Ceramic Artist and Designer:
Isabelle Poupinel, a contemporary ceramic designer, invited Caractères Paris into her studio in Viroflay, near Versailles. With a direct gaze and great delicacy, the artist warmly welcomed us.
Initially trained as a graphic designer at the Arts Décoratifs de Paris, Isabelle later turned to ceramics in the second part of her career. It was out of frustration that her path toward ceramics began. During a collaboration with a jeweler in Istanbul, she discovered the work of the master artisan: someone who shapes their creation from raw material to the final polished piece. Watching this process, Isabelle realized she was only working with part of the material. Frustrated by her inability to go further in this collaboration, she decided to treat the material in its entirety. Today, having fully embraced ceramics, she continues to surprise us with her creativity and the beauty of her works.
An Eclectic & "World Artist":
An eclectic artist who draws from various techniques and is inspired by multiple cultures, Isabelle Poupinel’s universe is infinitely diverse, making her work impossible to classify.
Daughter of collectors of African primitive art, Isabelle defines herself as a “World artist.” Viewing her work is like taking a world tour. We see the United States through Pollock's gesture in her Rinkis series, Africa in collections of hand-painted Calabash and Timbales, and Asia in a series of unique Baskets.
This eclecticism is also reflected in the techniques she uses. From traditional French porcelain of the 18th century to the barbotines of the 19th century, and even digital printing in her future models, her creative universe knows no boundaries.
"Making Art Come Alive":
For Isabelle Poupinel, making her art come alive is essential. As Horace once said, “He wins universal approval who blends the useful with the agreeable.” The artist seeks to make beauty both useful and alive. Her ceramics are not reserved for special occasions or meant to sit still on a pedestal—they are intended to be part of our lives and moods. With her background in graphic design and product design, Isabelle blends beauty, purity of line, and utility in her creations.
Isabelle’s craftsmanship reaches such a high level of technicality that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish textures with the naked eye. Between fabric, organic materials, porcelain, and earthenware, the artist blurs the lines. Her works such as Orchidée (2016), Vase Move (2011), Corail candle holders (2019), and Ecume bowls (2016) are striking examples, playing with the effects of glaze on the material. The boundary between ceramic and fabric becomes indistinguishable—only touch helps us regain our bearings.
With an intuition of an underlying energy, Isabelle Poupinel’s work conveys a universal message that speaks to everyone and invites art into our everyday lives.
Paris, August 15, 2020
