Meeting with Julie Robert / Textile Artist and Ceramicist

It was during the Kids Etc Designer Festival a few years ago that I met Julie. Her unique world and her passion for working with materials immediately fascinated me. Discover an inspiring encounter with an artist who weaves the world in her own way, one thread after another. ✨

Can you tell us about your background?
How did you discover your path as a creator and what was the revelation that made you want to get started?

I have an atypical background. I started a visual arts faculty, but an unfortunate problem (an assault in the street) traumatized me and made me lose 1 year, then I continued with fine arts, but my frustration, of not having managed to overcome my trauma blocked me and I stopped everything. I wanted to be a visual arts professor at university, lead conferences, etc.

I did some of this in another way. I never gave up, I did odd jobs and painted on the side. I did 2 unpretentious exhibitions and I made my own quiet way then I followed my partner at the time to Paris and that's where everything started, I worked as an executive assistant in a luxury clothing store for cinema and advertising, I touched pieces of inestimable value (especially "creatively"), it touched me enormously and I started sewing again and collecting fabrics, threads...

Then a stylist poached me to become her assistant, I worked on big advertisements with a lot of costume creation (customization, it was incredible.) then I took a trip to Iceland where I discovered traditional weaving which led me in 2014 to drop everything to launch into contemporary weaving.

Photo : Stephanie Davilma

What muses accompany you and how do you keep your creativity alive over time?

I draw inspiration from nothing, my initial muse was Sheila Hicks, but I learn as I progress in my creative process and I detach myself from the human (muse), I draw more inspiration from the material that I touch with my hands daily!

Sheila Hicks, “Lianes de Beauvais”, 2011-2012 ©Centre Pompidou / Photo: Ph. Migeat / Dist. RMN-GP

Which creation, among all those you have made, is the most meaningful to you and what personal story is hidden there?

I would choose the large wall hanging I made for a client at the very beginning, before sending it to him, I asked a friend to take a picture of it, we went to a sawmill and he took a crazy shot in front of a huge pile of logs. This photo was taken by Instagram world and got 800K views, I gained 60k subscribers in the process, it was the beginning of my whole adventure.

Photo : Clement Minair

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would you choose and for what type of project?

He is no longer of this world, but I choose Alexander McQueen who was my first textile revelation, we would have co-created a textile piece mixing silk in all its forms. Big fan of this artist with extraordinary sensitivity.

How do you see your art evolving in the next 10 years, and what new creative territories would you like to explore?

I can already see the crazy evolution that my work has taken in 10 years, I can imagine the next 10 years, but I am unable to say how it will evolve haha! The new creative territories that I have been exploring for 2 years are those of clay, stoneware, earthenware, etc. And I am starting a bas-relief training which will allow me to create even differently! In fact, I do not give myself any creative limits, I am always moving forward and having fun!

How do you find the balance between your professional life and your creativity, and what tips help you maintain it?

My professional life is my creativity, I never separate the two. Except when I do my accounting haha

If your creations could talk, what would they say about you after a long day at work?

You're doing too much, look, your back hurts, rest, you've worked hard ;- )))

Is there a project that really changed the course of your career and why?

Yes, for 2 years, I have been working with architects and it has changed the situation, my projects are challenging and it's great! It happened at a time when I gave myself 1 year to move forward or stop everything, not financially speaking, but I was going around in circles... And then, another universe opened up to me and it stimulated my creativity.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned since starting your creative career?

Do it with your heart, but also with your guts, inspire yourself for your knowledge, but do not reproduce.

What advice would you give to those who aspire to embark on a creative career like yours?

To echo the previous question, I would say: true creativity comes from deep within, you have to know how to listen to yourself and not hesitate, go for it!

Come and discover Julie’s world:
His site
His Instagram account


Seven works published by Éditions Marabout
Tufting, Julie Robert - Editions Marabout 2022
Mix and match, Julie Robert - Marabout Editions 2021
My handmade decor, Julie Robert and Emilie Guelpa - Éditions Marabout 2020
Punch needle, Fine needle, Julie Robert - Marabout Editions 2019
Punch needle, Julie Robert - Marabout Editions 2018
Knotted point, Julie Robert - Marabout Editions 2018
Weaving: Techniques and creations, Julie Robert and Emilie Guelpa 2016