Beatrice will be an Artist in Residence as she explores new directions leading up to an exhibition scheduled for 27th April – 5th June 2028.
In order to get to know Beatrice a little more she has kindly filled in our written interview and here it is:
-What initially attracted you to the methods you use for your art practice?
I have been always recycling upcycling, initially unconsciously, only because I had no money as a kid and had to figure out how to make “things” at no cost.
But then, repurposing has become naturally part of my practice.
– What or who were your early influences and how has your life/upbringing influenced your work?
Since I was 5 years old, I wanted to be a fashion designer, working with fabric, accessories…beauty!
Pattern making was part of the 3 years studies in France after my graduations.
Being French, I have been influenced by Matisse, Christian Lacroix, J-P Gaultier, Baudelaire, Cocteau.
– What was your route to becoming an artist.
I have been a fashion designer for 20 years in France and 10 years in Aotearoa where we arrived in 2004.
In 2008, I did my first solo exhibition in Auckland with large photographic work and later on etchings.
In 2010, I entered the World of WearableArt. I have been 10 times finalist in 10 consecutive years with 2 Awards.
I used to pair my WOW entries with costume jewellery but, as a maker, I had to make my own findings. After several silversmithing 1:1 sessions I have decided to set up my own studio
Et voila!
-Tell us a bit about your process from conception to creation please.
Nowadays, I work with porcelain shards I find mudlarking. The sea gives me back what has been discarded or lost.
I will research era, factory, printing technique of the shards, like an “historian” trying to put together the past.
Then, I “repair” them to give them a different present and new future using ancient techniques adapted to contemporary making.
I create Bijou( Jewellery) for the Wall and ( eventually) the Body.
– You have a wide range of patterns and arrangements and objects in your portfolio of works, can you describe some of your chosen techniques and how you choose to use them?
-Japanese Sashiko: part of my fashion background, I like to stitch porcelain with sterling.
-Chinese JuCi stapling,a nearly lost 3000 years old technique of pottery repair I adapted to contemporary jewellery.
-embossing metal using leaves, fabric, lace with my etching press.
-cord making with fabric leftover, grass…
-What currently inspires you?
The sea, found pieces that resonate to me.
Talking about my French and New Zealand cultures.
Creating new stories/lives for abandoned pieces.
-Is there a piece of your work that holds particularly fond memories for you and why?
My most recent works, they summarise my life/ethos/practice because they are so minimal but still full of everything: they are here to engage with emotions, challenge the viewer.
-How has your work developed since you began and how do you see it evolving in the future?
My work is in constant evolution even though the meanings remain the same. My work is about reducing compulsive consumption by recycling/repurposing and rethinking the notion of preciousness…
Jewellery now moves to object, precious metal or gemstones are swaped for shards, hand -made cord from fabric paper etc. I make Adornment for the Wall and the Body.
Wabi Sabi, Slow making, Circular Sustainability, Craftsmanship.
– What advice would you give a young person considering following their dream of being a full time artist?
Work hard, be consistent and don’t give up.
Be curious, non-judgemental, learn because everything can be useful.
– What is something you cannot take your eyes off when you see it – that fascinates and
mesmerises you?
A porcelain piece I find, I need to learn about its provenance.
– What is your favourite way to unwind or de-stress
Swim, cook, read…and actually make…it gives me an ultimate pleasure!
Beatrice Carlson residency statement: “Keeping traces”
These notes have been provided by Beatrice – her plans and dreams sound exciting.
In 2025, during Nelson Jewellery Week, with “out of the Blue” solo Exhibition, I decided to acknowledge and embrace my background as a fashion designer and my interdisciplinary practice intrinsic parts of my identity as an artist. 2026, is a year for developing the conceptual. My personal questioning is about how far can I go as an artist? How “far I step back” into the initial, the beginning, the primal form of the making.
This residency seeks for answer, at least part of it; Is it worth making my own paper/ cord/dye?
In 2026, I am back to my initial learning as a fabric/fibre maker in a broader definition.
In 2026, I “empty my drawers” and make with all I have.
And I will keep traces.
A residency gives the opportunity to think and focus on what matters at that time. To be able to experiment without the guilt of being obliged to provide a result. It gives the necessary time for an introspective research. And even though 2 weeks is not long enough to find all the answers, it still help to focus and clarify.
1.Exploration within ‘from out of the blue studio gallery’ surroundings:
-photographic work: atmosphere, colours, textures/patterns.
