In the Workshop With… Artist Juliet Schlunke

Australian painter and ceramic artist, Juliet Schlunke, has quite an unorthodox background. She studied art in Sydney, then moved to Spain, where she spent 20 years, mostly painting nude men and portraits. She moved on to painting silks and other fabrics in the Matisse style.

Schlunke eventually relocated to Geneva, where she worked with an interior designer and painted trompe l’oeil. During that time, she resided outside the city near the forest, where she became enamored by the large trees that surrounded her. Thus began her fascination with nature.

When Schlunke moved to Paris, she worked as a freelance artist, creating fabulous floral designs for the top French interior design houses, including Pierre Frey, Nobilis, Rubelli and others. Her printed fabric designs adorn furniture, cushions windows across the globe. She spent 15 years hand-designing for them, until these companies switched to computerized designs.

Thereafter, Schlunke journeyed to Provence with her then lover, settling in next door to a potter. Naturally, she learned the art of ceramics, which she continues to this day. She lovingly sculpts vegetables such as bulbs of garlic, onions, artichokes, eggplants and pumpkins. Some are glazed white or black and others are painted to look so lifelike, one might be tempted to start peeling the garlic. These are part of her “Trompe l’oeil” collection. She uses actual onion roots when sculpting her onions, and actual apple stems for her sculpted apples, as it would be impossible to make such delicate components from clay, without breaking. She also forms whimsical plates, bowls, candle holders and various vessels.

Schlunke’s still-life paintings are luscious and vibrant and include ripe figs, grapes, pomegranates, trees, vineyards and orchards, as well as landscapes.

Schlunke’s work celebrates nature, and her inspiration, plucked from the idyllic French countryside, is plentiful. Her intent is to showcase beauty of “these simple things that we often pass by without noticing.” Her clients delight in taking home a charming piece of the Provençal countryside.

Juliet Schlunke’s studio, Galerie Juliet S., is located in the small, beautiful village of Ansouis, in the south Luberon.

Address: 17A Boulevard des Platanes

Website: Galerie Juliet S.

instagram: @juliet_s_artiste

The 2023 issue of The Loaded Trunk is based in the Luberon region of Provence. Click here to subscribe and receive access to this issue as well as the entire library.