Jacques Pons was a French painter born in Avignon in 1936 and raised in Ardèche. After studying for four years at the Académie Allard in Marseilles, where he received special recognition for his Chinese ink poster work, he returned to Ardèche in 1958 to paint and exhibit locally. He then worked in public works for eight years before moving to Corsica from 1966 to 1968. There, he developed a passionate interest in landscape painting, employing rich—sometimes described as violent—color and tones. He later joined his childhood friend, painter Jean-Paul Cleren, in Saint-Tropez, where they crafted workshop frames. This endeavor brought him into contact with notable artists including Bernard Buffet, Antoni Clavé, and Léonor Fini, as well as writers like Françoise Sagan.
In 1971, his wife opened an art gallery that exhibited international and local artists, significantly boosting the visibility and sales of Pons’ work and earning encouragement from collectors. He became particularly noted for his light-filled paintings and Fauve-like style. Until 1985, he balanced painting with craft activities before moving to Avignon to devote himself entirely to his art.