Le Maneki Neko de la jungle

Born in 1998, Matthieu Schaeffer lives and works in Paris. Having spent his childhood between Kenya and the Paris region, he has developed a unique perspective on the world, shaped by cultural and environmental contrasts. After studying engineering at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, he graduated in 2021 with a degree in aerospace engineering from Toulouse. Alongside his scientific education, Matthieu nurtured his passion for art, which began between 2012 and 2016 at the ateliers d’art de Rueil-Malmaison.

Today, Matthieu Schaeffer is fully dedicated to a distinctive artistic practice that explores the relationship between nature and artifice. Through his hyperrealistic paintings depicting animals made of ceramic and plastic, he examines our connection to the living world and highlights the fragility of ecosystems. Ceramic, central to his work, serves as a symbol of nature’s precariousness and ephemeral beauty.

His artistic approach, deeply influenced by his scientific training, combines technical precision with poetic sensitivity. Themes of childhood, memory, and dreams permeate his creations, lending them a profoundly introspective quality. By transforming animals into smooth, artificial objects, he invites viewers to reflect on aesthetic perception and the tensions between reality and artificiality.

Matthieu Schaeffer’s works raise awareness of ecological urgency by placing the fragility of life at the heart of the discussion. They serve as an invitation to rethink our relationship with nature and to better understand its vulnerability.

Art Shortlist is proud to have welcomed Matthieu Schaeffer to its platform. Through his unique talent and committed approach, we present a selection of his works that challenge and inspire.

Awards

2024: Young Creator Award, Salon d’Automne

Education

2017: ISAE-SUPAERO

2012: Ateliers artistiques de Rueil-Malmaison

Exhibitions

2024: Salon d’Automne, Place Clémenceau, Paris, France

2024: Art Shopping October, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France

2023: "Gonflés", Rueil-Malmaison, France

2023: "The Mamitas, Sous le Soleil", Rueil-Malmaison, France