Born in 1975, Bérénice Fourmy has always been drawn to art. As a child, she recalls being intrigued by the sacred medieval paintings in the small church of her village; she was mesmerized by them. It was only natural, then, that a few years later, she chose to pursue studies in Art History, specializing in medieval wall paintings. In 2002, she published a book titled "Seeing and Believing: Medieval Wall Paintings in Touraine."
Very hands-on, Bérénice enjoys working with stone and any materials she has at her disposal. So, it was only natural for her to simultaneously take evening classes in a ceramics workshop in Touraine and then in the Vosges.
Gradually, clay began to take up more and more space in her daily life until she fully devoted herself to it in 2008. At first, faces emerged amidst other materials. Bérénice enjoys combining clay with other substances; they enrich and elevate each other while maintaining the sobriety and purity of the sacred images that nourished the artist in her youth. The softness of the lines and subjects reflects a desire to capture the essence; the color palette is restricted, with clay predominating, and the message emerges. Recently, bodies have taken shape, supporting the unique expression of faces marked by astonishment; they perch on supports in perfect harmony with the characters, adding even more lightness. Bérénice Fourmy's sculptures are enhanced by the combination of different materials and a simple wax patina, foregoing glaze to return to the truth of bare clay.
Influenced by her stay in Tahiti for a few years, Bérénice now enriches her works with elements of nature provided by the islands (coconuts, shells, corals...), always ensuring to maintain the simplicity and authenticity of these characters.

Discover 2024 exhibtion

The gallery's words:

Bérénice contacted me in early 2024 to present her work. Initially, I discovered the photos attached to the email, and it was love at first sight. I appreciated the simplicity, the earth kept in its natural state, the monochrome palette without any frills, and the underlying questioning. These little characters perched above a world full of questions sometimes seemed surprised, other times amazed, or even worried, but always enveloped in great gentleness and benevolence. We then spoke directly, and I appreciated the energy emanating from the artist; her work reflected her. I am delighted to share with you this lovely find that undoubtedly will also stir your emotions.