Myriam Conte

Artist Myriam Conte

Myriam Conte is a fabulous painter and a former journalist who covered war, famine, poverty and horrific things in the Middle East during her career. And maybe that’s why I enjoy her work so much – she paints snapshots of happy times in life.

I particularly enjoy her paintings of women – she captures the innocence, the beauty and the mystery that every woman carries inside her – and yet, it’s a subtle thing. You have to look for it. With some paintings, it might be in the smile, or the curve of a shoulder, or the flirtatious light in the eyes – just the way it is with real women.

Myriam was born in Houdan. Houdan is 63 km west of Paris in the Yvelines département. It is linked by SNCF Alençon and Paris (Gare Montparnasse). What’s interesting about it is that the name has evolved from the Saxon “Hoding,” meaning “settlement on the hill”. Houdan is thought to have been inhabited since the 5th century. By the 12th century, two churches and a chateau were present.

Women by Myriam Conte

During the Hundred Years’ War, the town changed hands and was pillaged frequently. The town was destroyed; only the 12th century keep survives that period. After the war, the town was under English administration until 1475.

Houdan is mentioned in the Prophecies of Nostradamus.

Houdan was a staging post on the road from Paris to Brittany, and many old inns are still standing.

Houdan was also an important poultry market for Paris, and a breed of is named for the town. Members of the breed ornamental, but are also used for their white eggs and their meat.

I first met Myriam last year, when she had an exhibit at Le Relais Periesc. She’s a lovely woman – very elegant looking, with a sharp eye and wit. I enjoyed her paintings tremendously, and now, any time we get an invitation to one of her exhibitions, we’re happy to go. (Not only is her work fabulous, but they always serve delicious champagne and appetizers!)

Jazz Paintings by Myriam Conte

She became interested in art at an early age, but was also fascinated by theater, poetry and music and she studied at Versailles and then at the Paris Dauphine.

One of Myriam’s earliest influences and mentors was the artist Carzou – the first living French artist to ever have his work put on a French stamp. According to Myriam, Carzou praised her work and gave her advice, which she said helped to give her paintings form and depth.

Myriam’s paintings have won several awards and her work has been exhibited and is the private collections of art collectors in France, Germany, the United States, Japan, Australia and Japan.