As art collectors and enthusiasts seek unique, thought-provoking works, the emotional depth behind a sculpture often becomes a key factor in its appeal. Selfless Art Gallery recently had the privilege of talking to Paris-based sculptor Juliette Mangenot, whose artistic journey spans graphic design, printmaking, and jewelry making. She masterfully channels her diverse experiences into sculptures that delve into profound themes such as emotional dependence, fear of abandonment, and the complexities of the human condition.
Mangenot’s work invites viewers into a world where the connections between individuals and their surroundings are expressed through organic forms and the interplay of space. Influenced by legendary artists like Rodin and Arp, she uses a multidisciplinary approach to convey the intricacies of the human soul.
The Embrace, 2020, Stoneware, h31 cm - 3 kg
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background and how your training and influences have shaped your approach to sculpture?
A: My studies in graphic design at Penninghen left me artistically unfulfilled. During an Erasmus stay in Oslo, I discovered printmaking, which I practiced alongside my work as a graphic designer for 20 years. The call of sculpture came after a jewelry-making course at École Boule, where I learned wax modeling. I loved it! But I quickly felt constrained by the small scale of jewelry. I then joined a collective ceramics studio before opening my own shared workshop in 2020. Since 2022, I have had my personal studio, where I am fully dedicated to sculpture.
Peril, 2020, Stoneware, h 37 cm - 7 kg
Q: Your work explores the emotional connection between individuals and the world, especially themes like emotional dependence and fear of abandonment. How do these ideas show up in the forms you create?
A: This takes shape through variations between fullness and emptiness, a connection between two forms, an arch suggesting a bowed neck, shapes that brush against or intertwine with each other. The empty space separating them also tells a profound story.
Q: You’ve talked about the tension between merging and separating forms in your sculptures, which relates to the bond with the mother broken at birth. How does this idea of fragmentation influence your creative process?
A: The fear of abandonment and the restlessness that arises from our mortal condition inhabit my work. They act as little ghosts, finding a voice and taking shape in clay. The bond of love that connects us to another is like an umbilical cord—it keeps us alive. The fear of it being severed by separation mirrors the fear of death, the ultimate rupture of our bond with the world.
A new world, 2023, Stoneware, 68 x 46 cm - 12,2 kg
Q: Your work also draws from artists like Rodin and Arp, who express the human soul through the body. How do you see their influence in your own approach to the body and its inner life?
A: The representation of the body has always been the vehicle for my emotions. When I first discovered Rodin's sculptures at a very young age, I was profoundly moved. My work has since evolved from figuration to abstraction. It retains organic references, but the body is transformed. For me, Arp's work embodies the pinnacle of grace through the abstract body, where there is no room for the superfluous.
Q: You work across different mediums like drawing, engraving, and sculpture. How do these different forms help you explore the body and emotional connections? How is sculpture a natural extension of your drawings?
A: Each technique has its own language. The gestural freedom of drawing captures the movement of the body in the moment. The line etched with a burin is controlled, slow, and meticulous. It requires prior mental projection. Sculpture is a true physical immersion into the image. The black line becomes the form, the white void becomes the space. It allows me to place my psyche outside of myself and become its objective spectator. It is very liberating. These different vocabularies of form, when combined, give a more complete dimension to my universe.
One another, 2023, Stoneware, 34 x 20 cm - 3 kg
Q: You’ve mentioned that your creative process is driven by the unconscious, without a fixed image in mind. How do you work with this intuitive approach, and how do colors like white, black, and grey help express these emotional themes?
A: I put my mind on pause and let my hands guide me. I never know where I’m going, and the final form is always a surprise. Once the work progresses, I begin to think. It becomes like a puzzle to solve, breathing life into the material. Sometimes I spend days without finding the solution. I create and undo, over and over, until there’s an emotion. And that’s when the relief comes.
Black and white are part of my quest for authenticity. The material is bare, sometimes enhanced with shades of gray to emphasize contrasts. It’s about going to the essence, without embellishment.
Q: Lastly, for emerging sculptors, what advice would you offer to help them develop their own unique voice and navigate the complexities of contemporary sculpture?
A: It’s hard to give advice because every artist is driven by something deeply personal. For me, the pursuit is less about beauty and more about authenticity. A sculpture feels successful when I see myself in it. But that’s very subjective. I am guided by an aesthetic of truth.
Juliette Mangenot’s work offers a profound exploration of the human experience, expressed through her innovative approach to sculpture. Her ability to blend emotional depth with physical form invites both art collectors and viewers to reflect on themes of connection, fragility, and transformation. As she continues to evolve in her artistic practice, her dedication to authenticity and the raw beauty of the human condition will undoubtedly continue to inspire and resonate. Selfless Art Gallery looks forward to witnessing the ongoing evolution of her work and the lasting impact it will have on the contemporary art world!
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