Jonathän Jouan

Furniture maker | Montréal, Canada

Straw at your service

Jonathän is inspired by folklore and traditional techniques
He combines wood and straw marquetry in his furniture
His practice is influenced by his experiences in Denmark and Montreal

Rooted in storytelling, Jonathän Jouan's work draws from mythology and symbolic forms, transforming wood and straw marquetry into luminous, living surfaces. Each piece becomes a microcosm, an intimate world where organic shapes, delicate textures and subtle light interplay invite reflection and emotional engagement. A French Breton artist now based in Montreal, Jonathän studied art history in France and trained as a fine cabinetmaker in Canada, further developing his practice in Copenhagen. "Craft is inseparable from concept: the hand, the material and the narrative are inseparable. Each gesture carries intention and presence," he says. Through this fusion of technique and imagination he offers viewers furniture pieces that are at once functional, poetic and profoundly human.

Interview

©Jonathän Jouan

What has art history brought to your practice?: Art theory and iconography helped my practice, but it was feeling the magnificence of peoples of the past that inspired me. They created with total dedication as an expression of love. You can see this in every detail of their artistic practice.
Do you enjoy making bespoke work?: Yes, sometimes a client tells me what they desire or a story that is dear to them, and I try to shape this into a piece of furniture or object. Other times, they hand me the freedom to make a unique piece, which really develops my imagination.
How did your time in Denmark impact your work?: Montreal opened my mind on a personal and professional level, I feel great freedom here. Moving to Denmark, where the design tradition is very strong, was an extraordinary experience for me. I saw my sensibilities changing, and it was truly enriching for my work.
What is the future for straw marquetry?: Straw marquetry is an extraordinary ornamentation technique that cannot be replicated by robots. It is, above all, a question of knowledge. A lot of knowledge was lost over the centuries, and I do not want straw marquetry techniques to disappear.

Jonathän Jouan is a rising star: he began his career in 2020