Rolling Wars

BRUCE MERITTE is, above all, the art director of his own life.
Born in Paris on Sunday, April 7, 1968, at 10:55 PM, Bruce started his life with a cry that already meant "enjoy your fuckin’ life"—a motto that would later govern his every action, to the point where he had it tattooed on his arm so he would never forget it.
With his high school diploma in hand, he enrolled at ASSAS while simultaneously attending business school, but what truly made him tick was the world of the "Night." He quickly became an essential figure in the most beautiful Parisian nights, organizing parties in the most iconic and popular clubs in the capital. From "Bus Palladium" to "Les Bains," passing by "Le Palace," "Chez Régine," or even "Le Duplex," no venue could resist his innovative ideas before he became the owner of "Villa Barclay," a legendary club of the 90s.
Curious, a jack-of-all-trades, and eager for new experiences, he would later work with Fabien Ontoniente on the music for the film "Camping," then with Sébastien Chabal during the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and for the brand Dupont, for whom he created the DJ Case.
In 2009, upon the death of Michael Jackson, he got the idea to photograph the figurines he had been collecting since childhood. He owns over 500 of them. From Casimir to Marilyn Monroe, including Steve McQueen, Frank Sinatra, Barack Obama, and Daft Punk, no character escapes him. A collection acquired over the years by hunting through flea markets, garage sales, and spending hours searching on the internet.
Behind this collection hides a big kid who has no desire to grow up. He stages them, photographs them, and very quickly exhibits his creations, first at the Think & More gallery, then at the Black Block in the Palais de Tokyo, but also at Fouquet’s and the Pierre Cardin Gallery. The success he encountered earned him the privilege of being included in prestigious sales at Artcurial and Drouot.
His influences lie at the crossroads of pop art and advertising... which is not really a coincidence, as his father was the head of an advertising agency in the 80s where he spent a lot of time.
His works often offer a double meaning behind a positive message. He draws his inspiration from life, on a street corner, in a book, while listening to music, or during his many travels. Another passion: music, which is part of his DNA and will always have a major place in his life.
An eternal optimist, Bruce has chosen, despite life’s ups and downs, to always see the positive side of things. Moreover, every morning in front of the mirror, he repeats to himself: "HAPPINESS IS A HABIT," one of his favorite phrases taught to him a long time ago by his friend Jean-François Magne. His life is a succession of improbable encounters that have allowed him to experience magnificent moments. Sometimes provocative, he likes to disturb, to shake people up to get them to think. A piece of advice: if you hope to run into him, it’s best to be a night owl!

100x66.5cm