Didier Graffet

Known for his numerous fantasy book covers published by Bragelonne, Didier Graffet has developed a distinctive Steampunk universe that transforms familiar landscapes and landmarks into extraordinary visions. The monumental scale of his cities, airships, and fantastical machines forms the core of his artistic language, inviting viewers on journeys through time and across marine, aerial, and subterranean worlds. His work explores humanity’s most ambitious dreams and grandest extravagances, combining imagination, adventure, and technical mastery.

Total sales since 2011 (galleries and auction houses): €1.5 million. Auction record at Christie's (2014): €54,000 (including buyer's premium).

Gouache, oil and acrylic paintings are highly durable. However, a few precautions should be taken to ensure that they will keep for a long time. We recommend that you avoid exposing them to direct light, in order to reduce their exposure to UV rays. Particular attention should be paid to their support in order to protect them from humidity; canvas and wooden supports are particularly sensitive to this element. We recommend that you avoid any sudden changes in temperature or humidity, which could lead to tension or loosening of the canvas, requiring the intervention of a framer.

Born in 1970, Didier Graffet graduated from the École Émile Cohl in Lyon. He began his career in 1994 as a freelance illustrator in the role-playing game industry before producing cover artwork for major fantasy novels all published by Bragelonne. In 2001, he illustrated Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas for Éditions Gründ, a project that earned him both the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire and a prestigious Jules Verne Award. Graffet is also responsible for the French cover artwork of The Witcher and The Wheel of Time series for Bragelonne, as well as the American reissue covers of The Children of Húrin and The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien under the artistic direction of Alan Lynch. He additionally illustrated The Black Company series for L’Atalante Publishing. In 2017, he devoted an entire year to the creation of the official Game of Thrones calendar. In 2019, Bragelonne Publishing released a lavish art book dedicated to his work, entitled Effluvium. Today, Graffet increasingly focuses on painting, developing personal themes inspired by the worlds of Jules Verne, Steampunk, and Fantasy. Complete biography