Marion Courtillé

French designer/maker, Marion Courtillé trained in cabinet making at Ecole Boulle in Paris before obtaining a masters degree in 3D design in 2004 in Lahti, Finland.
She has since continued to explore her own creative language professionally, having worked in design roles for renowned companies including Beneteau (La Rochelle, Fr), Ateliers Bernard Pictet (Paris), Hermes (Paris) and now in New Zealand where she leads the design team at David Trubridge studio.
This background inspires a lovely blending of traditional craft values with a sleek and contemporary aesthetic in her work.
Courtillé maintains her own practice alongside her full time work as a product designer, where she continues to question and investigate the possibilities of material. Her work which encompasses furniture, jewellery, small objects and sculptures, has been acknowledged through the years with several international awards.

STATEMENT
The inspiration behind creating a "3D painting" stems from a deep appreciation for the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand. Aotearoa is renowned for its diverse natural beauty, from lush forests and rugged mountains to serene lakes and vibrant coastlines. The interplay of light and shadow and the diversity in colours among these environments became a focal point for the artwork.

By employing layers of acrylic, Courtillé tries to capture the essence of depth inherent to any landscapes in general. Each layer reflects and refracts light, creating a dynamic experience that mirrors the way natural elements interact—like the way sunlight dances on water or the subtle gradations in the sky at dawn.

The use of transparency, opacity and reflection allows viewers to engage with the work from multiple angles, echoing the multi-dimensionality of the landscapes. The diverse colors of the acrylic evoke the earthy tones of the mountains, bringing the viewer into a vivid, immersive experience.

Courtillé wants to celebrate not just the visual splendor of Aotearoa but also its emotional resonance—inviting viewers to reflect on their own connections to nature and the serenity it provides.