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Next Big Thing: Nathanaëlle Herbelin

The Israel-born painter is gearing up for a big year with a slew of group exhibitions in Paris and New York

By Galerie editors
Artist sitting in a studio next to a painting, surrounded by art supplies and tools, in a creative and casual setting.
Nathanaëlle Herbelin with her 2019 work Yehonathan. Photo: DAVID KASHTAN; COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND GALERIE

Whether it’s her soulful portraits or forlorn interiors, Nathanaëlle Herbelin’s commitment to her art is unwavering and can be seen in every brushstroke. Born in Israel, she visited the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris at age 12 and decided then that was where she wanted to study. “I saw that the painters there are so free, and there was no need to be extra conceptual.”

Two nude figures in a dimly lit room with a sofa and a chair, one seated and contemplative, the other standing and bending over.
Nathanaëlle Herbelin, Adva, (2021). Photo: Courtesy of the galerie Jousse Entreprise and the artist

Subject matter: “While creating a portrait I devote myself fully to the person I paint, which can create an intense feeling or even physical sensation of fever.”

Painting of a person lying on a bed in a teal room, with a bedside table holding books and a lamp.
Nathanaëlle Herbelin, Bronx, (2022). Photo: Courtesy of the galerie Jousse Entreprise and the artist

“Nathanaëlle’s work touches something very deep in me. What makes it so unique is the depth of intimacy in her paintings.”

Charles Zana

Up next: A collective show in May in New York at the Michael Werner Gallery, which welcomed her into its three-month residency program in the Bronx this fall. Additionally, she has a string of group exhibitions at museums in Paris. “My biggest moment in my career, I think, is in front of me,” she says, “and I just want to continue painting with the heart until the end.” 

Painting of an empty room with a bed, open door, and sunlight streaming through a window, creating patterns on the floor.
Nathanaëlle Herbelin, Mental landscape, (2021). Photo: Courtesy of the galerie Jousse Entreprise and the artist

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2022 Winter Issue under the headline “Next Big Things.” Subscribe to the magazine.

Click here to see the full list of “Next Big Things.”