A new exhibition unveils a series of drawings shaped by over two decades of observing forests and photographing nature. The work captures raw, emotional responses to the natural world, each piece forming a dreamlike narrative rooted in solitude and imagination. Human relationships emerge within a magical, forested realm—one that feels both deeply personal and universally familiar.
At the heart of the show lies a commitment to a naïve approach—one that sees the world without the weight of experience or skepticism. This perspective opens the door to wonder. Free from rigid expectations, it encourages curiosity and welcomes the unknown. In this space, creativity flourishes, new connections form, and expansive visions of possibility emerge.
In these intimate, evocative pieces, Wagner channels a childlike clarity, using abstraction to interpret the vastness of nature. The works trace back to a unique collaboration: an invitation to create a mural at a New York City primary school. Immersed in the unfiltered energy of children, Wagner introduced the idea of his “Impossible Forest”—a place that defies logic but feels intuitively real. As he explained the concept, he began sketching alongside the students, absorbing their reactions and reimagining their perceptions through his own visual language.
The resulting body of work feels both primitive and poetic—a kind of Rosetta Stone for understanding nature through the lens of imagination. These naïve yet deliberate drawings become a visual manual: simple enough for young minds, but layered with meaning.
The Impossible Forest invites viewers of all ages to see with fresh eyes—and to believe, even for a moment, that the impossible might not be so far out of reach.
Antoine Wagner is a French-American contemporary artist and film director who works in the fields of sculpture, film, photography, drawing, painting, performance, sound, opera and installation.
His work explores the connectivity between nature, geography, mythology and the sublime as well as the themes of identity, resurrection and redemption.
Wagner has collaborated with musicians including David Fray, Emmanuelle Haim and the Concert d’Astree, The Erl festival orchestra, Boemsoek Yi, Gerhard Krammer, the Miami Music Festival Orchestra, Michael Rossi, Stuart Skelton, Linda Watson, Alan Held, Marine Karoyan and Phoenix.
The institutions that have presented the artist’s work include The Tiroler Festispiele Erl, Austria (2022), Les Archives Nationales, Paris, France ( Nuit Blanche 2021), The National Gallery of Armenia (2019), The New World Center Miami, Florida, USA (2018), The Goethe Institute Tokyo, Japan, (2018), The Deck Museum, Singapore (2018) ,The Voelkerkunde Museum Hamburg, Germany (2014-15), the Collection Lambert en Avignon, France (2014), The Theater of St Gallen Switzerland (2013), The Palazzo Vendramin Venice, Italy (2013).
Wagner received bachelor of Arts (2005) in Theater from Northwestern University and a joint Bachelor of Science in Political science (2005) from Northwestern University and Sciences Po Paris. After a continuing studies program at NYU Tisch (2007) Wagner assisted palme d’or winner Michael Haneke. The artist has completed two residency programs: Bob Wilson at the Watermill Foundation in NY (2005) and the summer program at the Villa Medici Rome, Italy (2014). Wagner is the prize winner of the Prix Lyrique Pierre Berge(2013) for his publication with the Verlag for Moderne Kunst Wagner in der Schweiz.
Wagner’s most recent projects include the two video installations accompanied by live orchestras Watermusic 2.2 (2022 Festival de l"offrande Musicale) , ATEM (2022, Tiroler Festspiele , Erl, Austria) as well as the Impossible Forest (presented on the facade of the National Archive in Paris, France). IF is a collaborative platform raising awareness for land preservation through Art. impossibleforest.com