Adding Life to Life: Philippe Hugonnard

“Great photographs tell a story” - this is extremely true when it comes to Philippe Hugonnard's charming photography. 

In his work, glowing cities and street scenes come to life, and vibrant landscapes are made even more captivating.

Meet our artist of the month!

Philippe Hugonnard was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and for the past 10 years, he's been living in Paris, France. He loves exploring different and new ways to create original works of art through photography.

We asked him a few questions to get a glimpse into his world.

What inspires you most as an artist?

"Being creative means adding life to life, being open to one’s emotions, and conveying my curiosity so that others can discover my world. It is also a means of taking others on a trip through my work, allowing them to transport themselves somewhere else, say, having a drink on a rooftop in New York, opposite the Empire State Building, or in the vast landscapes of South Africa, or at the base of the Eiffel Tower on an autumn evening.
But being creative also means going beyond what you see at first glance… it means conveying a mood or a moment that changes the final impression. I’m constantly exploring the possibilities of digital technology so that, in my image processing, I stay as true to my emotions as I can."

When did you begin creating?

"I was interested in photography from an early age. I decided to study an artistic field, audiovisual production. Since I didn’t come from a family of artists, I had to build up my work little by little. As I got better, and over the course of my travels, I discovered that I had a special gift for capturing and immortalizing places, moments, and landscapes… maybe in the hope that I would never forget them, that I would hold on to them forever. More simply, I started my activity as an artist-photographer, more than 12 years ago." 

Do you have a favorite creation?

"I do not really have a favorite creation, because every new collection that I create, is part of me and traces a part of my artistic life. If I had to choose one, it would be my "Wild Explosion" collection. The series is composed of 15 portraits of wild animals sublimated by an explosion of colored material on a black background."

What is your life motto?

"Believe in yourself. Deep down, we are all artists. Break down barriers, even if they seem insurmountable. It’s worth it." 

If you weren't an artist, what would you be instead?

"If I were not an artist, I would surely be in the field of travel (eg Airplane pilot, Stewart…), and not having down to earth, travel the world constantly and discover new wonders every day."

Check out his beautiful collection right here.

You can buy both framed and unframed canvas artwork created by Philippe Hugonnard.

Love our artists? Meet the wonderful Julia Purinton who is known for her dreamy and romantic paintings.