Mathieu FORGET
Mathieu Forget Underwater
Mathieu Forget Paradis Bleu
Mathieu Forget Red Line
Mathieu Forget Paintfall
Mathieu Forget Applause
Mathieu Forget Sea is calling
BIOGRAPHY
Mathieu Forget (The Flying Man): Levitation Photography, Biography and Artworks for Sale
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Mathieu Forget is a French multidisciplinary artist, internationally known as Forgetmat and The Flying Man. A dancer, photographer, performer, choreographer and visual artist, he has developed a distinctive artistic universe in which the human body appears to defy the laws of gravity. His extraordinary levitation photographs capture him seemingly suspended in mid-air, surrounded by natural landscapes, contemporary architecture or urban environments. At the intersection of fine art photography, dance, performance and contemporary art, Mathieu Forget transforms movement into powerful visual compositions, making levitation his artistic signature.
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Mathieu Forget: From Dance and Sport to Fine Art Photography
Mathieu Forget describes himself primarily as a creative artist. Today working as a creator, producer and performer, he has developed an artistic practice combining several disciplines. Dance, photography, video, performance, fashion, architecture and sport all come together in his creations.
His career has followed an unconventional path. Mathieu Forget initially pursued tennis before turning towards dance, artistic performance and photography. His sporting background remains evident in his work: his levitation photographs require exceptional control of movement, jumping technique and body positioning in space.
One of his favourite quotations, discovered during his teenage years, is attributed to French statesman Georges Clemenceau: "Life is an art." This idea reflects his artistic philosophy, in which everyday experiences, encounters, travel, movement and emotions can all become sources of artistic inspiration.
Through his photography, Mathieu Forget seeks to create visually striking images that inspire wonder and encourage viewers to reconsider their perception of the world around them.
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The Flying Man: Mathieu Forget and the Art of Levitation Photography
Mathieu Forget is best known for his extraordinary photographs in which he appears to float effortlessly in the air. This distinctive visual effect earned him the nickname The Flying Man.
Although the final photographs may suggest weightlessness or digital manipulation, the illusion of levitation is based on a genuine physical performance. Mathieu Forget executes a carefully controlled jump, captured at a precise moment when his body appears naturally suspended in space.
The apparent absence of effort is one of the defining characteristics of his work. His photographs transform a brief moment of physical movement into an image that seems to exist outside the normal laws of gravity.
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Photography therefore becomes an extension of dance. Mathieu Forget does not simply photograph a location: he uses his own body to establish a relationship between the human figure, architecture, lines, colours and perspective.
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His clothing also plays an essential role in the composition. A brightly coloured suit may extend an architectural line, create a striking contrast with the landscape or visually integrate the floating figure into its surroundings.
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This artistic approach is particularly evident in Red Line, a limited-edition levitation photograph by Mathieu Forget. Wearing a red suit, the artist appears suspended against a white background. Produced in a limited edition of just 25 prints, the artwork uses a deliberately minimalist composition in which the red clothing immediately draws attention to the floating figure.
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Mathieu Forget: The Human Body, Architecture and Space
Architecture plays an important role in Mathieu Forget's contemporary photography. The artist uses the lines of buildings, streets and public spaces as graphic elements within his compositions. His body then interrupts, extends or transforms these architectural structures.
In Self Defense, a fine art photograph by Mathieu Forget, created in the La Défense business district of Paris, the artist places his moving body in dialogue with contemporary architecture. Produced in a limited edition of 30 prints, the photograph illustrates his exploration of the relationship between the human figure and urban space.
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This approach is also evident in No Mans Land, a levitation photograph taken in Los Angeles. Created in a skatepark, the image shows Mathieu Forget apparently floating above the ground, using the curves and shapes of the skatepark as the setting for his performance.
The photograph is available in a limited edition of 30 signed and numbered prints.
Through these artworks, Mathieu Forget transforms ordinary urban environments into unexpected visual compositions, combining architectural photography, movement and contemporary performance art.
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When Landscapes Become a Stage for Levitation
Mathieu Forget does not limit his performances to urban environments. Beaches, natural landscapes and unexpected locations also become stages for his floating figure.
The surrounding environment is never simply a background. It contributes directly to the construction, atmosphere and visual impact of each photograph.
