Marie-Hélène Soyer

Émaux Métaux

Enameller

©Folle Allure

Merging elements and playing with fire

Marie-Hélène has been awarded prestigious titles for her craftsmanship
Her work blends artistic and industrial techniques
She enamels on steel, stainless steel and copper

After working for seven years as a librarian, Marie-Hélène Soyer decided to follow her true passion and retrain in enamelling on metal. This is a craft she has practised as a hobby since the age of nine. After training with artists and artisans, she opened her workshop in 2004. Marie-Hélène lives and works in Loire-Atlantique, a region of France where the main activity is ship-building, which allows her to work with local suppliers. She has been awarded the title of Maître d’Art, is a laureate of the Académie des Savoirs-Faire and is recognised by the Hermès Foundation. Marie-Hélène works with traditional techniques that are constantly evolving, forcing her to always innovate. Her enamel is powdered glass or crystal, coloured with metallic oxides, which give her work a liquid-like appearance. She finds inspiration in pop and tribal arts, the work of Charlotte Perriand, as well as nature.

Interview

©Folle Allure

©Folle Allure

What do you like the most about your craft?: I like the feeling of serenity when I have lots of time to make a piece. The pieces go into the kiln, and even 24 years later, I still find it moving and magical when my pieces come out. I also love meeting many extraordinary people whose worlds are very different to my own.
What does the term well made mean to you?: To be serene and without regret about a piece you have created.
What would you suggest to a young person who wants to work as you do?: To always remain humble in the practice of the craft, to keep on learning and perfecting your work and yourself. Also, to be prepared to work hard. A tip would be to know how to surround yourself with the right people.
What is something about your craft that people do not usually know?: Actually, there are several things that people do not know, which still surprise me today. The first is that I am not a ceramicist; the second is that resin is not enamel; the third is that enamel is not paint; and the last one is that my work entails a slow, costly and complex process.

Marie-Hélène Soyer is a master artisan: she began her career in 2004 and she started teaching in 2005