Stallone in France for his artwork retrospective

Published May 18, 2015 8:40am

US actor Sylvester Stallone (center) and Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi (2nd right) walk past an artwork at a retrospective of Stallone's works entitled 'Real Love' Paintings 1975-2015 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Nice, southeastern France on Saturday, May 16. AFP/Franck Pennant

NICE, France - Better known for his tough guy roles in the "Rocky" and "Rambo" films, Sylvester Stallone was in southern France this weekend for the opening of a retrospective of his artwork.

The 68-year old US actor signed autographs for fans on Saturday at the modern art museum in Nice, where his "Real Love" exposition is running for two weeks.

"Painting, without a doubt, is the most honest form of all the arts. Because it's simple, unforgiving, and it's there to be studied up-close and personal. And you can't defend it, it's there. So I think it's the most honest of all the arts," Stallone, sitting alongside Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, told a press conference.

Museum visitors view Stallone's paintings. AFP PHOTO/Franck Pennant

Stallone, an Academy-award nominated actor as well as a director and screenwriter, studied art before his film career took off, and has also had shows in Russia, Switzerland and Miami.

Estrosi praised Stallone's work on Twitter. "The exposition 'Real Love' ... reveals an inspired painter, a side often overlooked," wrote the mayor. —Agence France-Presse

Tags: sylvesterstallone, artexhibit