Biography

Chantal discovered sculpting using recycled materials in 2016 when she was captivated by a sculpture of a dancer during the Art au Vignoble exhibition. A few months later in Saint-Lazare, she came across the same sculpture and its creator during a studio tour. Although she had always enjoyed discovering sculptures during her urban explorations, in museums or parks, she had never imagined creating some herself. She took a few workshops to learn how to work with recycled fabrics using Paverpol, a textile hardener. She explored various other artistic mediums, but sculpting with reclaimed materials quickly became her true creative voice as it aligned with her deep commitment to repurposing materials. In 2022, she earned her Paverpol certification and continues to enhance her practice through specialized training, exchanges with artists from a variety of disciplines, and the challenges of creating sculptures.

Artist statement

I create sculptures from reclaimed materials because I deeply believe that what we consider “used,” “outdated,” or “disposable” still holds beauty, memory, and immense potential. Lace and natural fabrics, forgotten objects, or items destined for the trash bins become, in my hands, lasting presences that celebrate past craftsmanship, the patience of artisanal gestures, and the value of materials we too quickly tend to waste.

My process is an act of preservation and revaluation. I collect, sort, transform, and sculpt. By assembling these materials, I aim to reveal their textures in new ways, offer a fresh perspective on what we encounter without really seeing. Through my sculptures, I want to remind people that beauty is found in ordinary things, in humble materials, in traces of the past—whether it’s objects, laces, woolens, denims, old t-shirts that are torn and stained, or other textured fabrics. My work encourages people to take a moment to look, pay attention to the often hidden qualities of modest materials.

Sharing is also an integral part of my practice. Just as I refuse to let materials go to waste, I also refuse to keep my knowledge to myself. Passing on my techniques through teaching and supporting other creators so they too can flourish and further advance the art of upcycling. For me, creating is a collective act: each work carries the memory of those who made the fabrics, those who passed on their knowledge to me, and those who will continue to transform the world with their own hands.