Maëva Le Roux on Capturing the World Through her Travel-Inspired Paintings

Maëva Le Roux is a talented French-Indonesian artist whose journey spans continents and cultures, shaping her vibrant artworks. In this interview, she discusses discovering her passion for painting as a child in Morocco and how living in twelve countries influenced her work. Maëva also shares her love for the environment and her interest in scientific ideas, explaining how these themes appear in her paintings. She also discusses how she blends different cultures to create unique pieces in her art. Maëva’s story shows us how her travels and encounters with diverse cultures have made her art vibrant and meaningful. This interview shows Maëva’s inspirations and her hope to connect people through her art.

Maëva Le Roux, a French-Indonesian artist, brings a unique perspective shaped by her travels. She lived in twelve countries across Asia, the Middle East, South America, Europe, and Oceania, fostering a deep appreciation for intercultural dynamics. Her academic journey led her to delve into International Relations and Cultural Diplomacy, further enriching her understanding of global connections. At the age of 8, Maëva discovered her passion for painting. As she developed her artistic skills, it became a way for her to capture the diverse expressions of beauty and wonder she experienced throughout her life. In her art, Maëva Le Roux invites you to explore the world through her eyes, where each stroke tells a story of cultural fusion and personal growth.

1. Maëva, you started painting when you were eight. Can you share the moment you fell in love with painting and how your art has grown since then?

I had my first drawing lessons in a private club for French residents in Casablanca, Morocco. It took place backstage at a theatre. The atmosphere was calm and enveloping, a haven of peace. I was captivated by my teacher’s techniques for depicting birds. He gave me the confidence I needed to pursue drawing. However, my second teacher in Venezuela couldn’t believe for a second that those bird paintings were entirely mine. She was right. So she taught me the basics of art theory and methods. During my high school years in Paris, I learned in art classes to push my thinking further and to defend my ideas. I also took oil painting classes with a guru I hold dear in the rice fields of Ubud, Bali. I was seventeen, living away for the first time and discovering myself. After that, I was autodidact, learning from books and exploring the cultural scene.

Art ignites a spark in my soul, drawing me back to it no matter where I am. I create art wherever I go because it helps me keep the memories of all these places alive.

Maëva Le Roux

2. You’ve lived in twelve countries, experiencing so many different cultures. How have these experiences shaped your art and the themes you focus on?

Art ignites a spark in my soul, drawing me back to it no matter where I am. A friend once observed that doing art was the thread connecting all my travels. I create art wherever I go because it helps me keep the memories of all these places alive. I always carry a travel sketchbook with me, where my drawings testify to my explorations. I record buildings, plants, animals, and people, showing their peculiarity, weirdness, and unique beauty.

3. Your art touches on big topics like protecting the environment and exploring scientific ideas. What drives you to explore these themes, and how do you bring them to life in your paintings?

I’m passionate about protecting the environment and exploring significant scientific ideas because they are universal and concern everyone. My travels have taught me to stay curious and embrace differences while convincing me that something greater unites us all spiritually and tangibly on Earth. I admire photographers like Sebastião Salgado, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, and Steve McCurry, who capture the commonalities in people’s features and struggles. Our most urgent collective challenge is to save humanity and biodiversity in the face of the unfolding ecological disaster. This is why I create harmonious representations of civilization and nature together. Additionally, I am fascinated by deep space and physics. Although I was never a very good mathematician, trying to figuratively depict abstract concepts like gravity or quantum entanglement has been my effort to understand them.

4. Blending different cultures is a big part of your work. Can you tell us about a specific piece that shows this and the story behind it?

One of the pieces in which I attempt fusion is my oil painting, Gravity (2020). I did not blend cultures, but I wanted to create what the “future universal woman” could look like. This painting was made in confinement as the sanitary crisis disrupted the livelihoods of every person on earth. I was in isolation in my flat in Berlin. Time slowed down and brought everything to a standstill. I took the opportunity to paint. I painted a familiar face I could interact with. She was the woman in my family, the woman on Netflix, and the woman in the mirror brought together.

My travels have taught me to stay curious and embrace differences while convincing me that something greater unites us all spiritually and tangibly on Earth.

Maëva Le Roux

5.  Atelier L’Orangerie sounds like a fantastic place for artists. How has being part of this community influenced your creativity and how you connect with other artists and art lovers?

Atelier L’Orangerie showcases diverse arts and crafts, enabling me to meet and collaborate with other artists and organizations. This experience has been formative in developing both my business and my mindset. To me, it is just the seed of a larger future project. I am building the experience and capacity needed to one day establish a cultural center connecting France and Bali, my two homelands.

6.  What do you hope people take away from your art, especially when it comes to understanding different cultures and thinking about our place in the universe?

Through vibrant compositions, I encourage viewers to reconsider their perspectives, contemplate cosmic questions, and recognize our shared humanity amidst the vast forces of the universe. This creative impulse leads adventurers to quest for greater wisdom, exploring fundamental questions about the cosmos and chaos. I wish my audience will see the beauty and wonder surrounding them, sparking the courage and desire to protect what we share.

Maëva Le Roux’s art shows us the beauty of different cultures and the importance of protecting our environment. Her travels worldwide have given her a unique perspective, which she expresses through her vibrant paintings. Maëva’s work reminds us of our shared humanity and the need to take care of the world we live in. To learn more about Maëva, click the following links to visit her profile.