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Camille Walala

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Camille Walala
Walala in 2021
Born
Camille Vic-Dupont

August 1975 (age 48–49)
Piégon, France
Alma materUniversity of Brighton
Years active2009–present
PartnerJulia Jomaa[1]

Camille Vic-Dupont (born August 1975), known professionally as Camille Walala, is a French multi-disciplinary designer based in East London.[2] She is known for her life-size murals and installations[3] and her Memphis Group-inspired patterns.[4]

Early life and education

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Walala grew up in Piégon, a small village in the South of France, where her mother ran a B&B. Her father, an architect, moved to Paris after they divorced.[5][6] Walala struggled at school due to her dyslexia and felt her eccentric style was judged.[7][8]

In 1997, her father encouraged her to spend the summer in London to improve her English skills. Although initially reluctant, Walala loved it and returned to London in 1999 after completing her French Literature degree.[9] During her 20s, she worked in hospitality while experimenting with potential career paths.[10] She started taking drawing and pottery classes. As suggested by a teacher, Walala studied Textile Design at the University of Brighton, graduating in 2009.[11][12]

Career

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After graduating from university in 2009, Walala established her brand Studio Walala in Hackney, East London.[2]

In 2017, Walala was invited by NOW Gallery in South London to create an interactive, life size installation, for which the studio created an immersive so-called "temple of wonder".[13]

In 2020, as one of the highlights of the inaugural London Mural Festival, Walala transformed Adams Plaza Bridge at Canary Wharf Crossrail station, London, into a piece of creative art. The bridge is decorated with colourful geometric shapes and patterns, and plays with the long perspective of the tunnel. The bridge is now a permanent part of award-winning public art collection at Canary Wharf Art Trail, and visitors can enjoy its beauty all year round.[14][15]

In 2021, during a period of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Walala reimagined the Design Museum shop as a grocery store, selling essential products re-designed by emerging artists such as Kentaro Okawara, Joey Yu, Isadora Lima and Michaela Yearwood-Dan.[16]

Selected work

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References

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  1. ^ Crook, Lizzie (23 November 2020). "Camille Walala shares colourful vision to make Oxford Street a car-free shopping district". Dezeen. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b "On my radar: Camille Walala's cultural highlights". the Guardian. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  3. ^ Love, Emma (10 September 2016). "Tenant's extras: Camille Walala's dazzling interiors". the Guardian. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b Heathcote, Edwin (13 September 2019). "The triumphant return of postmodernism". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  5. ^ Law, Katie (14 September 2017). "Camille Walala: Queen of the castle". Evening Standard. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Camille Walala on hard work, perseverance and why it's important to paint your name as big as possible". Creative Boom. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  7. ^ Bartholomew, Emma (21 September 2017). "Designer Camille Walala: 'Hackney's eccentricity gave me a freedom I didn't have in France'". Hackney Gazette. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  8. ^ Skidmore, Maisie (10 September 2015). "Workwear: mural artist Camille Walala walks us through her wardrobe". It's Nice That. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  9. ^ Raphael, Amy (11 September 2019). "Paint the town: Camille Walala". Brummell. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  10. ^ Feagins, Lucy (14 March 2014). "Camille Walala". The Design Files. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Camille Walala Story | Moleskine". www.moleskine.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  12. ^ Amati, Lizzie (13 July 2017). "Camille Walala's maze is a riotous temple of colour and pattern". University of Brighton. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Eyes On: Camille Walala". Wonderland. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  14. ^ Captivated by Colour: Camille Walala Reimagines Adams Plaza Bridge, Canary Wharf – 21.08.20 Canary Wharf Group plc. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  15. ^ Camille Walala: Captivated By Colour Canary Wharf Art Trail. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  16. ^ "The Design Museum and Camille Walala open supermarket for redesigned essentials". Design Week. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  17. ^ Camille Walala: Captivated By ColourCanary Wharf Art Trail. Canary Wharf Group. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  18. ^ "WALALA X PLAY – NOW Gallery". nowgallery.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Camille Walala: Captivated By Colour". Canary Wharf Group. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Camille Walala decorates "kids' dream house" with more than two million Lego pieces". Dezeen. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Camille Walala curates Supermarket food store at the Design Museum". Dezeen. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Camille Walala designs the poster for the 56th Montreux Jazz Festival". montreuxjazzfestival. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
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