Larys Frogier is post-graduated in the history of modern and contemporary art from the High School for Social Studies (EHESS) and the National Institute for Art History (INHA) in Paris, as well as from the University of Rennes 2. He currently teaches modern and contemporary art history at the University of Lille where he is a member of the National Research Center for the Contemporary Arts.
From an academic background, under the lead of Dr. Giovanni Careri, Director of the Research Center for the history and theory of art and images in the modern age, Larys Frogier developed his skills, specializing in the early 20th century art history with a strong focus on the development of the avant- garde artists such as André Derain, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, El Lissitsky, Marcel Duchamp. Under the lead of Dr. Jean-Marc Poinsot, Director of Research at the French National Institute of Art History Paris, Emeritus Professor at the University of Rennes, he specialized in the history of exhibition making and art curation from the early XXth century to the 1990s, cultural activism and art theories during the 70s and the 80s in the USA, as well as on the development of emerging curatorial practices in Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Larys Frogier regularly engages in the development of curatorial and research programs between art museums, private foundations and academies supporting shared knowledge and transcultural development of the arts. As such, in 2023-2024, he was the Head of the scientific project “BECOMING WORLDS” gathering universities and art institutions from Asia, Europe and the Pacific dedicated to study of innovative curatorial practices in different regions of the world but also in regards to the development of digital technologies. This scientific project was directed by the European Commission in Brussels and the European Agency for Culture in Paris.
With a solid expertise on the contemporary arts in Asia, Europe and the Americas, Larys Frogier operates as an advisor for renown art institutions and private collections. He has curated seminal exhibitions and publications for major art collections, such as Risk the Real: The Making of the Figure In the Art of the XXth Century for the Berardo Museum and Collection in Lisbon (2009), as well as Walking On the Fade Out Lines (2018) and the 2025 book dedicated to the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo collection in Torino. He is contributing to the indepth analysis of the DSLCollection developping a unique Chinese contemporary art collection and embracing new art experiences through digital technologies. He is also the co-author of the upcoming publication related to the masterpieces of the François Pinault collection.
As a curator of contemporary art, Larys Frogier has conceived numerous exhibitions and publications with artists such as Francis Alÿs, Mark Bradford, Cai Lei, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Gongkan, Eisa Jocson, Kizzo, Luo Mingjun, Philippe Parreno, Paola Pivi, Ugo Rondinone, Tobias Rehberger, Trinh T. Minh-ha, Xiyao Wang, Wang Du, Yang Bodu, Yang Jiechang and Zhao Zhao.
He took on the role as the Director of the Rockbund Art Museum (RAM) in Shanghai from 2012 to 2022. During this period, he has conceived sophisticated international exhibition programs, long termed cooperation with global art institutions, research projects with independent curators and theoreticians working in Africa, Asia, the Indo-Pacific and Europe. He also spearheaded the RAM+ project dedicated to the creation of a digital curatorial platform and to NFT art.
From 2013 to 2019, he launched the HUGO BOSS ASIA ART and chaired its jury dedicated to rewarding emerging artists in Asia.
Since 2024, Larys Frogier is collaborating with art institutions and art galleries for conceptualizing international development plans, engaging with Asian and international artists, nurturing strong relationships with influential collectors, establishing long-term partnerships with art organizations and events for collaborative projects.