Born in 1970, Kolé—whose real name is Mylène Collet—is a visual artist who now lives in the south of France.
It was through her interactions with other painters that Kolé developed her artistic style. She produced her first works and conducted her initial explorations in Shlomo Lévy’s studio in 1990—a pivotal moment for Kolé, as it was then that she truly found her voice as a painter. She subsequently gained significant momentum when she was selected to represent France at the Salon de Montrouge. Building on this new experience, she headed to the Camargue to join Pierre-Marie Brisson’s studio in 2005, then returned to the United States in 2009, settling in San Francisco.
Kolé takes viewers on a true journey through his paintings. His father, a naval officer, instilled in him a love of adventure and escape. Through his tales of voyages—whether on the high seas, in Africa, or to the Pacific islands—he filled his young son’s imagination with epic tales. This powerful legacy drives the artist toward an exceptionally open-minded outlook, making him particularly receptive to encounters with others.
Kolé’s work thus draws inspiration from human relationships and the interactions between people. Her work focuses in particular on collective memory, humanity’s imprint, and the mark humans leave on the earth. She paints in a very intuitive and impulsive manner, directly on the floor. She values the present moment, in contrast to a constant, fearful flight toward an uncertain future.
Her canvases are filled with phantasmagorical beings—white souls wandering about. For Kolé, white serves as a medium that brings out colors and symbolism. She also highlights plant elements and nature, which take root in collages and paper assemblages, blended with India ink and acrylic paint.
Today, the artist’s work is featured in several galleries across Europe.
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