Lucas Nadel
Lucas Nadel

Lucas Nadel

Lucas Nadel, also known as Noty from the collective Noty Aroz, is a contemporary artist based in France. For over ten years, he has been developing a plurimedia project called Mythologeny, which explores what a contemporary mythology for the third millennium could look like. This research-creation project leads him to create visual artworks, sculptures, paintings, comics, sound, and video pieces, all shaped by personal questions that he expresses through his artistic sensibility.

I create for myself because it must exist for me. Now it is mostly about reflecting on what I discover with all my reading and discussion about the new myth and the evolution of spirituality. What is very interesting to explore for people in our generation is the philosophy of fictionalism, how fiction and mythology are sacred, but still allow us to give meaning to our own lives.

About Lucas Nadel

Lucas has been painting and drawing for over half his life. Like most children, he started with drawing and painting, but unlike many, he never stopped. Encouraged by family and friends, his journey into art grew deeper around the age of 15, when he began painting abandoned buildings and the streets together with his childhood best friend. Art became a story of friendship and sharing, and over time, a central part of his life. Later, while studying screenwriting, he began combining storytelling with his painting practice, laying the foundation for Mythologeny.

In painting, which remains his main medium, Lucas explores a range of styles, from free figuration to expressionist approaches. Eclectic at heart, he sees his work as closely linked to the Symbolist movement because of its focus on myths and symbols. But unlike the Symbolists, who rejected modernity, Lucas embraces it fully. He cultivates what he calls a “futuristic vision”, perhaps even a symbolic futurism. Narrative and storytelling run through everything he creates.

Inspiration

Lucas draws inspiration from museums, books (both essays and fiction), and his own reflections that gradually take shape as images. A major influence is his master, Tim Smith, a Parisian watercolour artist who he regards as a mentor and constant source of inspiration. Music is also a key part of his creative process, especially contemporary jazz and ambient sounds, which fuel much of his painting.

“I’m discovering how to tell a story. Telling stories is the best tool there is to bring people together, create beliefs and write history. By discovering new things, I can create my own point of view. This leads to a more intellectual way of developing the meaning of what I do.”

Empowering creativity


Lucas Nadel describes creating as a necessity: if he stops for more than ten days, he feels restless. For him, art is about giving life to questions and exploring concepts. He draws inspiration from many sources, often visiting museums and reading widely, from essays to fiction, to feed his creativity. His images also emerge from his own reflections, gradually taking shape. A major influence in his work is his master, Tim Smith, whose guidance and perspective continue to inspire him. Music, particularly contemporary jazz and ambient, also plays a key role in fueling his painting practice.

Favourite products

“Why I work with Rembrandt? We see a lot of new colours being brought into the market, but we don’t see how the colours have evolved. I want to work with a brand that has a history and can talk about their journey. Rembrandt has this legacy.

I especially like colours such as the 229 Quinacridone Orange, 291 Titanium Buff, 238 Gamboge, 593 Quinacridone Purple Bluish, 550 Cerulean Blue Deep and 585 Indanthrene Blue.”

Find out more about Lucas

Lucas working with Rembrandt watercolours