Pauline Loctin | Sculpting the Sensory Memory of Paper
Born in France in 1985, Pauline Loctin is a celebrated sculptor who brings paper to life, transforming it into captivating creations that resonate with memory, emotion, and identity. Drawing from her Mediterranean heritage and familial ties to North Africa, Pauline delves into themes of belonging, intergenerational transmission, and the profound connections between silence, texture, and human stories. Her work invites viewers to experience memory not through words but through the senses—fragments of color, rhythm, and texture that awaken deeply personal responses.
Pauline’s artistic practice is shaped by her intimate connection to music, having trained as a classical violinist at the conservatory in France for two decades. Music instilled in her a sense of rhythm and harmony that informs her approach to sculpting, pleating, and folding, where each movement carries meaning. Her mastery of materials, whether paper or fabric, explores the boundaries of memory as a tactile and emotional experience.
Her dedication to her craft is evident in her participation in significant residencies in the United Kingdom, where she studied under renowned paper sculptor Richard Sweeney at West Dean College and interned at the esteemed Ciment Pleating atelier in London. These formative experiences refined her skills and deepened her exploration of folding as a medium of expression.
Her acclaimed projects, including Chromatic Reflection, Flying in nuanced colours and Undress your Soul, as well as the groundbreaking Plié project, reflect her commitment to amplifying untold narratives. Plié, in particular, challenged the norms of ballet by celebrating diversity through sculptural costumes that became both art and statement.
Pauline’s journey has taken her from Montreal to international stages, with exhibitions in Los Angeles, London, Chicago, and Melbourne. Her collaborations with prestigious institutions, such as the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and The New York Times Magazine, further underscore her impact. She has also worked with globally recognized clients like BVLGARI, LVMH Métiers d’Arts, Four Seasons, and COS, creating immersive experiences that transcend cultural boundaries.
Incorporating techniques like painting, pleating, crumpling, and layering, Pauline’s work transforms silence and absence into textures that embody resilience and connection. Her art reflects a deep exploration of sensory memory, where the folds and layers become metaphors for intergenerational narratives, reconciliation, and rediscovery.
Through her sculptures, Pauline invites audiences to embark on a journey of self-discovery and collective understanding, illuminating how art can bridge gaps between the seen and unseen, the spoken and unspoken. By honoring her heritage and embracing her roots, she fosters a universal dialogue that celebrates the beauty and complexity of human experience.
Exhibitions
Solo and Duo Show
Pli.é Project, Ausgang Plaza, Montreal, 2018
Chromatic Reflections, Galerie XII, Los Angeles, 2023
Colours Live In Darkness, Diane-Dufresne Art Center, Quebec, 2025
Public Art Installations
Ancestrale, Amalgame Galery, Montreal, 2018
Ancestrale, Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair, Toronto, 2019
Coral, Centre Eaton, Montreal, 2021
Fantaisie #1, Diane-Dufresne Art Center, Repentigny, 2022-2024
Note, Montreal Symphony Orchestra , Montreal, 2022
The Flow of Emotional Numbness, Google Headquarters, Montreal, 2023
Escale, Montreal Central Station, 2024
Flying in Nuanced Colours, Uncommon for the London Design Festival, London, 2024
Group Exhibitions
Immersion Colorée, Chromatic Festival, Montreal, 2017
Intimate Abode, "L'origami sous tous ses plis" Exhibition, La villa Bagatelle, Québec City, 2017
Ancestrale, Le Livart, Montreal, 2018
Barrier, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, 2019
Infinite, Thierry Mugler’s Exhibition Couturrissime, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 2019
PAPERHOLIC : Obsession papier, La Guilde, Montreal, 2022
Wildflowers, “Paradis Perdu” exhibition, Diane-Dufresne Art Center , Repentigny, 2024
Princess Diana, Royal Photographer Archives ; International Exhibition, (presented in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, Washington D.C., Miami, Puerto Rico, Melbourne, Sidney, Brisbane, Perth, London) 2021 - 2024
PAPERHOLIC : Obsession papier, La Guilde, Quebec City, 2024
Art & Design Fairs
Souk Habitat, Montréal, Design Fair, Edition 2017, 2018 and 2019
Fashion Art Toronto, 2019
Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair, Toronto, 2020
London Design Festival, 2024
Internships & Residencies
Jnane Tamsna Art Residency; Marrakech, Morocco, April 2025
Profound Pattern with Adam Williamson; Marrakech, Morroco, April 2025
Ciment Pleating Atelier; London, UK; Pleating fabric internship; 2022
Grants & Awards
2020-2023 City of Montreal and Canada Council for the arts - Subsidy for artists in the visual arts and craft arts - Artist’s studio
2022 Canada Council for the arts - Explore and Create, Grant for Professional Development for Artists
2019 Applied Art Awards 2019 for best visuals for “Trapped” and “Rodeo Collection"“, Canada
2019 Experience, Bombardier Business Aircraft Magazine, Winner of the Folio Eddie and Ozzie Awards in the categories / Overall Editorial Excellence and Best Cover, New York City
Education
West Dean College; UK, Paper sculpture with Richard Sweeney, 2023
The Cooper Union; New York City; Paper Engineering with Kelli Anderson; 2021
HEC ; Montréal – DESS in management – cultural organizations - 2008-2009
University François-Rabelais in partnership with the University of Montréal - Master degree in Musicology - 2003-2008
Conservatory Francis-Poulenc of Tours ; France - Master degree in classical violin - 2007
Talks, Lectures & Workshops
London Design Festival, London (UK), 14–22 September 2024
London Craft Week, London (UK), 15-19 May 2024
Clerkenwell Design Week, London (UK), 21-23 May 2024
Concordia University, Montreal, Digital Creativity in the arts industry, 2020
Montreal In Motion [MIM], Moment Factory, Vol.1, ép.7, 2017
Montreal Circus School, “Managing your artistic career” course, 2015-2017
Clients
Bvlgari / LVMH Métiers d’Art / New York Times Magazine / Nils Frahm / Four Seasons / COS / Nespresso / Montreal Museum of Fine Art / Uncommon London / Montreal Symphonic Orchestra / Atelier Zébulon Perron / Google / Veuve Clicquot / Holt Renfrew / Lexus / Bonlook / Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec / H&M / Maison Simons / Yorkdale Toronto / Air Canada / Shopify / West Elm / Musée Pointe-à-Callière