2 Minutes With ... Alexandre Delbart, Co-Founder of With Barry

Alexandre is the co-founder and CCO of With Barry, a social creative agency based in Rennes, France. He collaborates with brands such as Scania, Umbro, Everlast, Sushi Shop and the French Rugby League.

We spent two minutes with Alexandre to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired.

Alexandre, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I grew up in a small village by the sea in Brittany. After a stint in Paris, I returned to Brittany, but unfortunately a bit further from the coast.

How you first realized you were creative.

When I was six, my class and I won the comic book contest at the Angoulême Festival. I participated by drawing a good portion of the panels. The prize was a trip to Disneyland. Unfortunately, I fell ill and couldn’t go. Lol.

A person you idolized creatively early on.

John Frusciante. Not only for his work with Red Hot Chili Peppers, but also for his personal projects that push ideas to the limit.

A moment from high school or college that changed your life.

I wasn’t interested in formal studies, and during that time, I mostly made music. My band was selected to play at the biggest music festival in France. I realized that by working hard, I was able to create momentum that could lead us to places where no one expected us to be.

A visual artist or band/musician you admire.

My wife says I’m a groupie (hi, darling), and I really do admire a lot of people. But if I had to pick one, I would say Jean-Michel Basquiat. His art seems accessible yet complex. He represented his era so well. He shows that everything is possible, and that technique matters little. What counts is what one has to say.

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

TV Series: Atlanta. I got on board quite late, but had a huge crush on both the direction and the writing.

One of your favorite creative projects you’ve ever worked on.

The Scania Avenir campaign. 

A recent project you’re proud of. 

Umbro, for the series “Our Game Is About Art.” Especially the latest creation featuring an Etoile dancer at the Paris Opera: Léonor Baulac. 

Also for Umbro, “Our Game Smells Grass.”

Someone else’s work that inspired you years ago.

Buzzman for Tipp-Ex: “A Hunter Shoots a Bear.” 

Someone else’s work you admired lately. 

PG Lang for Chanel: “The Button” 

Your main strength as a creative person.

My curiosity.

Your biggest weakness.

I can sometimes be quite asocial.

A mentor who helped you navigate the industry.

I didn’t have a mentor in the traditional sense. What really helped me was everything I could hear or read from well-known creatives: Fred Raillard, George Mohammed-Chérif, Rémi Babinet, David Droga and Anselmo Ramos.

How you’re paying it forward with the next generation of creatives.

I try to understand their universe as best as I can, then push them to incorporate brand logic. Ultimately, I learn as much from them as they learn from me.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in advertising.

I would like to say musician, but I wouldn’t have been able to handle the artist’s life. More pragmatically, I might have been an architect.