bio
Ceramic sculptor, Florence Lemiegre lives and works in Assigny, the small village of her childhood, in Normandy.
Her ceramic sculptures in stoneware or earthenware are all unique works entirely designed and made in sculpture modeling and then glazed in her workshop Jules Verne in Assigny, near Dieppe in Normandy. The latter has obtained the label Ateliers d’Art de France in 2019.
At the age of nine years old, she discovers clay, drawing and painting as a student of the László Mindszenti Academy of Rouen, while attending night school at the Beaux Arts. After her baccalaureate, she holds a Master’s degree in Plastic Arts and Arts Sciences from the university of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. She then entered the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris and graduated with honors in industrial design, under the direction of designer Roger Tallon. She continued her studies at Georgia Tech University, Institute of High Technology in Atlanta, USA, and then returns to France to dedicate herself her passion for clay.
For over thirty years the artist has been exploring clay and enjoying artistic experimentation. Rethinking the way we dream about clay. To try to make the invisible visible through matter. For this, the magic of Raku is obvious. It is with Olivier Oet, that she discovers and becomes passionate about Raku. From 1995 to 2017 she attended classes in his workshops in Paris and Soisy. Making the invisible visible through material, texture and colors. To reach this goal, the magical raku technic was anobvious choice for her, a technic that she gets to discover along with Olivier Oet. From 1995 to 2017 she attends his classes at the Paris and Soisy studios.
From 2015 to 2016, she studied enamels and oxides with professor and ceramist sculptor Michèle Levy-Letessier, former student of Helena Klug.
Although sandstone is her first love, the artist decides to come back to school in 2017 to specialize herself in earthenware, attending an intensive 30 hours/week program within the studio where Henri Matisse himself used to create. This adventure is a unique opportunity to feed her inspiration while mastering new techniques, opening up to new creative possibilities. Ever since then Florence Lemiegre works with both kind of clay, alongside with enamels specific to each of them. New horizons opened to the artists, which enables the creation of new sculptures.
Florence Lemiegre’s creations differ by their plastic expressions and sometimes also by their genesis, in terms of artistic approach. However, they present numerous links, which, by intertwining, are embodied in a common creative essence. It is, fundamentally, a research on balance and imbalance, itself intertwined with various explorations and experiments where the material gives life to the color as well as to emotional vibrations. This work feeds his imagination, offering him a wide spectrum of inspiration: always present in the background, it connects each of his worlds with a common thread.
Through her art, the artist speaks of feelings, emotions, fears, needs, balances and imbalances, fragile and ephemeral splendors. It is with a dreamlike poetry that she challenges the viewer’s gaze on some of her universes and begins a dialogue with him on biodiversity and our relationship to nature.
UNIVERSES AND COLLECTIONS
Her creative work is characterized by several major thematics : “Les Pavés“ (« The pavements ») – “La Forêt imaginaire et enchantée“ – (The imaginary and enchanted Forest“), “Les Culbutos”, “Les Moons“, “Les Noli me tangere“ – (« Don’t touch me »), “Les Têtes de la décennie du O“ – (« The O decade’s heads »).
Her ceramic sculptures are showcased in Parisian galleries, and she is part of several exhibitions, biennales and art fairs in France as well as abroad,
São Paulo-Brazil, St petersburg-Russia, Montreal-Canada, Sarria-Spain, Venise-Italy, Pahos-Cyprus, Brussels-Belgium, Xi’ian-China, , Cheongju- South Korea.
SELECTION
2010
. The artist is carried by a new dynamic and starts sharing her creative universe with the general public. Exhibiting her work is the beginning of a strong, life-bearing and above all human adventure. Her sculptures are noticed by an art passionate that exhibits her work during several years in ephemeral galleries and atypical settings. She then meets a well-known member of the Support-Surface movement, André-Pierre Arnal. They collaborate together to create a « livre pauvre », an artistic project supported by Daniel Leuwers.
2013
. She is the first laureate of the PUBLIC AWARD – National contest “Body and Souls“ La Ralentie Gallery – Paris. The artist is also part of several collective exhibitions in Normandy, region of her childhood.
2014
. First personal exhibition with more than 140 ceramic sculptures, as well as an acquisition by the Mers-les-Bains City Hall – Upper Normandy region.
2016
. For the very first, Florence Lemiegre’s work is part of the Salon d’Automne of Paris. The same year, the artist decides to devote herself full time to her passion and her art. Although an expert of sandstone clay with raku firing, a process that she’s been using for over 25 years, she continues her studies at the school Terre et Feu to specialize in the earthenware technique and and sculpture modeling with an intensive training of 30 hours per week during a year. She follows the teaching of artists and teachers, Emmanuelle Daverton, Mona Oren and Jacques Rieu.
. Since 2016, the artist exhibits annually at the Etienne de the Etienne de Causan gallery and the Vivienne Art gallery, respectively in the 6th and 2nd arrondissements of Paris, through the Friends of the Salon d’Automne of Paris Society. Association chaired by the director and painter Jean Desvilles.
