A humble sparkle
- Marika celebrates the textures and contrasts in her straw marquetry works
- Her fibres are precisely placed to reflect light
- She sources her straw from the only straw provider in France
Marika Michelon creates contemporary straw wall art with harmonious combinations of colour, texture, angles and curves. Before discovering straw marquetry in 2018, she completed a degree in graphic arts at Penninghen school in Paris, and led a career as an artistic director, graphic designer and illustrator. Driven by the beauty of this craft and her desire to return to manual creation, Marika trained under master artisan Lison de Caunes in Paris before opening her own studio in 2021. She combines her handcrafted straw marquetry with other materials such as brass and gold leaf, using mixed media techniques. "I just follow my imagination to play with light and movement," she explains. Marika's work has been shown at prestigious exhibitions, including Révélations 2025 in Paris.
INTERVIEW
I had what I call an aesthetic shock when I stumbled upon a double door made with straw marquetry. I was blown away and inquired about the material. The idea that you can take such humble material as straw and transform it into this dazzling art continues to inspire me.
My process starts with sketching, planning and preparing all my materials. Then I open, flatten, cut, place and glue each strand of straw to achieve a surface that directs light and shadow. A single work can take hundreds of hours over a few months.
My straw provider, the only provider in France, offers an array of colours that I fine-tune in my studio. I like juxtaposing rich colour with the relief of white or neutral shades, and contrasting the natural glossiness of straw with matte paint or hand brushed metal.
My practice is about joy. I take pleasure in the materials, the contrast of grain and colour, and the process of creating. I apply traditional artisanal techniques to bring my own contemporary artistic vision to life.
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