First Impressions - Yoann Lossel

An ancient forest had a lasting effect on this French artist…

Where did you grow up and how has this influenced your art?

I grew up in Nantes, in the west of France. But my family comes from all over France, and especially from Strasbourg, to the east of France. These are two regions with different identities and established cultures. This gave me the taste of history, architecture, the desire to settle my work in the roots of art.

What, outside of art, has most influenced your artwork?

Nature and the study of myths and legends. After my studies, I went to live in Brocéliande, a forest in Brittany. This place is known to be associated with the Arthurian legend, in addition to the Breton folklore. By extension, Brocéliande is associated to the Pre-Raphaelite painters and illustrators of the Golden Age, which are among my major influences in addition to Symbolist painters.