled – Lines in Space series c 1960
10 x 7 x 5.25 inches
Wire construction on wood base
Private collection
Ref: PV126
Contrasted Forms on Green - Details


Contrasted Forms on Green 1976

Silkscreen print. Olive/brown/green on light green, edition of 30
Ref: 6c
Composition with Blue Vase and Table - Details


Composition with Blue Vase and Table 1928
29 x 36.75 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV229
Lines in Space No.22 - Details


Lines in Space No.22 1953
9 x 11.25 x 2.25 Inches
Mixed media construction
Private collection

Untitled - Details


Untitled 1934
9.5 x 7 inches
Pencil on paper
Ref: PV397
Contrasted Forms on Green - Details


Contrasted Forms on Green 1976
Paper size 30 x 22 inches
Silkscreen print. Red/brown/green on light green, edition of 30
Ref: 6b
Composition (with Blue Form) - Details


Composition (with Blue Form) c 1932
46 x 29 inches
Oil on canvas
Ref: PV31
Construction with Nine Forms in Wood on White Ground - Details


Construction with Nine Forms in Wood on White Ground 1964
18.75 x 17.75 inches
Wood construction
Private collection
Ref: PV181
Two Forms on a Brown Oval - Details


Two Forms on a Brown Oval 1972
20.5 x 26.5 inches
Pastel on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV97
Flags - Details


Flags 1929
57.5 X 45 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV25
Contrasted Forms on Green - Details


Contrasted Forms on Green 1976
Paper size 30 x 22 inches
Silkscreen print. Maroon/brown/green on light green. Edition of 30
Ref: 6a
Lines in Space No.8 - Details


Lines in Space No.8 1942
19.5 x 22.25 x 2.25 inches
Mixed media construction
Private collection
Ref: PV146
Contrasted Forms - Details


Contrasted Forms 1933
10.5 x 8.25 inches
Pastel on paper
Ref: PV170
Worlds in Space - Details


Worlds in Space 1935/1974
32 x 39.5 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV59a
Lines in Space No.57 - Details


Lines in Space No.57 1974
14.5. x 16 x 2.5 inches
Mixed media construction
Private collection
Ref: PV163
A Circle, a Form and Two White Lines - Details


A Circle, a Form and Two White Lines 1970
Paper size 30 x 22 inches
Silkscreen print. Red/dark grey on light grey, edition of 34
Ref: 2a
Nine Lines – White on Black - Details


Nine Lines – White on Black 1937
25 x 19.5 inches
Collage on black paper
Private collection
Ref: PV310
Lines in Space No.41 - Details


Lines in Space No.41 1964
13.5 x 16.5 x 2.25 inches
Mixed media box construction
Private collection
Ref: PV88
A Circle, a Form and Two White Lines - Details


A Circle, a Form and Two White Lines 1970
Paper size 30 x 22 inches
Silkscreen print. Brown/dark grey on light grey, edition of 34
Ref: 2c
Little Black and White Picture - Details


Little Black and White Picture 1935
10.75 x 8.75 inches
Oil on canvas
Ref: PV43
Three Forms (Curved Amplitude) - Details


Three Forms (Curved Amplitude) 1949
12.75 x 16.25 inches
Charcoal on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV334
Two Blue Forms on Grey - Details


Two Blue Forms on Grey 1937-38
28.75 x 36.5 inches
Oil on canvas
Ref: PV145
A Circle, a Form and Two White Lines - Details


A Circle, a Form and Two White Lines 1970
Paper size 30 x 22 inches
Silkscreen print. Indian red/dark grey on light grey, edition of 35
Ref: 2b
Drawing - Details


Drawing 1933
9.75 x 14.75 inches
Pencil on Japan paper
Private collection
Ref: PV260
Lines in Space No.51 - Details


Lines in Space No.51 1965
15.75 x 22.75 x 2.25 inches
Mixed media construction
Private collection
Ref: PV298
Grey Picture - Details


Grey Picture 1935
36.25 x 23.5 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection

Contrasted Curves - Details


Contrasted Curves 1970
Paper size 30 x 22 inches
Silkscreen print. Olive/grey/yellow on slate grey, edition of 33
Ref: 1a
Three Forms and Six Circles - Details


Three Forms and Six Circles c 1950s
20.5 x 25.5 inches
Collage on black paper
Private collection
Ref: PV175
Black, Grey and White Composition - Details


Black, Grey and White Composition 1937-38
32 x 39 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection

Flying Forms - Details


Flying Forms 1948
23.75 X 28.75 inches
Charcoal on paper
Ref: PV73
Contrasted Curves - Details


Contrasted Curves 1970
Paper size 30 x 22 inches
Silkscreen print. Red/grey/yellow on slate grey, edition of 32
Ref: 1b
Three Forms - Details


Three Forms (one sewn on canvas) 1935
23.5 x 14.5 inches
String and charcoal on canvas
Private collection

Two Forms Holding Two Ovals - Details


Two Forms Holding Two Ovals 1971
18 x 25 inches
Pastel and collage
Private collection
Ref: PV160
Contrasted Curves - Details


