Alban

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Emerging Artist
Alban
Alban trained in Graphic Design before becoming an artist.
Alban takes inspiration from aircraft wrecks and industrial machinery.
Alban works in mixed media, primarily wood, plaster, paint and resin.

Born in Nantes, France, in 1967, Paris-based artist Alban le Luel (known as Alban) combines Pop Art motifs with mixed media to create colourful industrial paintings thatmimic the surface of airplanes.

Alban’s aviation art uses wood, plaster, paint and resin to recreate ageing chunks of aircraft metal as his canvas. Through this material sleight of hand, Alban’s art demonstrates an innovative and critical approach to military nostalgia. You can find Alban’s art for sale on Rise Art.

Alban’s Art Education and Career

Alban grew up next to an airport in Africa, developing a fascination for industrial aviation and machinery. The artist returned to France to study art, receiving a BA in Advertising and Graphic Design and an MA in Animation from the Ecole des Gobelins Art School. Alban then worked as a set designer for 12 years.

Alban’s aesthetic was influenced by working in the film industry, which encouraged his pursuit of mixed media art. The artist’s practical background in set design has a clear influence on his handcrafted airplane canvases. Alban’s historical aircraft art is now known throughout Europe and the US, with frequent exhibitions in London and Paris.

Alban’s Nose Art Style

Alban draws inspiration from the industrial age and from the decorative quality of machinery. The artist is influenced by nose art – graphic Pop Art designs painted onto the fuselage of an aircraft, most famously during World War II through to the 1950s. Alban’s wartime airplane art becomes both a memory and reinvention of the past.

Alban’s nose art alludes to the passing of time and cultural performances of masculinity. In Yellow (2022), Alban integrates a distorted pin-up character with a yellow target – combining Pop and military aesthetics. Alban expertly recreates the effect of weathered metal surfaces. Through these 'authentic fakes', Alban’s military nose art prompts the viewer to question the reality of their own nostalgia, as well as preconceived ideas about our attraction towards vintage objects.

Alban Artworks

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    showing 1-16 of 19
    89 by Alban
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    89 by Alban
    89
    Paintings - 120x150 cm
    France 25 by Alban
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    France 25 by Alban
    France 25
    Paintings - 100x87 cm
    1.4 E by Alban
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    1.4 E by Alban
    1.4 E
    Paintings - 80x130 cm
    France 3 by Alban
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    France 3 by Alban
    France 3
    Paintings - 120x50 cm
    2477 by Alban
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    2477 by Alban
    2477
    Paintings - 150x70 cm
    4 Désctructure by Alban
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    4 Désctructure by Alban
    4 Désctructure
    Paintings - 84x84 cm
    1 Desctructure by Alban
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    1 Desctructure by Alban
    1 Desctructure
    Paintings - 84x84 cm
    Super Power by Alban
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    Super Power by Alban
    Super Power
    Paintings - 120x120 cm
    Black body by Alban
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    Black body by Alban
    Black body
    Paintings - 140x94 cm
    British n°74820 by Alban
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    British n°74820 by Alban
    British n°74820
    Paintings - 110x110 cm
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    Yellow by Alban
    Yellow
    Paintings - 140x100 cm
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    British number two by Alban
    British number two
    Paintings - 120x145 cm
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    Kristen by Alban
    Kristen
    Paintings - 140x140 cm
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    Many stars by Alban
    Many stars
    Paintings - 130x130 cm
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    Britannica by Alban
    Britannica
    Paintings - 130x130 cm
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    Ellie by Alban
    Ellie
    Paintings - 160x110 cm

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