I just need my phone.
2.forage within ‘from out of the blue studio gallery’ surroundings:
-for “things” that resonate to me like driftwood, shell and whatever comes to me.
-explore how to translate them:
marks
traces
transfers
impressions
I will bring some air dry clay black and white
3. how to create within the natural organic environment of ‘from out of the blue studio gallery’:
-HARMONY:
Light, dark, muted.
Ash, rust, burnt,
neutral, iridescence.
-FIND:
Porcelain, driftwood,
shell, grass, sand.
-LEFT OVERS:
Paper, linen, fabric,
sequence, blink.
-RE-USE:
Beer can, metal,
non-firing clay
-METHOD:
Braiding, stitching,
cutting, printing, making traces
paper making.
-ETHOS:
Recycling, making,
repurposing, non-toxic practice.
Preserving the Land, the Sea.
4. two years in the making until the Exhibition at ‘from out of the blue studio gallery.’
Beatrice Carlson Curriculum Vitae 2026
Carlson is an interdisciplinary artist with a French fashion design background. She has been 10 years/10 times finalist of New Zealand World of WearableArt (2010-2019). For the last eight years, her “Jewellery for the Wall and the Body” focuses on exploring the function of the body, its proper language and position in society. Her narrative is about attitude towards adornment, non-gender, ageing, Covid impact. Carlson’s work presents a very strong emphases on upcycling/repurposing and rethinking the notion of preciousness.
Key philosophy: Wabi Sabi, Slow making, Circular Sustainability, Craftsmanship.
Galleries representing Beatrice Carlson Jewellery, Objects and Images
-the Poi Room Galleries 17 Osborne Street and 37 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland NZ
-Waiheke Art Gallery 2 Korora Road, Waiheke NZ
-Craig Potton Gallery 255 Hardy Street, Nelson NZ
-Depot Artspace 3 Victoria Road, Devonport NZ
-Paper-Works Gallery , Napier NZ
-Satellite2 61 Victoria Rd, Devonport NZ —-Boutique MR 7173 Lourmarin France
-Galerie Objet Rare, Paris
Upcoming:
2028: 27 April- 05 June: Solo Exhibition ( Staircase Gallery) and Residency, ‘ from out of the blue studio gallery’, Opunake – NZ
2027: “I Sea You” Group Show curated by Béatrice Carlson: Five Te Hau Kapua-Devonport artists interweaving their work using and creating depth within their narrative. (TBC)
2026: 12-29 November:”Perceivable and Perceptible” by Béatrice Carlson and Janet Mazenier,
Satellite2 Gallery, Devonport
Previous Exhibitions:
2025: 31 December: Official Selection of International Juried Exhibition “Fragility”, Alliages-Asso France
4-7 March: Munich Jewellery Week – Germany
April/May: Valencia Melting Point – Spain
4-7 June: Chateau de Cagnes-sur-Mer, Destination Bijou Jewellery Week – France
October-November: Lalabeyou, Madrid – Spain
Residencies:
2026: -28 April-10 May: ‘from out of the blue studio gallery’ Residency, Opunake – NZ
5-18 October, Rawene Church Residency with Janet Mazenier, Hokianga – NZ
2025: 1 May-30 June: the Common Room Group Residency – AFP 2025
Past Awards and Events Aotearoa:
2025: March: Devonport First Thursday, talk and workshop. Depot Artspace 2024: Finalist Parkin Drawing Prize- Wellington
-Micro Grant Award – Auckland Festival of Photography 2023: -Finalist WSA Small Sculpture Awards with “Panukaiki” ring, Hamilton 2022: -Finalist Richard T Nelson Sculpture Awards with Magpie Nest Necklace, Wellington 2021: -Finalist Parkin Drawing Prize with “Line” ring, Wellington
-Finalist Cleveland National Art Awards with “Reflection” ring, Dunedin
-Finalist New Zealand Small Sculpture Prize with “Black Rock” ring, Waiheke 2020: -“a Different Perspective” panel discussion for Louise Henderson Retrospective Auckland Art Gallery
– “Hand medal Project”: part of the 70 000 medals from 66 countries offered to medical workers during Covid. 2019: – Mentoring Wearable art project at Takapuna Primary School.
