Laurent Nicolas

Laurent Nicolas is a designer and multidisciplinary artist whose career began in 1993, marked by an inventive exploration of materials and techniques. Trained at ENSAAMA Olivier de Serres and ESAA Duperré in Paris, he founded his own design studio, specializing in the creation of objects, furniture, and interior designs. His approach relies on repurposing industrial materials to design unique pieces or limited series. He has collaborated with companies like Domeau & Pérès, Christophe Delcourt, and Ecart International, showcasing his creations in showrooms and fairs in France and internationally.

In parallel, he has worked in the fashion and luxury sector for over 20 years, collaborating with prestigious brands such as Louis Vuitton, Azzedine Alaïa, and Zimmermann to create accessories and custom objects. His projects in this sector have led him to design collections of bags and accessories, strengthening his expertise in high-end design.

Laurent Nicolas has also established himself as a plastic artist. His works, blending photography, drawing, and sculpture, are characterized by the hybridization of practices and meticulous attention to gesture. His personal exhibitions include “Does the Present Exist?” at the Maison des Arts de Châtillon in 2022 and “The Red Thread” in Roubaix in 2021. He has participated in collective exhibitions such as “Toucher Terre” at the Fondation Villa Datris in 2022, “Hand/Made” at an Italian gallery in 2022, and “Graah!” at the Lefèbvre & Fils Gallery in 2024, all held in France. He recently worked on two personal exhibition projects, one in Paris and the other in New York, in collaboration with the Lefèbvre & Fils Gallery.

A fundamental element of his work is ceramics. This material, both ancient and modern, allows him to explore a variety of textures and forms. Laurent Nicolas uses ceramics for its expressive potential, which provides a powerful metaphor for evoking themes of transformation and resilience. He incorporates ideas of territoriality and universality, creating works that establish connections between different cultures and human experiences.

Laurent Nicolas has been awarded the Grand Prize of the International Biennial of Contemporary Ceramics in Vallauris, demonstrating his impact in this field. His works are included in prestigious collections, with acquisitions by the Musée Magnelli in Vallauris, the Villa Datris Contemporary Art Foundation, and the Contemporary Art Fund of the city of Montreuil. Laurent Nicolas lives and works between France and Finland.

Visit Laurent Nicolas’ website and Instagram page.