George Camille was born on the island of Mahe in 1963 and spent
his childhood on the island of La Digue. Both are principal
islands of the
Seychelles.
Initially self taught, George later developed his eclectic yet
distinctive style through more formal tuition, including periods
of study at Blackheath College of Art and Goldsmiths College, both
in London.
A number of important collaborative friendships with fellow
artists also helped to focus Camille's direction as an artist,
most notably his work with 'Tonga Bill' Fehoko, the Martinique artist Habdaphai and the French artist
Mikel Chaussepied, who introduced Camille to the techniques of
etching; today a key element in the artist's work.
In 1987 George established
Sunstroke Studios in Seychelles and,
in so doing, provided and outlet for his design and craft
activities alongside his original fine art work. This successful
initiative was followed in 1997 by the restoration of an old
wooden colonial house, Kaz Zanana,
which George opened as his first gallery in the Seychelles. This
was followed in 2004 by the opening of the
George Camille Gallery
at Anse Gaulette on the island of La Digue .
Today George's work continues to be show-cased in both galleries,
as well as Sunstroke Studio outlets on Mahe and La Digue. Georges
work is also much sought after for exhibitions and sale in
independent galleries and gallery spaces in
selected hotels.
George has staged numerous 'one man' and group shows in
Seychelles, Mauritius, Martinique, Reunion, Germany, China and
Mali. He also staged major exhibitions of new work in Beijing and
represented Seychelles three times at the Venice Biennale. George
has original work in numerous private collections worldwide, and
has completed a significant number of commissions, private, public
and corporate.
George continues to produce prolifically, incorporating a wide
range of materials and processes in the development and
articulation of his personal visual mythology. His most recent
work has incorporated elements of 'objet trouve' (found objects)
into mixed media work which sees George experimenting with metal,
resin, relief work and, as ever, painting and drawing. Examples of
the work may be viewed on the
Gallery pages of his website.
George Camille is married, with three children, and lives and
works on the islands of Mahe and La Digue.