Garance Vallée

Profile:

Key points:

• Born in 1993, based in Paris

• Architect, designer, and artist

• Works across multiple disciplines: architecture, painting, sculpture, scenography, and design

• Known for merging art, design, and architecture to explore relationships between space, objects, and the human body

• Collaborated with major brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and Perrier-Jouët

Nationality: French designer

Style: Mix of ancient and modern influences

• Organic and experimental approach

• Mix of ancient and modern influences

• Strong use of natural and raw materials

• Focus on spatial storytelling and immersive environments

Overview:

Designer Background: Architect, designer, and artist based in Paris

Garance Vallée is a multidisciplinary artist, architect, and designer whose work covers a variety of mediums, from sculpture and painting to scenography and furniture design.

Her creations aim to break traditional boundaries between disciplines, proposing immersive and organic environments that challenge perceptions of space and object functionality.

Founders: Garance Vallée

Approach, design philosophy: Fluidity and hybridity

Vallée’s philosophy is centered around fluidity and hybridity. She draws inspiration from both natural landscapes and architectural structures, exploring how humans interact with their surroundings. “I love playing with architectural codes,” she explains, reflecting her interest in reinterpreting traditional forms through a modern lens. (Source : Le Figaro)

Style: Combination of ancient and modern aesthetics

A combination of ancient and modern aesthetics, Vallée’s work is characterized by organic shapes, warm earthy tones, and a sculptural approach to design. She often creates modular spaces that merge art and function, transforming the way people engage with their environment.

Main inspirations: Modernist architecture, Mediterranean landscapes, and historical references

Vallée is heavily inspired by modernist architecture, Mediterranean landscapes, and historical references. She cites Merce Cunningham and Trisha Brown as influences in how she conceptualizes movement and space. “The idea is to create spaces that feel alive, as if they could shift and evolve with the body,” she explains.

Identity and aesthetics: Transforming rigid architectural structures into fluid, adaptable forms

The identity and aesthetics of Garance Vallée revolve around the idea of transforming rigid architectural structures into fluid, adaptable forms.

Her work often plays with perspectives, challenging the viewer’s sense of balance and orientation. Whether through scenography, furniture, or installations, her pieces maintain a sculptural and tactile quality, blurring the line between function and abstraction.

Values: Craftsmanship, experimentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration

The studio values craftsmanship, experimentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Vallée frequently works with artisans, including stonecutters and metalworkers, to bring her visions to life.

"I am committed to highlighting and making the craftsmanship visible in my projects. This was the case for the Sandro window displays. The plaster modules, in particular, were made in a workshop in Barcelona and reveal the traces of their hands on the material." (Source : Ideat)

Creative process: Intuition and experimentation

The studio’s creative process is based on intuition and experimentation. Vallée starts with sketches and small-scale models before moving into larger formats. She often employs a hands-on approach, using cardboard, plaster, and other raw materials to test forms and structures.

Production and materials: primary materials and handcrafted elements

• Primary materials: plaster, concrete, wood, metal, natural pigments

• Vallée favors raw textures and handcrafted elements, often leaving visible marks of the creative process

• Use of recycled and locally sourced materials when possible

Production methods:

• Handmade production in collaboration with skilled artisans

• Combination of digital design tools and traditional craftsmanship

• Focus on modularity and adaptability in design

Main categories:

• Furniture

• Scenography

• Installations

• Architecture

• Object design

Notable collections:

• Grand by Garance, Limited-edition rug collection for Nordic Knots (2023)

• Lighting collection, Designed for Garce Dimofski gallery (2021)

Major projects:

• Planted Air, Installation for Design Miami with Perrier-Jouët (2022)

• Custom doors for Pied à Terre residence, Paris (2024)

• Furniture for New Balance flagship, Paris (2024)

• Installation for Adidas flagship, Paris (2024)

• Maison d’en face, Scenography for Le Théâtre du Châtelet (2023)

• Window display installation for Sandro, Paris (2022)

• Limited-edition furniture collection for SWING edition, Italy (2021)

• Nike collaboration, Blazer sneaker design and retail installation (2020)

Recognition:

Garance Vallée’s work has been widely recognized in the art and design world.

She has exhibited in major art fairs such as Design Miami, Asia Now, and Milan Design Week.

Her unique approach has garnered attention from high-profile galleries, including Almine Rech in Paris and Carvalho Park in New York.

Press/media quotes:

• “Garance Vallée embodies a new generation of uninhibited, multidisciplinary designers.” – AD Magazine

• “Her work explores the fine line between architecture, sculpture, and scenography, redefining our relationship with space.” – Le Monde

• “She creates objects and spaces that defy convention, embracing an organic and intuitive aesthetic.” – IDEAT

Awards and distinctions:

• Featured at Design Miami (2022)

• Represented by Almine Rech Gallery, Paris (2023)

Exhibitions:

• “Tous ces objets qui n’en sont pas” – Solo show, Almine Rech Gallery, Paris (2023)

• Design Miami/ – Planted Air installation (2022)

• Asia Now, Paris – Group show (2020)

• Carvalho Park, New York – Solo show “Portrait de Famille” (2021)

• Swing Design Gallery, Italy – Solo show “Magna Mater” (2019)

Headquarters and website:

• Based in Paris, France

• Website: www.garancevallee.com