Patrick Boyer

New York, NY.

Limited Edition Photographic Print

Link to the Artist's Website Here

"They wanted me to be a banker." When referring to his parent's wishes about a career for him, Patrick Boyer shrugs his shoulders and smiles. "My stepfather was a well-respected banker in our town. He wanted me to follow in his footsteps. The only problem was, when I looked at a 50-franc bill I saw the subtleties of colors and how they changed under different lighting. He simply saw money." Patrick says he tried to please his parents. "In French schools, when you reach 16, you have to choose your course of study: math and science or arts and letters. Naturally, I enrolled in math and science - an approved course of study for a future banker. Still, I always had a pad of paper and pencils nearby. I was an avid artist, sketching whatever I saw - the old freestanding chalkboard covered with formulae, flames flickering from a Bunsen burner."I even managed to sneak in a drawing class or two. I remember once our teacher had us look to the works of Old World poet Francois Villon for inspiration. Over the course of the year, I did several sketches based on his poetry. At the end everyone's work was returned to them - except mine. When I asked the professor where my drawings were, he said he had given them to a museum in Avignon. I contacted the curator who told me he had put my sketches on display, but if I really wanted them back I could come and fetch them." Patrick pauses for a moment. "I left them in the museum. Now their part of a private collection." According to Patrick, having his work placed in a museum was the beginning of the end. Try as he did, he couldn't settle down to life as a banker. The urge to create was just too strong. "And so was my self-destructive side. I couldn't reconcile my need to be an artist with the realities of working in such a traditional field. So, I bought a motorcycle. My fourth accident left me paralyzed for two months. To keep me entertained, a childhood friend brought me a book by Andreas Feininger about the photography work he had done in New York." Patrick says that photography was the medium he had been searching for all his life. In it he found the perfect way to express his creative self, unrestricted by pen and ink, paints and clay. Like a child with a new toy, he immersed himself in the art . . . to the detriment of his career at the bank."My parents were not pleased."In short time, he left banking altogether and started a career as a photographer. Today, his work has been displayed in many of France's fashion magazines. He's also photographed rock bands. Recently, he's turned his considerable talent to the world of fine art photography."Architecture has always been my passion. And machinery. Though I still enjoy my work as a commercial photographer, I've been fortunate to take some time to indulge my love of buildings and their inner workings. To me, the most important things in my visions are the lines and curves, the lights and the shadows. That's what I hope I've accomplished with this exhibit." When asked how his parents feel about his career choice today, Patrick smiles one more time. "Well, they think I take nice photos, but deep down inside, I'm sure they'd like me to keep banking on the back burner, just in case."