As a child, what did you want to become (profession-wise)?
My first choice would have been Louis Armstrong, then billionaire or comic book writer.
In which town did you grow up? I grew up in Paris until I was 10, then Cannes until I was 17,
and then moved back to Paris.
Do you think your background has influenced your current art style? If so, what specific element in your background most pervasively influences your current art style?
Having no kind of academic training in the arts, it is difficult to measure my influences. However, people I have met and countries I have visited have definitely been influential. Italy and Mexico have been crucial influences. I went to Italy millions of times as a kid and was surrounded by artists. Mexico was where I saw, for the first time, the form of sculpture that I am now dedicated to.
What inspires you in the job of being an artist?
I am inspired by the feeling of osmosis with life: the will to spread joy – or to at least completely absorb the person looking at my works, to give them a moment to escape from day-to-day life.
In which way do you consider yourself an innovative creator?
I love to hijack methods and tools from other disciplines to reach my goal. For instance, waterjet technology is used mostly to produce parts for the automotive industry, but I use it to create limited editions. Another example is using a combination of marquetry and goldsmith tools to produce my hand-cut sculptures
What do you consider your masterpiece you have created?
Tough question: I do not think that I have created a masterpiece yet, but the most challenging sculptures I created are “Nooooob” and “Blue Garden.”
Any plans for future masterpieces to come?
There are a few in the pipeline. I hope to have finished four or five new creations by September.
Do you have any other creative ambitions or dreams to which you aspire?
The comic book writer in me has not completely disappeared, and I have a character in mind who will allow me to express other concepts.
Which basic elements of creativity did your family teach you?
My mother always told me that it is cheap to have reasonable dreams. I think this is true: One should not put barriers on one’s imagination. I think Jim Morrison once said, “Life is short but wide.”
How did you get the idea for creating your artwork?
At first, I saw a similar sculpture, and that same day, I discovered the waterjet technology. I thought it would be great to combine the two in order to produce original sculptures that people would be able to buy.
Do you have a favorite artist yourself?
I admire many artists with big names, but I would like to take the opportunity to give a tribute to one artist who had a direct and immense influence on me, since he is like a grandfather to me: Silvio Loffredo. Silvio is a 90-year-old young artist. He is an amazing painter, has worked with Oskar Kokoschka, met the greatest painters of the 20th
Century, and has been a
teacher in the Fine Arts Academy of Florence for many years. His art is a must-buy, in my opinion, and I am happy to help anyone get in touch with him directly.
Are you ever afraid you will run out of inspiration and creativity in your job?
At present, it really flows, so I cannot imagine running out of inspiration.
What is the most difficult thing in your job? Making a living from my art is difficult.
What is the most fun part of your job? always the most exciting moment.