Join us at the Open Studio to meet artist-in-residence, Vanessa Brown. Over the course of her L’AiR Arts residency at Atelier 11, Brown will develop a body of work that brings together representations of Hygieia and contemporary forms of votives.
Public hours: 4 pm - 8 pm, Friday, October 23, 2026
For professional visits on other days, please schedule an appointment.
Atelier 11 Cité Falguière, 75015 Paris
Public hours: 4 pm - 8 pm, Friday, October 23, 2026
For professional visits on other days, please schedule an appointment.
Atelier 11 Cité Falguière, 75015 Paris
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In the 3rd century CE, the ailing and sick on the Greek island of Paros were said to experience dreams in which Hygieia, the goddess of health, cleanliness, and sanitation, appeared to offer purification and healing. In sanctuaries across the island, votive offerings in the form of braided hair were draped over her statues alongside expensive imported textiles, given either in gratitude for restored health or as prayers for longevity. The word hygiene, the practice (or ritual) of maintaining health and well-being, derives from Hygieia's name. In the Greek pantheon, Hygieia was the daughter of Asclepius, the god of medicine. His serpent-entwined staff is used today as the modern symbol of the pharmacy.
As an artist whose research is centred on votive objects, the body, healing, ritual, and garments, Brown is interested in turning her attention towards the symbols and visual language of pharmacology. During her time at Atelier 11, she will develop a body of work that brings together representations of Hygieia and contemporary votive forms made from coloured glass, using soldering techniques traditionally associated with stained-glass construction. Brown first explored this process in 2022 while creating Inheritances, a work that introduced many of the formal and conceptual concerns she will expand upon during the residency. The Louvre Museum holds both a relief and a bust of Hygieia in its collection. During the residency, she will photograph these sculptures from the Louvre’s collection as the primary source for this project.
As an artist whose research is centred on votive objects, the body, healing, ritual, and garments, Brown is interested in turning her attention towards the symbols and visual language of pharmacology. During her time at Atelier 11, she will develop a body of work that brings together representations of Hygieia and contemporary votive forms made from coloured glass, using soldering techniques traditionally associated with stained-glass construction. Brown first explored this process in 2022 while creating Inheritances, a work that introduced many of the formal and conceptual concerns she will expand upon during the residency. The Louvre Museum holds both a relief and a bust of Hygieia in its collection. During the residency, she will photograph these sculptures from the Louvre’s collection as the primary source for this project.
Vanessa Brown
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Vanessa Brown (Canada / Luxembourg) works in sculpture, video, and installation. Her practice involves transmitting her subjective experiences through specific materials, particularly those with rich histories such as metal and glass, that offer a hands-on relationship to craft. Informed by research, Brown creates work that reconsiders historical uses of these materials to create new unanticipated affiliations, thereby pushing the boundaries of their traditional uses.
Her practice is centered on the body—its presence, needs, and sensory experiences in space—explored through the lenses of clothing, adornment, and tactility. Recent projects investigate how grief, ritual, and transcendence manifest in material culture and architecture, weaving elements of healing, protection, and craft to evoke presence, care, and awe. |
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We gratefully acknowledge Kultur | lx - Arts Council Luxembourg, whose support has made this residency and event possible.
L’AiR Arts takes pride in the diverse origins of our residents and the variety of perspectives they bring to Atelier 11. While we do not take responsibility for the personal opinions expressed by participants, we remain dedicated to an inclusive environment where all hosts, residents, and guests are treated with respect.
