Suzanne Larrieu

I wasn't born into an environment conducive to artistic pursuits. It was thanks to the French national education system of my time that I became aware of culture. We visited museums and monuments in Paris. Gifted with great sensitivity and curiosity, I discovered a world that immediately captivated me.
I had to work from a very young age in factories, hospitals, and then offices. It was after moving around the age of thirty to a village in Seine-et-Marne that I met artists who made me feel confident and took me under their wing. I was then seized by a voracious appetite for training: porcelain painting, life drawing, painting, modeling and terracotta, and stone carving.
Upon my return to Paris, I joined the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris in Montparnasse for more serious training for four years, as well as several artists' workshops.

My inspiration is expressionist figuration influenced by many other artists such as Ron Muek, Francis Marchal (writer, painter, sculptor, puppeteer), Javier Marin whom I greatly admire, Kristen Stingle... And of course puppet theatre in which I participated for four years, contemporary theatre is a great source of ideas.
Currently, my figures are made from recycled cardboard, painted following a competition organized by an artists' association, and I've continued to use this lightweight medium, which is readily available, ever since. I also use papier-mâché and air-dry clay for practical reasons.
Suzanne Larrieu

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