London

Véronique Chauvet

Paper artist | Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, France

A papier-mâché feast

Véronique’s work combines artistic creation and culinary pleasures
She developed her passion for papier-mâché as a teenager
She used to work as a stylist for Kenzo, and in set design for television and cinema

Véronique Chauvet, an artist and chef based on the Île de Ré, began her career as a stylist before shifting her focus to papier-mâché as her primary artistic medium. With a mastery of this technique honed from a young age, today she creates monumental sculptures inspired by markets and the culinary arts. Véronique seamlessly blends creativity with sustainability. Indeed, drawing on her expertise in fashion and set design, Véronique transforms discarded packaging and materials into striking works of art. Her creations have been exhibited in prestigious venues like the Loire castles and national museums, and she has collaborated on high-profile projects with luxury brands and interior architects.

Interview

Do you remember the first time you worked with papier-mâché?: I think I was about 12 years old when I created my first papier-mâché mask, which was related to culinary arts as it was a giant wine bottle.
How is your work related to the Île de Ré where you live?: I recycle a lot of packaging materials in my sculpture work. My restaurant is next to the market, and the food stalls are an endless source of inspiration.
Is papier-mâché accessible to everyone?: The basic technique to work with papier-mâché is accessible to everyone, but it requires solid sculpting skills to manage the weight of the paper when wet and its shrinkage during drying.
Can you tell us a memorable moment from your professional life?: Some creations were so large that I had to remove the door of my studio to get them out. This was the case for a patisserie sculpture I made, based on an Antonin Carême sketch for the Château of Azay-le-Rideau.

Véronique Chauvet is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1992