Gabrielle Regnault

Paper artist

©ALBERTO MARTINEZ

Washi wonders

Gabrielle creates engraved patterns on Japanese washi paper for architectural projects
She is inspired by diversity and a constant quest for innovation
What she loves above all is giving meaning to her designs

Gabrielle Regnault has nurtured her passion for painting and drawing since her childhood. After a professional career in cinema, she rediscovered her love for visual arts by specialising in decorative painting in 2011. Trained at the Atelier des Peintres en Décor in Paris, she now engraves original patterns that she transfers onto Japanese washi paper. Her creations are intended for architectural projects but Gabrielle also adapts them to furnishings: lighting, screens, curtains, and sliding panels. She customises each piece, giving meaning to her designs while employing traditional techniques. Each creation is unique, and Gabrielle is renowned for her talent not only in the film and theatre industry but also in the world of luxury.

Interview

©ALBERTO MARTINEZ

©ALBERTO MARTINEZ

Why did you pursue a career change?: In order to be as sincere as possible with myself. What strikes me is the fascination of children when they hear about my job or see me work. I see light in their eyes, desire. It is from this feeling, the genesis of creation, the one that children have innately, that I wanted to get closer to.
What was the first object you created?: I remember a precious design on a white table covered with an intricate, pearlescent material, striking, and imposing, with stitched effects forming a graphic pattern. It was for the architectural agency Christian Liaigre.
How do you blend tradition and innovation in your creative process?: I discovered the world of Japanese paper around 2018 during a project in Japan. I brought back rolls of various kinds, somewhat randomly, and started experimenting, exploring, blending techniques and products... nothing very orthodox! But it was precisely this freedom that appealed to me.
Is your craft facing potential challenges?: Yes! I work with paper and fabrics, two mediums that could easily be replaced by industrial wallpaper, which has been offering an attractive but also rich and innovative alternative for years. Therefore, I must fight by adding the human touch and questioning myself incessantly.

Gabrielle Regnault is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2011 and she started teaching in 2019