Artist statement
Excess, joy, freedom; this is what defines Magali Thibault Gobeil's creative process. A tireless artist, she creates pieces characterized by their round and sinuous shapes, bright colours and exuberant style. Her works appeal to touch and reveal a distinct materiality. Bright, soft or rigid, they emerge instinctively, and are often reminiscent of candy or splashes.
In this "fête-à-porter", material exploration is never conducted undeliberately. The studio becomes a playground, an eternal testing bed where colours spurt out and blend together. Made with synthetic and pigmented materials, Magali Thibault Gobeil's jewellery objects are shaped through a lively and spontaneous gesture. The softness and brilliance of textures prevail, resulting in a nearly psychedelic result.
For the artist, the work must be self-sufficient and infuse a resolutely playful essence. Magali fully assumes a good-natured spirit, and likes to believe that her pieces can bring a little joy to those who wear them or admire them. Her joy of making invariably extends to the exhibition space, where the display becomes a mise en scène defined by excess and a gentle madness. Because presenting jewellery is not enough, it must be a celebration!
Biography
A 2013 graduate of the École de joaillerie de Montréal, Magali Thibault Gobeil pursues a career in which research and the exuberance of form are at the core of her practice. Soon after her graduation, her work was noticed and gained recognition both in Canada and abroad. She was a finalist at the Niche Student Awards (United States) in 2013 and at the Arts and Craft Awards (Croatia) in 2014. More recently, she received the prestigious François-Houdé Prize (2017), awarded by the City of Montreal in collaboration with the Conseil des métiers d'art du Québec.
A tireless researcher, Magali never stops learning, conjugating workshops and master classes. She also teaches at the École de joaillerie de Montréal as well as in various venues throughout the city, sharing her expertise in the use of resins and Plexiglas. Her art jewellery work has been presented both nationally and internationally. In recent years, Magali took part in numerous exhibitions including SOFA Chicago (United States), Parcours Bijoux (France), The Canadian Craft Biennial (Canada), Joya (Spain), Autor (Romania), Art + Jewelry: Intersecting Spaces (Benaki Museum, Greece) and La Guilde (Montreal). Her work is currently represented by L.A. Pai Gallery (Ottawa) and Noel Guyomarc'h Gallery (Montreal).
See her curriculum vitae.