2017
. First personal exhibition in Paris on the Champs Elysées at the Christiane Peugeot space, with Laura Le Corre Arkaval as the curator.
. During this period, her ceramic sculptures are presented at the exhibition “My Venetian Gold“ at the Centre d’Art Contemporain Spazio Thetis at the Arsenal in Venice, Italy. The Thetis Foundation acquires four of her works.
. For the second time she’s also part of the Salon d’Automne of Paris, 114th edition.
. From February 2017 to September 2018, the prestigious Barclays Bank exhibits her work at the parent company – Victor Hugo Avenue- as well as within Exelmans agencies in Paris.
. In July 2017, she was selected as one of the finalists in the Ateliers d’Art de France competition to represent the Île-de-France region with the ceramic tree essence “Rencontre sous l’Œillet en floraison” from her “Imaginary and Enchanted Forest”.
. In September 2017, on the occasion of the artistic and cultural event #PARISARTISTES 2017, she receives the PUBLIC AWARD for her ceramic sculptures “Les Culbutos“, and the 8th district City Hall of Paris hosts 50 of her sculptures.
. In October 2017, she is awarded the SCULPTURE PRIZE – Bernard Szymanek by the organization Les Amis du Salon d’Automne of Paris for her ceramic sculptures using the Raku technique ‘’Les Moons’’.
. In 2017, year during which Pafos is elected European Capital of Culture, her “Culbutos“ are selected by the Society of the Salon d’Automne in Cyprus for an itinerant exhibition from december 2017 to april 2018 organized by the French Institute of Nicosia.
2018
In 2018, she is SCULPTURE PRIZE LAUREATE of the exhibitions commission of the Taylor Foundation of Paris for her work “La Forêt imaginaire et enchantée“ – “The imaginary and enchanted forest“. More than thirty trees, that she has been working on for 15 years, are shown for the very first time at the Foundation’s gallery for a month.
. For the third time, her work is selected for the Salon d’Automne of Paris, 115th edition. On that occasion, the artist shows her “Noli me tangere“ (« Don’t touch me ») work.
. Her “Culbutos“ are also shown at Point-à-Pitre for the 9th edition of the Pool Art Fair of Guadeloupe.
. She’s one of the guest artist of the exhibit « White gold from the manufacture to the school » at the Château of Vincennes.
. Her work is selected for the 50th anniversary of the Art Friends of the Briançon Castle Society in Criel-sur-Mer in Normandy.
. She’s also part of the Third Contemporary Art Biennial of Versailles with her work “Noli me Tangere“. The “Culbutos“, “Moons“ and “Pavés“ are honored during the “L’un à l’autre, l’un sans l’autre“ and “Oh Heaven“ exhibits at the Isabelle Laverny Gallery, where she is a permanent artist.
2019
. First exhibition at the Grand Palais of Champs Elysées – Art Capital – Salon des Artistes Français.
. The Isabelle Laverny Gallery of Paris presents her contemporary ceramic sculptures, “Culbutos” and “Moons” at the Affordable Art Fair of Brussels.
. From March to May 2019, “FLORAL“ exhibition and first collaboration with the Nag Not a gallery, gallery of Natacha Dassault.
. For six months, from May to November, her work is selected to represent France at at the Salon d’Automne in Xi’an. In collaboration with the Association of Artists of the Province of SHAANXI, chaired by Master WANG Xijing. The opening took place in the presence of many Chinese personalities and Mrs. Jeanne d’Hauteserre, Mayor of the 8th district of Paris.
. In october, the artist, now a member of the Salon d’Automne in Paris, exhibited for the 4th year.
. “Nature” exhibition in the native region of the artist. From November 8 to 17 in Pourville-sur-Mer in upper Normandy region. Artistic event organized by Mr. Jean-Jacques Brument, Mayor of Hautot-sur-Mer, members of the municipal council and in partnership with Villa Perrotte.
. In November and until December and as every year for four years, the works of Florence Lemiegre are selected for the exhibition of les Amis du Salon d’Automne de Paris at the Étienne de Causans gallery in Paris, rue de Seine.
2020
. In 2020, Florence Lemiegre is a finalist in the Normandy region of the national competition of Ateliers d’Art de France with “Hortus”, ceramic sculpture of a tree from her “Imaginary and enchanted Forest“.
. About thirty of her creations, the “Culbutos Chamarrés” and the “Noli me tangere Pistils” are selected for the FEMINAE exhibition at the Espace d’art le Comoedia from September to December 2020.
. In September, the artist receives the Arcité Prize at the Artcité fair in Fontenay-sous-Bois with her “Culbutos – Serendipity”.
. For the first time, hes works are to be discovered during three months at Empreintes, concept store of Ateliers d’Art de France in Paris in the Marais.
2021
. Florence Lemiegre represents France at the Cheongju Craft Biennale 2021 in Cheongju, South Korea. An installation of 17 ceramic sculptures from her collection “Les Culbutos – Chamarrés” is selected for this major event dedicated to contemporary crafts in the world. The editorial line of this 2021 edition is “Tools for Conviviality”. France, represented by Ateliers d’Art de France, is the guest of honor of the 12th edition of the Cheongju International Craft Biennale, in South Korea, from September 8 to October 17, 2021.
