Our Patrons
We are fortunate to have amazing patrons who support the Alliance Française of Houston and continue to work with us to promote our French culture center and language school.
Read more about them below.
Émilie Duval
Artist
Emilie Duval is a multidisciplinary Franco-American artist with a rich and diverse background. With a foundation in Law and Art History, her work explores social and economic issues, as well as the impact of technology on the future of societies. Emilie’s artwork has been showcased in various venues, including the Holocaust Museum in Houston, Heidi Vaughan Fine Art in Houston, Office Space in Salt Lake City, Patrick Mikhail Gallery in Montreal, Arts Fort Worth, Ro2Art in Dallas, Luminaria in San Antonio, and Hollis Taggart in New York.
Her artistic practice spans multiple mediums, including painting and digital animations, to deeply examine societal structures and future challenges. Emilie’s distinctive technique blends acrylic painting, drawing, spray paint and collage, creating works with notable depth and spatiality. She carefully crafts each piece with conceptual clarity, aligning visual elements to provoke reflection and dialogue. In 2024, Emilie was awarded Artist of the Year by Art Houston Magazine. In 2025, Emilie will unveil a significant public art project at Houston International Airport, aimed at engaging a wider audience and sparking discussions about our evolving relationship with emerging technologies.
Studio visits by appointment only
1808 Palm Street, Houston
Jacques Fox
Owner and Chef of Artisans Restaurant
Artisans Restaurant is based on French Eclectic cuisine with an open kitchen concept and much more, orchestrated by a talented French gastronomic artisan, Jacques Fox, and supported by the professional staff of Artisans.
From the intimate 24-seat Table du Chef, which offers front-row dining, to the mezzanine level tables and more intimate Fleurs-de-Lis banquettes, the elegant ambience offers a distinctive dining experience for couples, business lunches, and events for every occasion.
The menu is classic yet innovative; the décor is distinctive and elegant; the servers are gracious and professional. The culinary staff, under the leadership of Chef Jacques Fox, delivers unparalleled French cuisine, where “dining is a passionate art form.”
Open 7 days a week:
Monday Through Friday: Lunch 11 am to 3:00 PM
Monday Through Friday: Afternoon Small Bites 3:00 pm to 5:00PM
Monday-Tuesday - Sunday Dinner 5:00PM to 9:00PM
Wednesday Through Saturday: Dinner 5:00PM to 10:00PM
Saturday & Sunday: Brunch 10:00AM to 3:00PM
Sébastien "Mr. D1987" Boileau
Owner and CEO of Eyeful Art and Designs
Sebastien “Mr. D1987” Boileau was born in Versailles, Francein 1973 and was influenced by the American Pop Art and early Graffiti movement of the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. He began his artistic endeavors in 1987 in Paris, at the age of 14.
In 1989, Mr. D1987 created his first piece of canvas art, as well as his first large-scale mural.
In the early 90s he began traveling the world, painting in remote countries like Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Senegal, and many western destinations.
In 1995, Mr. D1987 was invited to participate in his first contemporary art show in Paris.
He immigrated to the United States in 1998, and in 2000 launched what is now a successful street art-inspired mural company in Houston Texas, Eyeful Art Murals and Designs, that serves both the public and private sectors.
Mr. D1987 describes his style as “Canpressionism,” a Neo-Impressionist technique, primarily involving the use of spray paint and street art techniques such as tagging and drip painting.
“After 35 years as an artist, the stigma regarding Urban Art remains, and I want to change people’s perception. My artistic and personal goal is to use my skills, experience, and credibility to demonstrate “Urban Art as Fine Art’’ approach while connecting with people around me; Art
is for me an emotion more than an aesthetic outcome.”
