Bio
Valerie Carmet is a French-American Pop Art assemblage artist and art educator based between Miami and NYC. Born in France, she moved to the United States in 1989 and began working in the New York’s fashion scene. Her mathematical instincts and her skills led her to start her artistic path in 1995, focusing on the creation of intricate mosaics.
In 1998, she refined her skills at the Anandamali Studio in New York City where she created several mosaic murals and picassiette furniture. In 2004, she further developed her artistic talents by graduating from The Mosaic Art School in Italy. Valerie has shared her expertise by teaching in several art programs in NYC public schools, and in 2004 she was selected to be part of the Children’s Museum of Art workshops, where she continues to inspire young minds through the world of art.
In 2013, Valerie Carmet began her signature series, the ToyBox Collection, consisting of complex and meticulous sculptures made of recycled toys. What started as a way to upcycle her children’s abandoned toys, has since evolved into a method for repurposing discarded toys . She sources some of her material by collecting lost plastic toys from Miami beaches where she has resided since 2020.
In the tradition of Dada and Pop art, the ToyBox Collection explores the boundary between art and everyday life. Valerie Carmet imbues supposedly innocent toys with new significance, transforming them into provocative and mischievous artworks.
Using collective imagery linked to the formative years of our childhood, Valerie Carmet’s artworks divulge their depth upon closer inspection. Playfully addressing sensitive and controversial issues such as overconsumption, body representation, gun violence, war, gender equality, mental health and sexual freedom, the artist creates engaging and thought-provoking pieces.
Over the past 20 years, Valerie Carmet has exhibited her work in group shows and major art fairs worldwide. She is represented by galleries in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America.
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