Contrasted Curves 1970
Paper size 30 x 22 inches
Silkscreen print. Olive/white/yellow on slate grey, edition of 34
Ref: 1c
Personnage Tenant une Fleur - Details


Personnage Tenant une Fleur 1933
16.25 x 13.25 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV225
Lines in Space No.1 - Details


Lines in Space No.1 (Objects in Three Dimensions) c 1935
8.75 x 10.75 x 2.25 inches
Mixed media construction with collage
Ref: PV46 Reserved
Composition in Black, Green and Brown - Details


Composition in Black, Green and Brown 1947
46 x 28.75 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection

A Group of Five Contrasted Forms - Details


A Group of Five Contrasted Forms 1970
Paper size 22 x 30 inches
Silkscreen print. Grey/brown/white on black. Edition of 35
Ref: 3c
Ten Forms - Details


Ten Forms c 1936
6 x 8 inches
Ink on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV61
The Green Form - Details


The Green Form 1966
20 x 28 inches
Collage on card
Private collection
Ref: PV215
A Group of Five Contrasted Forms - Details


A Group of Five Contrasted Forms 1970
Paper size 22 x 30 inches
Silkscreen print. Olive green/brown/white on black, edition of 33
Ref: 3a
Grey and Yellow - Details


Grey and Yellow 1953
21.25 x 25.5 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV349
A Group of Five Contrasted Forms - Details


A Group of Five Contrasted Forms 1970
Paper size 22 x 30 inches
Silkscreen print. Brown ochre/white/black on brown, edition of 35
Ref: 3b
Angles and Curves - Details


Angles and Curves 1979
9.75 x 13 inches
Pastel on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV166
Cirque Medrano - Details


Cirque Medrano 1924
Paper size 10.5 x 8.25 inches, image size 7.5 x 6 inches
Woodcut on paper; 14/24

One from this edition is in the Tate collection, London.



Three Forms with Stripes - Details


Three Forms with Stripes 1947
7.25 x 9.25 inches
Pencil on paper
Ref: PV337
Summer in the South of France - Details


Summer in the South of France 1924
Paper size 6.25 x 4.5 inches, image size 4.75 x 5.5 inches
Woodcut on paper; 9/25, signed and dated
Ref: PV258
Space - Details


Space 1979
31.5 x 39.5 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV100a
A Group of Four Forms - Details


A Group of Four Forms 1972
8 x 12 inches
Pastel on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV353
Seven Forms and Three Circles - Details


Seven Forms and Three Circles 1957
20 x 29 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV83
Three Grey Forms - Details


Three Grey Forms 1934
9 x 12 inches
Pastel on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV39
Growing Forms - Details


Growing Forms 1946
28.75 x 23.75 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV 147
Untitled - Details


Untitled 1933
11.5 x 6.5 inches
Pencil and pastel on paper
Ref: PV401
Two Forms Balancing Two Forms - Details


Two Forms Balancing Two Forms 1966
19 x 24 inches
Pastel on paper
Private collection

Contact - Four Grey Forms - Details


Contact - Four Grey Forms 1973
29 x 36.25 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV161
Eight Forms and Three Circles - Details


Eight Forms and Three Circles (on Grey Paper) 1963
17.5 x 23.75 inches
Pastel on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV85
Triangles and Tubes - Details


Triangles and Tubes 1932
36.25 X 28.75 inches
Oil on Canvas
Private collection

Composition - Details


Composition c 1936
19.5 x 15.25 inches
Coloured crayon on tracing paper
Private collection
Ref: PV30
Winter - Details


Winter 1941
34.75 x 27.25 inches
Charcoal on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV66
Femmes - Details


Femmes 1927
21.5 x 18 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV18
Untitled - Details


Untitled c 1935
8.5 X 10.75 inches
Pastel on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV49
Five Nudes - Details


Five Nudes 1931
28.75 x 23.5 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV327
Youth Leaving Old Age - Details


Youth Leaving Old Age 1934
32 x 39 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV140
Untitled - Details


Untitled (Sketch for Despair, Hope and Joy) 1934
6.25 x 10 inches
Watercolour and pencil on paper
Private collection

The Introduction - Details


The Introduction (Study for a painting) c 1931
7.5 x 10.5 inches
Pencil and pastel on paper
Ref: PV259
Les Danseuses du Corde - Details


Les Danseuses du Corde 1929
21.25 x 25.5 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection

L'Arbre - Details


L'Arbre c 1932
10.5 x 8.75 inches
Pastel on canvas
Ref: PV33
Two Forms Pierced by Two Poles - Details


Two Forms Pierced by Two Poles 1931
9.5 x 16.25 inches
Oil on canvas
Ref: PV234
The Sunbathers - Details


The Sunbathers 1929
29 X 37 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV19
Le Bois (South of France) - Details


Le Bois (South of France) c 1930
19 x 30.5 inches
Pastel on paper laid on board
Ref: PV247
Personnages sur un Toit - Details


Personnages sur un Toit 1930
16 x 12.5 inches
Gouache on paper
Private collection
Ref: PV22
Movement - Details


Movement (Moving Forms in Space) 1943
45.5 x 58.25 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Ref: PV68