We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Margaux De Penfentenyo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Margaux below.
Hi Margaux, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Why does solitude scare us so much?
At its core, it’s the fear of being forgotten, of seeming nonexistent. It’s a matter of survival, rooted in our DNA, in our primal instincts. Because we need each other to survive.
But when we learn to step back from this instinctive fear, momentary solitude is wonderful.
Solitude is the perfect ground for creation.
Solitude is peace.
It’s calm, it’s gentle, it’s soothing.
Solitude is freedom, an essential ingredient for creation.
I live my days alone, in my studio.
Solitude allows me to stay centered on myself, aligned with my ideas and thoughts. No external influences are invited. I draw my ideas from within and no one else. It’s a way to preserve my authenticity and originality. It is crucial during the gestation of a project. A nascent idea is fragile, like a young sprout, and needs to be developed before being shared.
Solitude also allows me to stay outside of time. I don’t look at the clock, and no one interrupts me. An interruption at the wrong moment can abruptly extinguish an idea.
The difficulty is that no one is waiting for me.
I am solely responsible for igniting my inner engine to go in the direction I choose. It requires a deep desire. It doesn’t come from the outside; it comes from within me.
What motivates me to take action?
Well, first of all, the sun. Every day, I need to have accomplished something before the sun sets.
But it’s mainly the profound need to offer others the images, forms, colors, concepts, and ideas that pass through me. To share them, I have no choice but to materialize them. It’s existential. If these ideas pass through me, sharing them gives meaning to my life. Making my ideas tangible is essential.
My final driving force is the sheer number of ideas constantly flowing into my mind, like an endlessly loaded conveyor belt. I don’t have time to waste if I want to realize as many as possible.
The stool “Where Ideas Emerge,” which I created in 2023 and exhibited at the Salone del Mobile in Milan, speaks to this necessary context for creation. It’s in solitude that ideas emerge. It allows me to be present with myself. It’s a form of meditation.
To create, I have no choice but to confront the blank page, the silence, the void, myself.
Not to run away.
Sometimes, the temptation to flee looms over me. And I could busy myself with a series of tasks to avoid this confrontation.
Creating means diving inside oneself. And there are days when I don’t feel like getting wet. And yet, I know my satisfaction after the dive.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My Practice
Born and raised in Paris, I am a French multidisciplinary artist, recently settled in Miami (since April 2024).
My life journey is imbued with nomadism, multiculturalism, adventure, and travel, which have shaped my worldview and influenced my creativity. Each city and country I have lived in has shown me different colors, different lights, and different materials.
Arriving in Mexico, I discovered color. Switzerland introduced me to wood. Miami is unveiling the ocean to me.
When I arrive in a new country, a new city, I start from scratch. It’s a grand “reset” each time. It’s a reopening of all possibilities, a rebirth. I feel like a phoenix (see gouache on paper “I am a phoenix”).
Painting, embroidery, weaving, woodworking, and tapestry are among the disciplines I incorporate into my artistic practice. I create unique pieces or small series that transcend the boundaries between art, craft, and design.
I create sustainable works: of high quality and environmentally friendly, using natural, recyclable, or locally sourced materials. Respect for humanity is integral to my practice, and I make it a point to collaborate with indigenous communities and master artisans, fostering their independence, preserving local know-how, and promoting cultural diversity.
My main goal?
To make people feel joy. To make them feel alive.
As a colorist, I create color palettes that offer a whole world of sensations.
My color palette is like a text without words. It is read as one reads a sentence. Color is a silent language that everyone understands.
**Upcoming events:**
– Paris Design Week, September 5-9, 2024, Galerie Joseph at 7 rue Froissart, Paris 3
– Miami Art Week 2024
**Where to discover my work:**
– San Francisco: The “Landscape Lamp” is available at Bright on Presidio
– Paris: Lidwine Rupp Gallery
– Miami: At my studio
**Contact**
[email protected]
www.mdepenfentenyo.com
IG @mdepenfentenyo
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
– Diligence:
Every morning, I commit to my practice for the entire day with determination.
To achieve this, I recommend focusing on the day ahead, setting a goal to accomplish before the sun sets. Then, day by day, you’ll see things taking shape.
– Authenticity:
I draw my ideas from within, striving to embrace my originality and my differences. It’s essential not to let others influence me and to think for myself.
Don’t compare yourself to others; everyone is unique, with their own story and journey.
– Boldness:
I am a courageous and bold person. I know how to take risks, to dive in, and to take action.
You can nurture this energy by trying not to overthink and by remembering that there are no wrong choices—everything is an experience.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents always gave me the freedom to make my own choices and move as I pleased. Not only did they never forbid me from doing anything, but they also supported my projects. For example, when I was 20, during our summer vacation, I said to my sister, “Hey, how about we bike from Paris to Nice next week ?!” We’re talking about over 800 km by bike, through mountainous areas, and two young girls with no training ! My parents lent us their bikes, funded our equipment, and covered all the trip expenses. We took on the challenge, and it was quite an incredible life experience !
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mdepenfentenyo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdepenfentenyo/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaux-de-penfentenyo-96907a3a/
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Portrait with Landscape lamps: Credit Dominique Giannelli
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
