Michael CAILLOUX’s work is fascinating, rich and complex, revealing the various phases of his approach, from his marvellous drawings in fine felt-tip pens or Indian ink to his abundant wallpapers displaying his most beautiful chromatic compositions. Michaël Cailloux is a true virtuoso. His work ranges from etchings and aquatint engravings to “wall jewellery” chiselled in copper, as well as wallpaper, fine stationery, children’s book illustrations and textiles.
Illusions
At a time when poetic expression and technical virtuosity seem to have lost their significance, Michaël Cailloux imagines a lush universe full of delicacy and sensitivity, imbued with extreme refinement and not devoid of humour. His magical musings, magnified by a play of form and colour, reflect the richness of his imagination, while his playful, sophisticated staging invites us to develop our own narratives by ‘playing’ with his stories.
Inspired by 17th-century still lifes and Art Nouveau naturalism, Michaël Cailloux cultivates the art of drawing with fine felt pens. He invents a fertile, unbridled nature in the course of a multi-faceted body of work: sculptures, etchings and design. When he discovered the Longwy factory, he was seduced by the delicate technique of enamelling, which gives a delicate, relief-like finish.
Fascinated by insects, still lifes and Art Nouveau, Michaël Cailloux exalts the territory of flora and fauna with a palette of dazzling colours. Like a magician holding the key to enchanting secrets, he creates as if the world were a perpetual miracle. In his cabinet of curiosities, where he explores the marvels of nature, flies and bees twirl, hummingbirds dance, majestic peacocks display their sumptuous plumage, while whales, jellyfish, eels and starfish move in lascivious, bewitching movements. These ballets of animals of all species are the ethereal emergence of a boundless reverie.
A time of love.
“I’m an artist who uses and works in different media related to drawing. In particular, I combine engraving and etching techniques in some of my creations. I’m passionate about insects, still life and art deco, and these themes are often found in my objects. I studied at the Duperré school, then went on to do a BTS in Applied Textile Art, finishing with a higher diploma in Applied Art with a focus on fashion and the environment. I was then contacted by the Peclers trend agency, with whom I worked. At the same time, I co-founded the brand Atelier LZC with Vanessa Lambert and Barbara Zorn, who specialise in textile creations and screen printing. We came up with our own designs while working with major names such as Habitat, Cartier and Baccarat.
I followed the adventure for 10 years before going off on my own; the projects were getting too industrial for my taste and I wanted to turn to a more craft-based production. So I turned to teaching, while training in metal engraving and etching. Today, I’m artistic and educational director of the Conte school, which offers training in the applied arts, fashion and textiles: I drive the programme and the artistic results through teaching. At the same time, I create various objects – wallpapers, scarves, wall jewellery – in complete freedom and without any commercial constraints.”
“I wrote my dissertation for my Higher Diploma in Applied Art on the subject of moles and flies in the 18th century, a theme that I subsequently used in my designs.”
Amour de Poires, wall jewel” (Love of Pears)
Cut with a bocfil saw, etched on a copper plate, finished with a layer of gold – Rouge Pullon
Format W 11 cm x H 12 cm, blue inking, presented in a 22.5×17.5 cm box, like a jewellery box
Unique work, signed on the back by the artist.
Summer wind
Scarves
I’d say that it finds its source in the hybridisation of several elements: a lot of references to art history, still lifes from the 16th century, animals and more contemporary elements… A work of fusion mixing all the universes that I love in a way. The ‘accidents’ of creation are an integral part of my work: this random aspect, these little faults that we can’t control, are totally part of the components of the objects that come out of my studio.
Ex-voto : Tatoo” : Wall jewel
Cut with a bocfil saw, engraved with etching on a copper plate, finished with a layer of gold (1micron) – Pullon red, blue patina
Format W 7 cm x H 18 cm, presented in a 17.5 x 22.5 cm box, like a jewellery box
Unique work, signed on the back by the artist.
Amour de Poires, wall jewel” (Love of Pears)
Cut with a bocfil saw, etched on a copper plate, finished with a layer of gold – Rouge Pullon
Format W 11 cm x H 12 cm, blue inking, presented in a 22.5×17.5 cm box, like a jewellery box
Unique work, signed on the back by the artist.
Mainly when I’m travelling. I always take a notebook with me to draw, make annotations, put ideas down on paper… I also observe the world around me, I go to lots of exhibitions, I draw on my past experiences… My trip to Japan over 10 years ago, for example, has remained deeply rooted in me.
In the wind
Bird song
I advocate trend boards as part of my job as an art director because they are the basis of all creation: I always produce them when I present a project to my clients in order to express my ideas in writing. However, I skip this stage when I’m working on my own collections because I naturally know what I want, and I always have the final look exactly in mind before I start designing. This doesn’t stop me from drawing on numerous books, or finding materials at flea markets and exhibitions…
Original drawings in fine felt pen
Renaissance : Hybride, 2021, n°1/1
Etching & Drawing on natural white Hahnemühle paper, 28 x 40 cm
Aluminium frame, white cover and neon yellow mesh, museum glass
Unique work
June in the garden
When I work with my students, I ask them to accumulate several documents by mixing all the arts: painting, architecture, photography, design, etc. so as to be able to tell the story of a person’s world. This combination of different media naturally creates a story through colours, materials and artistic references. For me, this is the ideal starting point if you want to create a cutting-edge, avant-garde collection. Unfortunately, the trend these days is towards uniformity, and it’s often the same images that are circulating, particularly via Pinterest. That’s why I recommend finding rarer materials in books or at flea markets.
“Origin” (engraving)
New horizon
In the wind
Collaboration for Bernardaud
“For this collaboration, I wanted a festive, celestial and sunny decor. A burst of motifs like a floral firework display… With a starry sky of little dandelion flowers, carrot flowers, clovers and wreaths of cherry blossom. Hummingbirds and butterflies flutter about, attracted by the light and the flashes of gold. Nature in motion, joyful and luminous.” Michaël Cailloux
@bertrandbozon @gpjbaker Portrait : Rodolphe Baras
“Contemplation” (Engraving)
Copper engraving
Manthis religiosa