Emile Mangiapan was born in Cannes in 1925 in a family where arts was the main preoccupation. Helped by his father Félix-Pierre Mangiapan, he discovered a deep and lasting vocation for the Arts. In 1949 he finished his studies at the Beaux Arts of Strasbourg and left the school influenced by the German school: Die Bricke and Der blaue Retter. Soon later, he developped a passion for the expressionism of Nolde, Rouault and Ensor as well as for the fauvisme of Derain and Vlaminck.
In 1950 he established himself in Paris, where he mixed with the local intellectual circles. He then met Leautaut, Cocteau, Sartre, Vian, Utrillo, GenPaul, Genin and Moretti. In 1952 he decided to leave France for a world tour during which he will go on painting inspired by the many places he discovered.
Back in France, he taught life drawing at the Beaux Arts of Lille from 1969 to 1976. He finally settled down in the centre of France with his wife and son.
Away from the academic influences, Mangiapan is an unparalleled draftman and colourist. And it was for that purpose that on January 1st 2002, he was rewarded the title of "Knight of the Arts and Letters" by the French Minister of Culture.
Mangiapan is by excellence the painter of Jazz and Blues. Under his paintbrushes, vibrate all together the frenzied rhythms of the big Jazz bands, soloists and famous voices. Through his painting, Mangiapan managed to unify his two passions, recreating thus a unique movement of forms and vibrations of colours.
