Lucie Leroux
Montréal, Que.
Lucie Leroux, Lamp N°135 Eclipse, 2022. Post-consumer recycled synthetic and natural fibers, acrylic, screen printed and folded by hand, 40 x 26 x 26 cm. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST.
Studio: How would you describe your approach to your medium? What made you choose it?
Lucie Leroux: I began my career in a research laboratory specializing in architectural lighting, where I specialized in 3D modeling and light rendering. Working with virtual images and digital models, I felt that this approach lacked materiality. That's why I decided to take a course in textile design and printing. This transition enabled me to return to a more direct approach to working with materials, both technically and creatively.
In my various projects, I've always approached textiles as a volume rather than a surface. My approach is deliberately low-tech. I work with very simple tools. I'm always surprised to see a shape emerge between my hands, and how a gesture as simple as folding can produce complex shapes. The possibilities are endless.
Lucie Leroux, Lamp N°690 Eclipse, 2022. Post-consumer recycled synthetic and natural fibers, acrylic, screen printed and folded by hand, 46 x 46 x37 cm. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST.
S: How would you describe yourself, personally and professionally?
LL: I'm naturally very curious and love learning new techniques. It quickly becomes an obsession. I can be very stubborn to achieve a result that suits me. The older I get, the more I feel the need to go back to traditional skills. Going back to basics to understand how things are made.
I've recently come to appreciate that my thought process requires time and is more deliberate. I need to digest information and ideas before making decisions. On the other hand, once ideas have been clarified, implementation comes very quickly. We live in a fast-paced world, so I'm still trying to find my own pace.
Lucie Leroux, Lamp N°135, checkered pattern, (detail), 2022. Post-consumer recycled synthetic and natural fibers, acrylic, screen printed and folded by hand, 40 x 26 x 26 cm. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST.
S: What inspires you?
LL: I grew up in the countryside and by the sea, so observing nature plays an important part in my work, especially in the patterns I draw.
Otherwise, most of my inspiration comes from the manufacturing process itself, while I'm making a piece. I like to take my objects, turn them over and reverse the direction of the folds. Through manipulation, unexpected outcomes can sometimes emerge.
Lucie Leroux, Lamp reversible N°306 Canopy (detail), 2024. Narrow 18 x 33 cm / Flared 42 x 29 cm. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST.
S: What do you see as your contribution to the field of your craft?
LL: I've been lucky enough to teach textile design for almost 10 years now, whereas at the start of my career it was something I hadn't considered at all. Students don't realize how much I learn alongside them.
In my opinion, passing on know-how is fundamental to keeping it alive. It's also a way of giving back what I've been taught.
Lucie Leroux, Lamp N°400 Canopy, 2022. Post-consumer recycled synthetic and natural fibers, acrylic, screen printed and folded by hand, 60 x 60 x 40 cm.. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST.
S: What wisdom do you want to impart to younger makers?
LL: I too feel like I'm always starting out, but what I've learned over the years is to be patient and not hesitate to try, even if it means making mistakes. It's in the “failures and mistakes that I've learned the most.
Don't wait for the perfect moment or the perfect studio to take the plunge. You can achieve a lot with limited resources.
Don't stay on your own. Go out and meet other craftspeople and artists, both in your own field and in disciplines very different from yours, ask them questions, seek their advice.
Above all, pursue what genuinely moves you, rather than chasing trends or trying to meet others' expectations.
Lucie Leroux
instagram: @laboratoiretextile
website: laboratoiretextile.ca/fr/
This article was published in the Spring/Summer 2025 issue of Studio Magazine.
