The visual artist is enthusiastic about the spaces she occupies, which include the Assemblée Nationale and the staircase of La Seine Musicale. For Samaritaine, she has created an immersive work to celebrate the spirit of Christmas with colors and ribbons. Pure magic!


Where does your passion for art and color come from?

I've always loved drawing, and my parents were great music lovers, so I've often found connections between music and art. In both cases, it's all about energy and emotions. When I work, I approach spaces as if they were a song or a sensory experience. I studied Fine Art in Dijon for five years, but I never really thought about becoming an artist. It just happened. After several artist residencies, I got my first big project in Lyon, then exhibitions and invitations elsewhere followed, like Nantes and Paris.

How would you describe your way of working?

Firstly I think about the materials I'm going to use, the colors, light, and technique. Instead of being confined to a frame, my work engages in dialogue with reality — with architecture and landscape. My style has a performative aspect to it because the pieces are so large, and the speed of execution forces me to move forward. I can't go back and change anything. When I paint, it's with my entire body.

What is your creative process?

I begin by assessing the space involved, which is sometimes very large. Next, I consider the constraints (safety, environmental, etc.) and ask myself how they will shape the project and how I can achieve the alchemy I'm looking for. I then select the materials, create photo montages, and work on the texture and colors through a series of small sketches to mark out the painting and ensure it can be executed swiftly. On the day, all I have to do is concentrate on the pleasure of applying the colors using a broom, which allows me to take a step back and gain a broader perspective. The final result is often very faithful to the sketch, but there's a sensuality in the painting and an interaction with the light that passes through the painted objects. It's always surprising.

Light has a big influence on your work. What are your other sources of inspiration?

All things natural! Waves, cloud forms, minerals... I have a very childlike approach to all of this, with a great deal of curiosity and poetry. I seek to convey the sensations experienced through contemplation and variations in scale. You feel very small when confronted with the elements! In architecture, too, I can be fascinated by a building or octagonal lines that can generate emotions similar to those I experience through painting.

Does color have a certain power?

It has several! Color stimulates, awakens, and impacts people's well-being. It sharpens parts of our being, just like sound does.
With bright, highly saturated colors, I look for what brings positive and even aggressive energy. These are also the hues that interact best with light. My favorite color is definitely neon pink, which exudes an energetic emotion. It makes everyone glow! What interests me is bringing together elements that, at first glance, have nothing to do with each other — a historic building and a neon color — and being surprised to see that they can work together. Just like with people!

What does Samaritaine represent for you, and what is the art of gift-giving that's being celebrated in store this season?

Samaritaine is legendary! I instantly think of Leos Carax's film Holy Motors, where we see Kylie Minogue singing on the roof. I love the waves of the New Building and this dialogue between contemporary and historic styles. I'm thrilled to be able to take part in Christmas, which is such an important time for me. It's a holiday we all create together — a moment of wonder we all share. I love decorating, planning the table, and the food — it's a really creative project! It goes hand in hand with the pleasure of giving. I do all my own gift wrapping by hand, creating personalized patterns that I paint onto paper myself.

How are you interpreting the ribbon in the department store?

I often use materials from architectural or industrial sources, particularly flexible PVC ribbons, which I repurpose and paint. On the Baillet skybridge, I'm offering an immersive experience with these colorful ribbons. Heavy and mobile, they hang beautifully, and people will be able to touch and walk through them as they pass from one side to the other. The paint on the strips reaches up to the ceiling. And on the large wall on the New Building side, near the escalator, flat, transparent plastic ribbons will intertwine like an XXL version of woven material.

What's the experience you're hoping to create for visitors?

A little Christmas wonderland! A warm, immersive experience and a real treat for the senses. I want visitors to feel excited by what they see, as if they were kids again, and for it to spark joy. This concept of weaving is new, and it's something I've been contemplating for quite some time. It represents the idea of connecting, intertwining, and bonding... Perfect for Christmas!