Mariel Clarmont (Born Claude Élisabeth Marie Pichon, 1931, Ville-di-Pietrabugno, Corsica, France), is a textile artist and poetic voice whose work bridges the domains of patchwork, embroidery, literature, and song. Initially recognized as a singer-songwriter associated with the “Rive-Gauche Chanson Poétique” movement, she has registered over eighty original compositions with SACEM and published numerous poems and short stories, always integrating visual and literary expression.

A pivotal accident introduced her to the techniques of American quilting, which she studied under Sophie Campbell, a key figure in bringing this tradition to France. However, Clarmont’s practice soon diverged from conventional patchwork. Rather than adhering to its strict geometries and fixed patterns, she pursued a more fluid, contemplative aesthetic inspired by the rhythms and symbolic sensibilities of Zen.

Her textile wall hangings combine patchwork with the older whitework tradition. Executed entirely by hand, her relief surfaces are formed through meticulous stitching, with compositions created from mosaics of multicolored fabrics or subtle monochromatic gradients. These tactile assemblages function as visual poems—meditative reflections rendered through cloth and thread.

Between 1976 and 2009, Clarmont’s work was exhibited in numerous prestigious venues, including the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, the Isdetam Museum in Tokyo, Downey Museum in Los Angeles, UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź, and many international biennials and triennials in Europe and beyond. Her contributions to textile art are noted for their lyrical, philosophical approach to material, form, and spatial rhythm.

By liberating patchwork from its formal constraints, Mariel Clarmont has created a distinctive body of work that speaks to the spiritual dimension of textile practice, where fabric becomes both language and landscape.

Credit: Assadour Markarov