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Sea Is Calling, a limited-edition photograph by Mathieu Forget, is a particularly representative example of this approach. Created on the French Basque Coast in Bidart, near Biarritz, the photograph shows the artist levitating above the beach with the Atlantic Ocean as his backdrop.
Produced in a limited edition of 30 signed and numbered prints, Sea Is Calling also features an augmented reality making-of experience, allowing viewers to discover the physical performance behind the photograph.
This artwork illustrates the connection between contemporary fine art photography, coastal landscapes and the illusion of weightlessness that defines Mathieu Forget's artistic identity.
Levitation Photography: Between Performance and Optical Illusion
One of the most fascinating aspects of Mathieu Forget's photography is the contrast between the complexity of the physical performance and the apparent simplicity of the final image.
The viewer sees a man effortlessly suspended in mid-air, while the photograph is actually the result of precise work involving movement, timing, framing, composition and the surrounding environment.
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Some of his artworks take this exploration particularly far.
Paintfall, a rare levitation photograph by Mathieu Forget, was created inside a partially inflated hot-air balloon. The artist once again appears to float in an unusual environment, creating a striking composition that challenges the viewer's perception of space and gravity.
This particularly rare photograph is produced in a limited edition of only 10 signed and numbered prints.
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In Applause, another limited-edition photograph, Mathieu Forget transforms a theatre auditorium into the setting for his performance. The artist appears suspended above the seats, turning the space traditionally occupied by the audience into the stage itself.
Like Paintfall, Applause is produced in a limited edition of just 10 prints.
These rare photographic editions demonstrate the artist's ability to combine performance, visual illusion and contemporary fine art photography.
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Mathieu Forget: The Flying Man Exhibition at Bercy Village
In 2021–2022, Mathieu Forget presented a major photography exhibition at Bercy Village in Paris, dedicated to his distinctive artistic universe.
The exhibition featured 36 iconic photographs showing the artist suspended in mid-air across a variety of locations and environments.
This presentation allowed visitors to discover the work of the artist widely recognised as The Flying Man on a larger scale, highlighting the relationship between photography, dance, architecture and performance.
Alongside his exhibitions, Mathieu Forget has developed a significant digital presence. His photographs and behind-the-scenes videos reveal the preparation and physical techniques involved in creating images that initially appear impossible.
This combination of still photography, movement and video is central to his artistic identity and contributes to the international visibility of his work.
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Mathieu Forget and Class Art Biarritz
Class Art Biarritz was the first art gallery to represent Mathieu Forget. Today, the gallery offers an extensive selection of his fine art photographs, produced as limited editions and signed and numbered by the artist.
The artworks are available in different formats, with certain photographs produced in particularly small editions.
Among the works presented by the gallery are Red Line, Sea Is Calling, No Mans Land, Self Defense, Paintfall and Applause.
These photographs reveal different aspects of Mathieu Forget's artistic universe, from contemporary urban architecture to natural landscapes and theatrical environments.
Other Mathieu Forget photographs offered by Class Art Biarritz include Head In The Clouds, Never Look Back, When The Sun Comes Down, Kübe, Blue Dream and The Green.
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Buy Mathieu Forget Fine Art Photography and Limited-Edition Prints
The Mathieu Forget photographs offered by Class Art Biarritz are produced as limited-edition artworks.
Depending on the photograph, editions may be limited to just 10, 25, 30 prints or more. Several artworks are available as photographic prints mounted behind acrylic glass (Plexiglas) and presented in black metal frames.
The artist's signature, edition number, total edition size and dimensions are important characteristics when identifying and collecting each artwork.
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For collectors looking to buy a Mathieu Forget photograph, the gallery offers a selection of original limited-edition photographic artworks that combine contemporary art, performance and the illusion of levitation.
Whether you are interested in The Flying Man photography, contemporary levitation art, architectural photography or rare signed fine art prints, Mathieu Forget's work offers a distinctive approach to contemporary photographic creation.
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Discover the Mathieu Forget photographs currently available for sale at Class Art Biarritz. Individual artwork listings provide details about the edition, dimensions, presentation and price when available.
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Further Reading: Mathieu Forget and Contemporary Performance Art
