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Interview with artist Misstigri: Between elegance and artistic sensuality
To meet Misstigri is to enter a singular universe where elegance and sensuality combine to give life to timeless works. From her beginnings as a graphic designer to her career as a painter, she has been able to evolve, letting each step of her journey mark her unique style. We’ve been working with her for several years, creating boxes illustrated with sensual portraits. Today, she opens the doors of her artistic universe to us, sharing her inspirations, her projects and her vision of art.
Find out about these latest tea caddy creations:
What drew you to illustration?
My first memory of drawing dates back to kindergarten, and I’ve been drawing ever since! It’s a visceral need to express myself through images, which first led me to become a graphic designer. But for the last 20 years, I’ve devoted myself exclusively to painting, a means of expression that allows me to explore my ideas in a more personal and free way.
Do you have a formal education, or are you self-taught?
I followed an artistic curriculum right from the start: a baccalaureate in applied arts, then a BTS in interior architecture and finally design training at the Beaux-Arts. After graduating, I worked as a freelance graphic designer for a few years before managing to make a living solely from my painting. This academic background gave me a solid foundation, but it was through experimenting and creating freely that my style took shape.
Your style, your universe, is distinctive and recognizable, but we all have our sources of inspiration. What are yours?
My inspiration comes from several worlds: fashion, lingerie, Asia and eroticism. Initially, I dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, but a teacher steered me away from that path. That said, fashion remains at the heart of my work: in every design, I give priority to clothing and accessories. Today, my inspirations are broadening and I’m incorporating more and more floral and plant motifs – no doubt the influence of living in the countryside! I also have a great passion for Art Deco, a style that fuses graphics, plants and sensuality. My favorite artists include Mucha, Manara for erotic art, and fashion designers like Jean-Paul Gaultier, Dior and Lacroix.
Do you have a creative ritual you’d like to share?
I’d say my ritual is to be in a constant state of creative ebullition, even in my dreams! I often paint in the evening, enjoying the peace and quiet once everyone else is asleep. This was even truer before I had children, when my nights were often devoted to painting. My periods of creativity can be intense, but I also go through periods of low inspiration. One of these periods of doubt prompted me to explore woodworking: I started creating furniture and reupholstering antique pieces, which naturally led me back to painting on wood. I love the texture of wood, its veins and the possibility of playing with transparencies and shapes.
Are you currently working on one or more projects?
I’m currently preparing for a major art fair in March 2025, while running my designer boutique “Les Bibiches” in Nantes, which I opened with two friends two years ago. I also have a few private commissions, which I’m becoming increasingly passionate about. Recently, I completed an exciting project for a notary’s office in the South of France: a series of seven XXL paintings, in which I integrated elements of decor and furniture from the office, located in a listed Art Deco building. It was an intense experience and an incredible collaboration.
Finally, can you give me a link to discover or rediscover your work?
You can find me on Instagram and Facebook under the name Misstigri. I also share my creations on my Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/MisstigriBoutique for those wishing to discover or purchase my work.
