Shaping striking settings with clay
- Pascale creates sculptural works and large ceramic installations
- She often works on commissions for the hospitality industry
- Her Montreal studio operates with the discipline of a professional kitchen
Pascale Girardin is a ceramicist who creates large-scale architectural works such as sculptural murals and suspended installations. She brings her background in painting and ceramics into every project. In managing so many complex and diverse projects, Pascale finds inspiration in the structure and precision of a professional. “I lead my studio team in a disciplined way that balances creative practice with structured project management,” she says. Pascale’s work features in hospitality settings including Saks Fifth Avenue in New York, and Four Seasons hotels in Toronto, Montreal and Las Vegas.
INTERVIEW
I discovered ceramics while studying painting at Concordia University. I often walked past the clay studios, fascinated by what students were making. The material felt so concrete and tangible. Years later, I had the chance to study ceramics intensively, and it became the foundation of my practice.
Ceramics involves a long chain of actions before a piece leaves the kiln. Preparing, wedging, shaping and refining create a very grounding rhythm and routine. Over time, I came to value that combination of presence, repetition and dialogue with the clay itself.
I began by making functional tableware, especially for chefs, because it offered a practical way to make a living as an artist. Gradually, I grew curious about other surfaces and spaces I could explore, from walls to ceilings and even the air itself. That led to murals and suspended installations, often for hospitality settings.
I once thought creativity meant planning first and executing second. Ceramics taught me otherwise. Repetitive gestures, from wedging clay to loading kilns, shape not just the work but the way you perceive the world. Over time, I realised I was not just forming clay, it was also forming me.