. The artist has been selected for a one-year accompaniment at the Collection Gallery of the Ateliers d’Art de France, in the Marais, 3rd district of Paris, .
. In the exceptional setting of the Saint-Chapelle of the Château de Vincennes, during the exhibition “L’or blanc, L’Influence d’une Manufacture en Europe“, the artist presents during a month, tree species from her “Forêt imaginaire et enchantée”. Hungary is the guest country of this second edition of White Gold with exceptional pieces from various museums and Hungarian manufactures.
For the second consecutive year, she is a finalist in the Normandy region of the national competition of the Ateliers d’Art de France with an installation of “Noli me tangere Candidus”, which testifies to the vulnerability of our oceans.
An opus of more than eighty pieces presents the whole of its universes at the time of two personal exposures: “Jean-Jacques Lapoirie & Florence Lemiegre” in House of the citizen of Fontenay-sous-Bois and “Equilibres” in the Church Saint-Pierre of Touques in Normandy.
2022
. In February 2022, the artist, invited by the Sculptures Plurielles group of the sculptor William Noblet, is present at the Comparaisons d’ART CAPITAL show at the ephemeral Grand Palais on the Champ de Mars, work of the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte.
. From February 5 to May 15, 2022, an installation of about twenty tree species of his “Forest imaginary and enchanted” is to be discovered at the museum of the Briqueterie in Brittany.
. From May 19 to June 6, ten of her “Noli me tangere” and “Noli me tangere Pistils” are selected to participate in ArtCeram 2022, a major event of International Contemporary Ceramics at the SEL in Sevres. Florence Lemiegre participates in this seventh biennial alongside the guest of honor, Andrée Hirlet.
. In June her work represented by the gallery Collection des Ateliers d’Art de France in Paris is exhibited at the international biennial of art creations of the salon Révélations at the Grand Palais Éphémère.
. From June 23 to July 17, the gallery owner and curator Françoise Souchaud presents for the first time the works of Florence Lemiegre during “Grève blanche jusqu’à l’Estran“ exhibition. Her collection “Noli me tangere” are exhibited in the magnificent Notre-Dame de l’île Barbe Chapel in Lyon.
. From September 3 to 18, the artist exhibits in her native region about thirty of her creations during the exhibition “Histoire d’eau” in Pourville-sur-Mer with the gallery Art VP.
. From October 21 to 23, 2022, the artist member of the very famous Salon d’Automne de Paris, will exhibit his new creations under the glass roof of the great Halles de la Villette in Paris.
2023
. New exhibitions are already planned for 2023, including a solo exhibition of the artist invited by the Centre-Val de Loire region to exhibit about fifty of her contemporary works at the Moulin de la Filature in Le Blanc.
PERMANENT ARTIST
2012 – 2023 • Isabelle Laverny Gallery, Paris 17e. France.
2021 – 2022 • Collection Gallery of the Ateliers d’Art de France – Paris 3rd. France.
2018 – 2020 • DEGO import export et Ceramic Trends, online Gallery.
2018 – 2019 • LA PLACE Gallery, Paris 2e. France.
2017 – 2019 • The Avant Port Gallery, La Flotte, l’Ile de Ré. France.
2014 – 2016 • Galerie Quai Est, Ivry-sur-Seine Paris. France.
2010 – 2015 • Galerie Sophie etc…, Paris 11e. France.
PRIZES – AWARDS – COMPETITIONS
2021
• ARTIST REPRESENTING FRANCE – Cheongju International craft Biennial 2021. Cheongju. South Korea.
• FINALIST NORMANDY REGION – National Competition of the Art Workshops of France. Villedieu-les-Poêles. France.
2020
• SCULPTURE PRIZE 2020 – Artcité art fair 2020 – in Fontenay-sous-Bois. France.
FINALIST NORMANDY REGION – National Competition of the Ateliers d’Art de France. Villedieu-les-Poêles. France.
2018
• SCULPTURE AWARD – Contest of the exhibitions commission of the Taylor Foundation – 9th district of Paris. France.
2017
• SCULPTURE AWARD 2017 – Awarded by Les Amis du Salon d’Automne of Paris – 114th edition of the Salon d’Automne of Paris – Champs-Elysées, France.
• PUBLIC AWARD – #PARISARTISTES 2017 – France.
2013
• PUBLIC AWARD – Contest « Body and Soul », La Ralentie Gallery – Art & Thoughts, 11th district of Paris, France.
ACQUISITIONS
2017 Acquisition of three sculptures for the permanent collection of the Thétis, Venice, Italy.
2014 Acquisition by the city of Mers-les-Bains, Picardie, France.
MEMBER OF
2019 – 2020 Member of the Salon d’Automne de Paris
2018 – 2019 Association the “T”
2016 – 2020 The Friends of the Paris Autumn Salon
2015 – 2020 Member of the Taylor Foundation
2015 – 2020 ENSAD ALUMNI PARIS – Alumni of the Decorative Arts of Paris
RESUME
Download Florence Lemiegre resume…