-Finalist WOW Open section
-Finalist NZPPA 2017: -Finalist 5th International Printmaking Juried Show, Wharepuke-
-Finalist National Printmaking Juried Exhibition “First Impressions”, MAC
-Finalist World of WearableArt (WOW), Wellington-
-Finalist NZPPA- 2016: -Finalist WOW 2016, section Avant-garde
-Finalist NZPPA-New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Awards Hamilton 2015: -World of WearableArt Finalist 2015 Wellington
-Finalist NZPPA-New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Awards Hamilton 2014: -Pechakucha talk” From Etching to Perspex”, Hamilton Gardens Riverside
Past Awards and Curated Exhibitions, International:
2025: -15 November-31 December: “Tincal Lab Challenge 2025 Jewelry and Celebration”, Porto Portugal -1-5 October Romania Jewellery Week
-18 September/20November: Synergy-Presence Absence Universus Gallery Athens -November2024-January2025: TILISMAN Curated Jewellery exhibition SCD Studio Perugia Italy 2024: -Finalist in ‘the Nature of Imperfection and Jewelry Adornment” Society of Arts and Crafts BOSTON
50 artists selected worldwide. 2022: -Finalist The battle of the rings 2022 with “walk on the beach” ring Seattle USA 2020: – Hand Medal Project, International project 2020 Worldwide 2019: -Finalist René Carcan International Printmaking Awards 2019-Belgium 2018: -Finalist Douro Printmaking Biennial 2018-Portugal 2017: -Long listed Nikon photo contest 2017- International 2016: -Long-listed in the Jackson’s International Open Art Prize 2016 London-UK 2015: -Finalist International Mini Print University of art 2015- Tokyo-Japan
Collections: Private & Museum
-Douro Museum, Portugal
-Al Serkal Arts District Zayed University ,Dubai -United Arab Emirates
-Tama University of Art, Tokyo-Japan
-Bimblebox Art Project Australia
-Awagami Washi Paper Factory-Japan
-Solo Exhibitions NZ
August 2025: “out of the Blue, éd 2”- Depot Artspace Devonport April 2025: Nelson Contemporary Jewellery week-NJW2025: “out of the Blue” solo show – Craig Potton Gallery 2024: the object, the photo, the story-Satellite2 Gallery and Auckland Festival of Photography 2023: Nelson Contemporary Jewellery Week “the Magpie Nest Project” SOLO EXHIBITION, Craig Potton Gallery, Nelson
2018: Declutter”, Pavillion Architecture, Devonport
2017: – “UnWearable”, WOW Retrospective, Depot Artspace, Devonport
-Auckland Artweek: “PERSPEX”, Pavilion Architecture Devonport
– “Objects of Desire”, Blikfang Art & Antiques – Auckland Festival of Photography AFP17 Auckland 2015: -“Vie de Boheme” Art by the Sea Gallery – Auckland Festival of Photography AFP15 Auckland
-Group Exhibitions, New Zealand and International:
2025:15 December- 22 February 2026: PCANZ- Contemporary Printmaking of Aotearoa:” A korero of thoughts and ideas”
22 November-23 December: Paper-Works Gallery Christmas Show2024: -Wellington Academy of Fine Art Parkin Drawing Prize exhibition NZ
-NorthArt Gallery Member Group show NZ
-Waiheke Gallery Member Group Show NZ
2022: -“He Poipoa”, Matariki show Waiheke Gallery NZ
– “Reclaim to fame” group show Waiheke Gallery NZ
2021: -Nelson Jewellery Week “a walk on the beach” Exhibition at Suter Gallery – Nelson NZ
-“Bijoux” Group show Upstairs Gallery, Waitakere NZ
-Awagami International Small Print Awards and Exhibition-Tokushima, Japan
2019: -“the Renault French Festival” & Alliance Française- Exhibition at the Cloud, Auckland NZ
-Bimblebox Art Project: 153 Printmakers representing 153endangered birds of the Bimblebox Reserve AU
2017: -“Woven Heritage” Al Serkal Arts District Zayed University in Dubai- United Arab Emirates
-University of Printmaking Exhibition on invitation, Sapporo-JAPAN 2016: -4th International Juried Print Exhibition, Albuquerque-NM USA
-“the Intellectual Fashion Show”, Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland-NZ – 80th Anniversary of Tama Art University Museum 1-33-1 Ochiai, Tama-city, Tokyo -JAPAN
Check out Beatrice’s website: http://www.beatricecarlson.com. You can also find her on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/beatrice.carlson.artist