Life & Work with Violet Maimbourg of Kent, OH

Today we’d like to introduce you to Violet Maimbourg.

Hi Violet, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was in middle school, I started a YouTube tutorial series on how to build movie props, which started my journey into my love for sculpture. I’ve always loved using my hands and tools to make things, but over the years, my skills improved and my audience grew. By high school, making YouTube videos was my part-time job.
In high school, I used my camera skills to create music videos for small local artists in Cleveland, which inspired me to go to film school in New York City. During my time in New York, I developed a substance use disorder, which led me to go to rehab in 2016. I decided to leave film school and move back to Cleveland, my hometown.
I spent a few years doing some soul searching and decided I wanted to finish my bachelor’s degree. I applied to Cleveland Institute of Art in both Photo/Video and Sculpture. I ultimately decided to choose sculpture because I knew it would be more challenging for me. I ended up falling in love with sculpture and really focusing on learning everything I could from the studio technicians and the professors. After receiving my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in Sculpture + Expanded Media in 2021, I worked in Fabrication Studios at Cleveland Insitute of Art. My time working there gave me so many more skills and techniques that inspired me to attend graduate school to attain my Master’s in Fine Arts so that I can eventually become a professor and inspire others like me. I absolutely love teaching and hope to continue after graduating.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Haha, no. Drug addiction, mental illness struggles, psychiatric hospital stays, relationships falling apart, a worldwide pandemic, and transitioning to the opposite sex have all contributed to my success and resilience.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Jane of all trades. I am mostly known for my sculptural work, but I consider myself an interdisciplinary artist. I still love to make music videos when I have a degree of creative freedom. I directed a fashion film where I modeled some statement pieces from my collection of vintage clothing.
I would say I am widely known for my use of severed limbs and body horror within my work. I like to mold and cast my own body to use in my artwork. During my time in graduate school, my work has evolved into maximalist carnival aesthetic sculptures focusing on themes of heartbreak, love, and learning to accept my mental illness diagnosis.
This past summer, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to create a permanent steel sculpture for the healing garden at University Hospitals in Ravenna.
Everyone tells me that I work very fast and have a good work ethic. When I feel inspired to create a new piece of art, I can see the finished piece in my head, so the process is quick to come together simply because I’ve technically made all of these small decisions already, it’s just a paint my numbers.
My drive and passion are things that definitely set me apart from others. I don’t think I’ve ever been as dedicated to something in my whole life. I am always so excited and curious about learning new things and incorporating them into my art, and I have a relentless drive to improve.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory would always be going to the Great Lakes Science Center. I always loved the interactivity of the museum, allowing visitors to actually touch things and learn new things.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.violetmaimbourg.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violetmaimbourg/