​Journées Nationales des Artistes : Atelier 11 Open Studio

In her painting, Irene explores dreamlike universes imbued with shadows, mysteries, symbols, and abysses. In sculpture and installation, Vanessa Brown gathers intriguing objects that evoke care, protection, and sisterhood. Meeting through stillness, Irene Calderón and Vanessa Brown share themes related to symbolism and mythologies in their work. This presentation explores moments of calm or the inexplicable, and questions how silent forms open new perceptions of power and agency. Atelier 11 is a place for encounter, research, and creative exchange, where artists share their work in dialogue during the residency and beyond.

Irene Calderón Irene Calderón (Costa Rica/France) expresses her artistic vision through oil painting, exploring the human figure — particularly the female body — with sensitivity and depth.

Beyond physical resemblance, her work seeks to reveal the inner life of her subjects through light and atmosphere, capturing fragments of emotion and psychological presence.

Her paintings evoke both the tangible and the invisible, reflecting the essence of each individual as well as the atmospheres they inhabit.

Rooted in her Costa Rican origins, Calderón's work intertwines elements of culture, landscape, and the discreet ambiguity of a painting born from a place rarely associated with the tradition of oil — making questions of identity, belonging, and context an integral part of her art.

Vanessa Brown Vanessa Brown works with sculpture, video, and installation.

Her practice involves conveying her subjective experiences through specific materials, especially those with a rich history, such as metal and glass, which offer a direct and artisanal relationship to craftsmanship.

Fueled by research, Brown creates works that re-examine the historical uses of these materials to forge new, unexpected affiliations, thereby pushing the boundaries of their traditional uses.

Her practice is centered on the body — its presence, needs, and sensory experiences in space — which she explores through the prisms of clothing, adornment, and tactility.

Her recent projects question how grief, ritual, and transcendence manifest in material culture and architecture, weaving elements of healing, protection, and craftsmanship to evoke presence, care, and wonder.