Marc Camille Chaimowicz was born to a Polish Jewish father and a French Catholic mother in Paris in 1947. Aged eight, Chaimowicz and his family immigrated to the UK where he variously studied art at Ealing College of Art, Camberwell College of Arts, and the Slade School of Fine Art (University of London), then establishing himself as a pioneer or installation and immersive art.
Contemporary artist Marc Camille Chaimowicz was born to a Polish Jewish father and a French Catholic mother in Paris in 1947. At the age of eight, Chaimowicz and his family immigrated to England where his father had secured a job. They initially settled in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, before moving to Ealing in west London. Chaimowicz's art education began at Ealing College of Art (now University of West London), followed by studies at Camberwell College of Arts (1964–68), and finally at the Slade School of Fine Art (University of London, 1968–70). At the Slade, he began producing performances and installations, which prompted him to reevaluate his artistic path, leading him towards a more private approach.
Chaimowicz's oeuvre encompasses sculpture, performance, installation, architecture, painting, and photography, infusing elements of fashion, textiles, and interior décor. His work connects the realms of art and design and bridges the divide between public and private spheres. Celebrated as a pioneer in installation art, immersive spaces, and the fusion of installation with performance, he is known for his interdisciplinary approach. In an era where Western art leaned heavily towards minimalism, Chaimowicz's distinctive style, a blend of post-Pop and glam rock, set him apart. His installations often comprise his personal photographs, designs for textiles, wallpapers, ceramics, and found objects, melding personal elements with the everyday, and executed with an approach informed by art theory. Frequently, his works have been inspired by French artists and writers, such as Pierre Bonnard, Édouard Vuillard, Jean Cocteau, Henri Matisse, Gustave Flaubert, Jean Genet, and Marguerite Duras, the vibrant use of colour by these painters particularly captivating him. Chaimowicz's artistic methods are also influenced by art theory, notably feminist theory, and works such as 'L’atelier d’Alberto Giacometti' by Jean Genet. His mother's artistry also played a role in shaping his perspective. From the 1970s, he began to treat his London flat as a live-in art project. He has a particular interest in applied arts and interiors, often viewed as 'feminine' disciplines and hence, overlooked as expressive mediums.
Chaimowicz has showcased his work extensively in the UK and on international platforms. In 2012 his work featured in the group show, A Bigger Splash: Painting after Performance held at tate Modern. His 2018 inaugural solo exhibition in the USA, Marc Camille Chaimowicz: Your Place or Mine…, was hosted at the Jewish Museum in New York, presenting the museum's home, the Warburg mansion as a realm of wonder. This exhibit aimed to stir feelings akin to returning to a familiar home, directing attention to the Jewish Museum building's past as the Warburg family residence. His 2023 exhibition, Nuit Américaine at WIELS, Brussels, featured works from over five decades. Highlighted pieces were Celebration? Realife Revisited, blending art and life, and two recent additions, The Hayes Court Sitting Room and Dear Zoë. The former transformed Chaimowicz’s south London living space into a gallery setting, using design and immersion to challenge the lines between public and private domains.
Marc Camille Chaimowicz presently divides his time between London, England and Burgundy. France. In the UK public domain his work is held by Tate and the V&A, London.