Arsène Lapie (Thomas G.) is a self-taught French artist born in 1984 in Roubaix, France. From a young age, he developed a strong interest in drawing, street culture, and the Hip-hop movement. Naturally, as a teenager, he took his first steps into the world of graffiti in the early 2000s and remained active in the scene until 2016.
After a period of withdrawal during which balancing his passion with his family situation became impossible, he returned to drawing in 2020, driven by a need for self-reconnection and a persistent sense of frustration. Inspired by a play on words and the similarities between the appearance of Arsène Lupin ("The Gentleman Thief" by Maurice Leblanc) and that of the magpie, along with its well-known reputation, he created the first versions of a bird with the demeanor of a charming anti-hero. These initial ideas laid the foundation for a contrasting universe that reflects the artist's identity.
Although graffiti, particularly tagging, profoundly influenced him, his daily life no longer allows for nighttime street escapades. Nonetheless, alongside developing his character, the artist, with ink seemingly coursing through his veins, quickly envisioned pairing it with a signature that blended tagging with drawing. This signature evolved into a logo incorporating all the features of the character he was shaping: a bird, a name, a top hat, a suit, a cane, and a monocle.
While the character’s appearance is a mix between a thieving corvid and Maurice Leblanc's hero, its antics and (mis)adventures reflect the personality of the quirky bird brought to life by the artist’s pencil. Amusing, roguish, unlucky, and sometimes even ridiculous, Arsène Lapie is a humorous character navigating between the refined lines inspired by the early 20th century and darker, urban, and contemporary moods. This blend ties together the graffiti culture from which he originates with the golden age charm of the streets of Roubaix, which he holds dear.
Drawing on his past technical experience and his distinctive universe of contrasts, the artist quickly gained recognition in the streets of the Lille metropolitan area. Creating this character allowed him to tell more elaborate stories while maintaining a visually recognizable identity.
No longer confined by the codes of graffiti, the artist embraces any material and experience to enrich his universe playfully. Arsène Lapie is represented through a variety of mediums and techniques, including collages, stencils, murals, cyanotypes, and even photography.
Homemade craftsmanship plays a significant role for the artist. Having received no formal artistic training and being accustomed to working with limited resources, he relishes the challenge. For him, experimenting within material constraints is the best way to learn and grow.
