Pauline François: from fashion to expanded sculpture
- Pierre Caudevelle
- Mar 24
- 2 min read
A multidisciplinary contemporary artist trained at La Cambre in Brussels, Pauline François develops a practice that reflects the evolution of sculpture in today’s visual culture.
From fashion to sculpture: a shared language of volume
Before turning to sculpture, Pauline François studied fashion at ESMOD. While the two disciplines may seem distinct, they share a common foundation: working with volume, structure and spatial perception.
However, where fashion remains linked to the body, sculpture allows her to expand beyond it. This transition marks a shift from designing for a silhouette to creating within a broader spatial and conceptual environment.
An expanded definition of sculpture
Contemporary sculpture is no longer limited to carved or modeled objects. As highlighted by Pauline François’ work, it now includes:
object assemblage
performance
video
hybrid installations
By combining these mediums, she develops immersive works that challenge traditional definitions of sculpture. New technologies also play a role in extending her practice, opening up new narrative and sensory possibilities.
Sculpture as visual storytelling
Pauline François’ work can be understood through the lens of visual storytelling. Her installations function as constructed environments, where each object contributes to a broader narrative.
In A simple piece of wood in a sculptor’s studio (2019), she draws on the Pinocchio myth to question the boundary between fiction and reality. A simple material becomes a projection surface for imagination and meaning.
This approach echoes a broader shift in contemporary art: artworks are no longer just objects, but experiences that engage the viewer.
Engaging the viewer’s perception
Rather than delivering a fixed message, Pauline François creates space for interpretation. Her work invites viewers to question their own perception and relationship to objects.
By assembling fragments of reality, she constructs open narratives that reflect a singular yet accessible vision of the world.
