Simone Pheulpin: Textile Sculptor and Creator of Emotions

« I am not a seamstress; I am a sculptor working with textiles, as others sculpt marble or clay. » This statement perfectly reflects Simone’s innovative and intuitive approach.

Through small wall pieces made for her children’s rooms, Simone rediscovered the potential of raw cotton. With no formal artistic training, she relies entirely on instinct to explore the fabric’s endless possibilities. Every fold, every curve reflects a perfect harmony between the artist and her material.

To structure her works, Simone uses hundreds of tiny, invisible pins to hold and support the folds. Produced by a specialized French manufacturer, these pins are fine yet strong enough to integrate seamlessly into the fabric without distorting it. An X-ray of her sculptures reveals a captivating “pin skeleton,” an element as mesmerizing as the artwork itself.

Each of Simone Pheulpin’s creations seems to draw its essence from the natural world. Organic shapes—tree bark, eroded rocks, or flowing water—emerge from her sculptures with striking evocative power. Yet nothing is copied directly: “Nature offers sparks of inspiration, but it is in my imagination that the forms truly come alive.”

This intimate connection with nature is reflected in her meticulous attention to detail. Each fold is carefully arranged to play with light and shadow, giving the work an almost living presence.

Creating a sculpture can take months of work. Simone emphasizes the need for silence and solitude to reach a meditative state of focus: “It’s a dialogue between the fabric and me; every gesture matters.” This rigorous discipline is balanced by complete freedom in her creative process, with no sketches or models beforehand.

After more than fifty years of practice, Simone continues to explore new forms and ways of folding fabric. While her early works were marked by unbridled spontaneity, her artistic language has gradually become more structured. Today, her creations are celebrated in galleries and museums worldwide.

“My sculptures reflect my personal journey, balancing freedom and control.”

Simone dreams of creating a monumental sculpture spanning an entire space, yet her age and the increasing weight of her works pose a real challenge. To overcome this, she envisions crafting lighter modules that can be assembled into a grand-scale piece.

Despite their delicate appearance, her sculptures are remarkably durable. Textile experts affirm that, thanks to the cotton’s density and the meticulous care in their creation, these pieces will retain their integrity for centuries.

Simone Pheulpin creates unique works that blur the line between craftsmanship and contemporary art. Her sculptures, both timeless and modern, captivate with their beauty and complexity, offering a fresh perspective on textile as an artistic medium.