Jacques Quillery, is a French artist residing in Costa Rica since 1968. Born in North Africa on July 31st, 1950, and educated in France, during his childhood he developed a passion for art – especially for painting. As part of his apprenticeship, he has had the opportunity to visit the majority of the classic art museums of France and Italy. As a youngster, Jacques became a passionate devotee of Impressionism and Fauvism as well an enthusiast of the works of Nicolas de Stael, Soutine and Derain; who is still today a source of inspiration and admiration.

While still in high school Jacques also attends the L’ Academie Ingres en Montauban also continuing studies in Philosophy at that institution. It is here under the tutelage of Gérard Mounier, the famous artist of the Sud-Ouest (southwest) of France, he learns the fundamentals of art, oil painting, and gouache. As a result, he achieves expertise in diverse techniques: from the precise control of color and the daily cleansing of the pallet; to the use of splashes of color that later become details within the specific work of art. The combination of these techniques and many long hours of devotion, are the basis of his craft.

Taking advantage of his proximity to Toulouse, he attends various workshops in preparation for qualifying exams to the Faculty of Fine Arts. Everything seemed to presage a future of university studies and dedication to art…  However, he was beguiled by the strikes, marches, and unrest of May 1968 – and justifiably so, since at the age of 18 this historic and enticing student movement came to paralyze France and much of Europe.

Conversely, the Generation of 68 could not anticipate the reprisals later enacted by the Government upon those young “leftist intellectuals”. The time had come to temporarily leave his troubled homeland.

He decides to accompany his father – a United Nations diplomat – to Costa Rica. Jacques completes his studies in San José to later attend the University of Costa Rica. At the same time, he takes his first steps in the world of the travel industry.

In 1971 he meets his great friend Alvaro Bracci – recently arrived to Costa Rica and today a renowned artist – and together they participate in the Rafa Fernández workshop. During this period, they regularly attend the “Martes Musical” (musical Tuesdays), a weekly get together of artists such as Edwin Cantillo, Hugo Díaz, Chalo Morales and Rafa Fernandez himself. He also starts to frequent “Parque de la Expressión”, a weekly exhibit of art coordinated by the Ministry of Culture and held every Sunday at Parque España, a metropolitan park. Here Jacques meets the famous artist don Ricardo Ulloa Barrenechea and taking advantage of his friendship, he frequents his workshop to admire the artist’s spontaneous and energetic talent while engrossed by his daring use of color. There is no doubt that the influence of maestro Ulloa’s fauvist-colored pallet is continually present in the landscape works of Jacques Quillery, most notably in his mountains and skies.

In early 1979, he begins to assemble a series of paintings for his first art gallery exhibit, but professional exigencies prompt him to suspend his young artistic career and leave the country. Upon his return to Costa Rica 8 years later, Jacques renews ties with the art world of the country by participating once again in the “Martes Musical”. Despite being absorbed in a highly praised tourism career, he slowly rekindles his passion and discovers acrylic paints that allow him to advance even further in his calling. He develops expertise in this medium and other ‘mixed’ techniques thanks to the workshops provided by artist-professor Chino Porras.

In 1995 Guisela Stradman and Luis Paulino Delgado artists and owners of Gallery 521, invite him to make his first individual showing. In honor of that milestone, Rafa Fernández wrote:

Jacques Q., immersed once again in the quandary that is art, demonstrates his work through a technique of 4 series “Cuatro en series”- the title of the exhibit.  Throughout the showing, we can appreciate how Jacques endeavors through diverse themes, to find his source of expression – his own language. The is no doubt that the journey of art is infinite, but in some cases, perseverance can do more than complexity and the field of art is where we all seek to find our own voice through the use of imagery and color.

Since then, Jacques has not stopped creating. He participates regularly in various exhibits, individual showings as well as collective showings such as the “Outdoor Art Festival”, in which he has participated religiously since 1997. Additionally, and for almost two years, he as decorated the 80 rooms, public areas of and some condominiums of the Hotel Bougainvillea; placing more than 150 of his paintings on exhibit. He frequently states that this is “My best permanent exhibit”.

In 2003 he opens his own gallery next to this hotel using the heliconia as the symbol for his locale. This flower is also the central theme of many of his works, without leaving aside his treasured “Coqueticos” and “Papavas” as Hans Van der Wielen both friend and sponsor as well as the owner of the hotel, says.

To offset the lack of free time that makes it difficult to paint large murals, in 2002 Jacques investigates and uses the technique of the giclée; an adventure in which his son Jean Claude is a companion. Despite present technological limitations, he explores fine arts digital prints in large format. In many instances, he personally adds to the print with original intervention, making them unique and custom-made works of art. Jacques starts to become interested in the movement of contemporary minimal art, a return to the sophistication of lines and ambiance that moved him in the early sixties.

Together with his eldest son Philippe, they open a Studio-Showroom – iDesign – becoming pioneers in giclée art. From the iDesign studio, they work in conjunction with various famous interior decorators including Mario Arroyabe, Julieta Jurado and Jovita Bruges de Indiseño; as well as with Fen Shui expert Thomas Corella. They also collaborate on various projects with their friends and renowned decorators, Maria Checa Arias and Melisa García.

As a result, the works of Jacques Quillery are found gracing many law offices, clinics, corporations, condominiums and private homes. Given his many years in the travel industry, Jacques is also a well known and appreciated artist within that industry for which many of his works and Glicées grace prominent areas in many hotels of the country. Additionally, his designs and reproductions on paper are consistently used in promotional events and as refined corporate gifts.