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Michel Nedjar's father was a Jewish tailor and throughout his childhood he was surrounded by sewing machines and clothes. As a young boy he remembers being fascinated by his sister's dolls, especially their clothes. He left school at fourteen to become an apprentice tailor. He qualified for a fashion diploma when he was eighteen. During his military service Nedjar contracted tuberculosis which led to a spell in a sanatorium. After his recovery, he travelled extensively across Asia, Europe and Mexico where, he recalls, he: '...came across dolls which were truly magical ... it was my first contact with High Magic'. In 1975, Nedjar returned to Paris to work at his grandmother's stall in a flea market, and he began to stitch together rag dolls using a variety of materials. His first animals and dolls were playful toy-like objects. Over the years they have evolved into more sinister, monstrous creatures. More recently, Nedjar has constructed statuettes built over glass bottles using papier maché. He continues to work in Paris.

Michel Nedjar undated Courtesy of Tate Archive Photo credit: Pascal Martin view larger image

Michel Nedjar's drawings Summer 1986 Courtesy of Tate Archive and the artist view larger image

Triple head undated Cloth Courtesy of the artist and the Musgrave Kinley Outsider Collection view larger image

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