Meet the Artists: Studio Al Fresco
Earlier this year, we packed our bags and headed to the South of France for our fall campaign. Along the way, we met artists Charlotte Develter and Zoé de Soumagnat—two remarkable creatives who welcomed us into Studio Al Fresco, their intimate and inspiring art studio, and allowed us to capture The Art of Fall. Just as their work layers texture, material, and meaning to transform everyday surroundings, our new fall collection blends effortless layers and thoughtful silhouettes designed for everyday. Here, we welcome you into their world, where inspiration lives in every detail.
Where does your love of art stem from? What inspires your work?
We met while studying for a master’s degree in Painting at the Royal College of Art in London (UK). Our interest in painting comes from a long-standing personal engagement with visual art. Over the years, we’ve shared an attention to how painting can extend beyond the frame, interacting with materials, surfaces, and spatial contexts. We are particularly drawn to the idea of painting as a way of inhabiting space, whether through fabric, objects, or architectural elements.
You work as a duo when you create, which is a unique approach. Can you tell us more about your collaborative process?
As we are both painters, our individual art practices can sometimes feel a bit solitary. That’s why we love that Studio al Fresco is a two-heads, four-hands project. While we don’t always create pieces together from start to finish, we constantly ask each other for a fresh perspective. We share inspirations, ideas, experiments, and decisions, and when a project calls for it, we really enjoy coming together to work side by side.
Why did you choose this medium?
We’ve been working together since 2016 and have explored various approaches over the years. In 2022, we decided to focus on the idea of painted décor—something that can be applied to different materials such as walls, fabric, or framed canvas—as long as it enhances everyday life.
We loved visiting you in your studio and watching you create. Can you tell us more about your space?
We don’t have a fixed shared studio. We move between Paris and Marseille, depending on where we are and what we’re working on. Often, our projects take place on-site, so we meet where the work happens. The studio you visited was Charlotte’s space in Marseille. Sometimes we also work remotely, exchanging images, ideas, and tons of photos to keep the dialogue going between us.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists?
The art world can be tough, and finding your place often depends on the sociocultural context you’re evolving in. A few years after graduating, we were both frustrated by how painting seemed confined to gallery spaces. That led us to rethink how and where art could exist, and to bring it into living environments, where it can become part of daily life. What has helped us most is staying connected with other artists. These exchanges—whether about ideas, doubts, or just the reality of making work—have been essential to keeping things moving.
We hope their story inspires you as much as it inspired us. Continue the journey and explore The Art of Fall campaign on the blog.