Zoe Baer (born 1994, Paris) is a fine artist specialising in photorealist charcoal drawings and a professional art restorer. The daughter of a British artist and writer and a Swiss commedia dell’arte specialist and actor, she grew up in a home where painting, performance, literature and film were part of everyday life. Surrounded by discussions about art, philosophy and classic Hollywood cinema, she developed an early sensitivity to mood, gesture and visual narrative.

She began her formal studies in London, completing a BA in Film and Media at University College London in 2017. While film sharpened her sense of framing and storytelling, she found herself repeatedly drawn back to drawing and painting as her primary language. This led her to the Atelier du Temps Passé in Paris, where she trained as an art restorer, graduating in 2021. There she learned traditional techniques, the use of natural materials and the ethics of restoration, including how to work with restraint, respect and precision.

As a fine artist, Zoe has developed a focused practice in charcoal. Rich tonal depth, delicate transitions and meticulous attention to surface and texture characterise her drawings of people and animals. She uses charcoal not only to record likeness but to suggest silence, tension, tenderness or stillness, inviting viewers into intimate, often contemplative moments. Light and shadow are central to her work, guiding the eye across the image and shaping the emotional tone of each piece.

Her restoration work runs in parallel to her studio practice and strongly informs it. By spending hours with paintings from different periods, she has absorbed a wide range of techniques and colour sensibilities, from old masters to modernists. In restoration, she aims to revive rather than rewrite, preserving the original artist’s intent and avoiding the imposition of her own style. She is experienced in traditional retouching, surface cleaning and the application of gold leaf to frames and wooden elements, treating each project as a way to extend the life of a work rather than overwrite its history.

Living between Paris and Luzern exposes Zoe to distinct cultural and visual environments. Paris offers constant access to museums, galleries and historic ateliers, while Luzern offers quieter landscapes and a slower pace that suits intensive drawing and restoration work. This balance between movement and stillness echoes in her practice, where careful craft meets a reflective, almost meditative approach to subject matter.

Since 2024, Zoe’s work has been represented by BOTA Gallery in Austria and Smith and Co Galleries, and she is set to participate in a group exhibition at The Holy Art Gallery in Paris. Across both her fine art and restoration practice, she remains committed to detail, integrity and emotional clarity, using charcoal, paint and careful conservation to honour both the past and the present.

To commission a bespoke charcoal artwork by Zoe Baer, please get in touch with us at hello@kartugallery.com.