About | Le Closier

An interview with Philippe Swan, aka Le Closier

Q: Can you introduce yourself?

P: My name is Philippe Swan, also known as Le Closier. I am a visual artist based in Miami.

Q: How did your artistic journey begin?

P: I have always been passionate about drawing and painting, but my first love was music. In the late yous, Inad a nit song In France, which earned me a nomination for Les Victoires de la Musique-the French equivalent or the Grammys. Following that success, I transitioned into music production, working for 25 years as a producer, composer, and A&R for major record labels such as Sony Music, Universal, and Disney.

During this time, I contributed to multiple multi -platinum projects. I began painting seriously in the early 2000s while living in Paris. Street art was evolving beyond graffiti, with artists like Banksy and Blek Le Rat redefining the genre. Inspired by this movement, I started creating large paper portraits and placing them on the walls of my Montparnasse neighborhood.

To my surprise, people began removing them— not as an act of vandalism, but because they wanted to keep them.

Eventually, I received inquiries from individuals interested in purchasing my work. This led me to transition to canvas painting, where I developed my distinctive style, blending elements of Pop Art - drawing inspiration from Warhol, Basquiat, and Keith Haring - with influences from expressionists such as Munch and Kandinsky. A gallery in Saint-Germain-des-Prés discovered my work and offered me a solo exhibition, which marked the beginning of my professional art career.

Q: What is your connection to tennis?

P: Tennis has been an integral part of my life for many years. My wife worked in sports marketing for a major apparel brand, managing sponsorships in both tennis and golf. Being a passionate tennis fan myself, I had the opportunity to travel with her to some of the world's most prestigious tournaments, including Wimbledon, the US Open, the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Indian Wells, and the Miami Open. Through these experiences, I built relationships with players, coaches, and agents.

Over time, I had the privilege of creating official portraits for some of the sport's most iconic figures, including Billie Jean King, Serena Williams, Chris Evert, Kei Nishi-kori, Gustavo Kuerten, the Bryan Brothers, Mardy Fish, David Goffin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Elina Svitolina, and Jeremy Chardy, among others.

Q: How do these collaborations come about?

P: It varies. Sometimes, a coach commissions a portrait as a gift for their player, while other times, it is for a retirement tribute or a charity auction. In some cases, the athlete themselves expresses interest in my work. One particularly memorable experience was meeting Chris Evert. Along with her brother John Evert, she invited me to paint a mural at the Evert Academy, which was a great honor.

Q: What mediums do you work with?

P: My primary mediums are acrylic and spray paint on canvas. However, I enjoy exploring different techniques. For instance, in my GOLD series, I combined oil paint with gold leaf to create a unique aesthetic. Additionally, I specialize in lenticular art, a technique where I merge two images of two of my paintings on a lenticular surface, allowing the artwork to shift depending on the viewer's angle. This effect is particularly striking when featuring iconic pairings, such as Federer/Nadal, Messi/Ron-aldo, Lennon/McCartney, and Marilyn Monroe/ Audrey Hepburn.

Q: Do you participate in art fairs?

P: Yes, I have exhibited at numerous art fairs across the United States, including Scope Miami, Affordable Art Fair New York,

LA Art Show, AAF Austin, Art Expo NY, Red Dot Miami, and Palm Beach Con-temporary. My work is also available internationally through my website (leclosier.com), with collectors in Canada, the UK, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Ger-many, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Israel, and Dubai.

Q: What inspires you the most?

P: My greatest source of inspiration is people. Mostly athletes and musicians. A portrait should do more than capture a likeness—it should convey the subject's personality and spirit. The most crucial element in my work is the eyes, as they serve as the focal point and bring the portrait to life.

Q: Do you accept commissions?

P: Absolutely. If you would like a custom portrait - either for yourself or a loved one - please feel free to reach out. I would be delighted to create something special for you.