Marie de La Roussière

Lacquerer

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Bringing new life to an age-old tradition

Marie offers a contemporary vision of lacquering
Her works are entirely handmade
She has developed her own artistic language

Marie de La Roussière graduated in architectural decoration specialising in lacquer from ENSAAMA in Paris, the only European training school in which the three main lacquer techniques are taught: vegetable lacquer, European oil varnish and water-soluble lacquer. When Marie first encountered lacquer, it was love at first sight. She found that combining different materials and techniques with lacquer could spark an artist's imagination. In 2010, Marie opened her lacquer workshop specialising in custom-made creations, from decorative panels to musical instruments. By combining tradition with a contemporary vision, her lacquerwork offers an infinite number of possibilities.

Interview

Do you train apprentices?
I train students and amateurs in European oil varnishes. Becoming a trainer is a form of continuity. I focus my teaching on contemporary practices and creative autonomy. I am always delighted when people leave an internship with the desire to continue their discovery of lacquer.
What are your sources of inspiration?
The journeys and encounters that life places on my path. I feed off what surrounds me, and I try to translate that into a colourful impression that can be shared. I also try to work with the same freedom of technique found in poetry.
How do you express tradition and innovation?
Tradition continues in the implementation, which has not changed for several decades. As lacquerers, we stay abreast of technological improvements in order to enrich our creations by using new products and methods.
What do you like most about your job?
The process of slowness and meditation that comes with making a lacquer piece. Also, I have a real affinity for the material and I think people now have a renewed interest in it, which is motivating.

Marie de La Roussière is a master artisan: she began her career in 2003 and she started teaching in 2011