Fabienne Auzolle

Creating a feminine universe in ceramics

• Fabienne studied history of art before becoming a ceramicist
• Her father was a horticulturist, influencing her to use flowers in her works
• She likes to travel to find inspiration

With degrees from Ecole Duperré and Ecole du Louvre in Paris, and collaborations with the Mobilier National and the Centre Artisanal de la Terre, Fabienne Auzolle has proven that her knowledge, coupled with the techniques she's discovered on her travels to places including Burkina Faso, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Iran and Norway, have blended together to make her the ceramicist she is today. She works mainly with enamelled faience, a European traditional fine tin-glazed pottery, but also combines ceramics with textiles to create unique sculptures and installations. Having exhibited her work in galleries, museums and international art fairs in France and abroad, she says of her career: “I have the feeling I’m dreaming my life and I’ve been so lucky.”

Interview

© Aurelia Blanc

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Was studying history of art important?

For me, it was indispensable to have a solid culture in the history of art, to piece together the missing parts of the puzzle. At the Ecole du Louvre I specialised in religious French painting, and was interested in symbolism linked to religion and spirituality from all cultures.

How have you used these influences?

I revisit archaic themes, such as Madonna icons and medieval sculptures, and the tree of life present in several different cultures. I try to find universal and connected themes, like the garden, the woman and the flower; it's a very feminine universe.

How do your travels help you find new techniques?

I went to Iran to learn the lustre technique (enamelling with precious metal oxides), because they have a particularly remarkable technique there. Travelling brings me extraordinary meetings and exchanges with people, and allows me to observe and be inspired.

Yet you still maintain a strong French identity in your work?

Yes, it’s true and it always surprising when people tell me that. We consider ourselves to be very globalised but in fact in the end we aren't, very much. In China, people kept telling me that they can immediately see that I’m French; it was very funny!

Fabienne Auzolle is an : she began her career in

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