Gaëlle Monsacré grew up in a family of farmers in the heart of France. Her grandparents’ home was a unique space, like many early 20th-century houses in the Berry region, where natural light entered through just a single window. Every visit to their home brought the need to switch on the lone ceiling bulb to bring in light. This act quickly became second nature.
At the age of 10, she was profoundly marked by a visit to decorated caves, notably Lascaux II, where the artworks were created under the soft glow of candlelight. This sparked her fascination with light and its poetic effects. Dark, intimate spaces became her primary sources of inspiration. For her, light transformed into a source of emotion and wonder, tied to the poetry of everyday life.
When she encountered her preferred material, the gourd, through African music, it became a revelation. She repurposed the material, mastering complex techniques such as engraving, chiseling, and pointillism, working directly on the surface.
This approach, blending artistic innovation and technical expertise, makes Gaëlle Monsacré a unique artist in France. Through her creations, she forges an unprecedented fusion of light and material, where sensitivity and excellence meet.