Marion
Galtier

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

I am in the 11th disctrict in Paris, quartier Paul Bert a famous one.
I was lucky enough to find an incredible apartment right across from my studio and showroom. I couldn’t dream of anything better than living fully immersed in my own neighbourhood.

Where is your studio located & how does it look?

Between office & showroom that i am sharing with 2 others creative : one set designer & one photographer,  perfect place, such an inspiration.

Are there any projects that are personally important to you—whether recently completed or currently in progress?

I’m currently finalizing the curation of a beautiful boutique hotel in Le Puy-en-Velay, where I’m placing my lamps alongside works by other artists. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring these spaces to life with unique, soulful pieces.

Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

I love lingering on Parisian café terraces, sipping coffee throughout the day. It’s my favourite way to take breaks from work, just sitting back and watching the world go by from my chair. There’s something almost meditative about it.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

A few things concern me, like the gentrification of Paris, which is making it harder for independent artists and craftspeople to live and work in the city. The environmental crisis also feels very urgent to me, which is actually one of the reasons I work with second-hand materials.

But honestly, there are no major political issues that directly prevent me from doing what I love. In France, we still have the freedom to create a small business, however modest it may be, and I think that’s something to be genuinely grateful for. Being able to build something with your own hands, on your own terms, that’s a real privilege.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years, and what has not?

What has genuinely evolved is the awareness around sustainable interiors. People are much more conscious now about what they bring into their homes, they ask where things come from, how they’re made, whether they’ll last. The second-hand and upcycling market has grown enormously, and I think that’s a real shift in mindset, not just a trend.

What hasn’t changed enough, though, is the fast-decoration industry. Big retailers still flood the market with cheap, disposable pieces that end up in landfill within a few years. There’s still a long way to go before slow, thoughtful decorating becomes truly mainstream.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers—whether arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

There are so many talented makers all across France, working with different materials and mediums and bringing them back to life in the most beautiful ways.

A few I truly love: Amélie Patry, a ceramicist based in the Loire valley; Audrey Guimard, a sculptor working in the Drôme; Alexandra Denat, who creates stunning glass pieces in Paris; and Romie Objetti, also in Paris, who works with wood in a really poetic way.

They’re all doing something deeply meaningful, taking traditional crafts and making them feel completely contemporary.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

Paris feels endlessly innovative to me, and what I find most exciting is how different worlds are colliding right now.

The creative scene is incredibly alive, new independent gallery spaces and artist studios keep emerging, often in unexpected neighbourhoods, making art much more accessible than it used to be.

At the same time, the second-hand and vintage market has completely transformed. It’s no longer about dusty flea markets, there are now beautifully curated shops and platforms where you can find extraordinary pieces. That shift has been huge for someone like me.

And on an urban level, I’m genuinely inspired by how Paris is reinventing its architecture and public spaces with sustainability in mind, old industrial buildings being reimagined, green spaces multiplying, the city breathing differently.

Compared to other places I’ve visited, Paris has this rare ability to honour its history while constantly reinventing itself. That tension between the old and the new is exactly what drives my own work.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

Delicious restaurants near my place using local produce:

– Adar (caterer, 11th arrondissement)
– Au petit Panisse (11th arrondissement)
– A la Renaissance (11th arrondissement)

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

There are some wonderful local shops and pop-ups that keep emerging in Paris, showcasing makers and designers you really can’t find anywhere else.

Two I particularly love: La Bonne Pioche, a carefully curated selection of Parisian creators, and Entremains, which focuses on vintage fashion with a real eye for quality and character.

What I enjoy most about these spaces is that they’re alive, they evolve, they surprise you, and they give independent creators a place to exist outside of the internet. That sense of discovery is something you can only really experience locally.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

– Instagram to discover new places & artists everyday
– Spotify to enjoy music all along my day
– France culture for infos

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

Le monde
Mediapart
Society

Imagine you could be mayor for a year—what would you change?

If I were mayor for a year, I’d focus on three things that are deeply connected.

First, I would create more affordable spaces for artists and creative people, workshops, studios, shared ateliers, because Paris is slowly losing the people who give it its character. When makers can no longer afford to live and work here, the city loses its soul.

I would also push hard to reduce cars and noise pollution. Paris deserves to breathe. Quieter streets, more cycling paths, less traffic, it changes the entire quality of life and the way people relate to their city.

And hand in hand with that, I would multiply green spaces, more parks, more trees, more urban gardens. A city that is alive with nature is a city where creativity flourishes naturally.

Ultimately, I believe a more human, greener, and more artist-friendly Paris would be a happier Paris for everyone.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live—regardless of financial or time constraints—which one would you choose?

That’s the eternal question for me! So many places call to me, especially anywhere near the sea or the ocean. But the truth is, culture in France is very much centralised in Paris, and as a creator, that’s hard to ignore.

So my ideal would be to live between two worlds, Paris and the Mediterranean. The South is my native region, and cities like Hyères and Marseille have a creative energy that is truly underrated. They’re vibrant, raw, sun-drenched, and the artistic scene there is growing in a really exciting way.

I think that balance between the cultural pulse of Paris and the freedom you feel by the sea would be the perfect combination for me.