Gilles Porret was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, in 1962. He trained at the School of Fine Arts in Geneva between 1982 and 1986. In 1993, he founded the art space “In Vitro” in Geneva, in collaboration with artist, Gianni Motti. In 1999, Gilles Porret and his wife created a center of contemporary art out of an apartment in Geneva, called “Hall-Palermo” This space housed many exhibitions and artist showcases. He has regularly exhibited at the Bex Sculpture Triennale and his works are collected by private collectors and institutions around the world.

He taught at the Graduate School of Fine Arts in Geneva and at the ECAV (Cantonal School of Art of Valais) for many years. In 2004, he  established his studio in Bière. Since 2019, he has lived in the Philippines and continued to add new colors to his palette.

Porret continues to question the status of contemporary art and the role of the artist in society. His work challenges color, monochrome, and the use of words. His work utilizes color that reign supreme in monochromes and gradients. The predominant forms in his work are circles, stars, and lines. He exclusively uses eleven colors in his process.