Nathalie Picoulet
Works of the artist
Nathalie Picoulet
Biography
Master Pastel Artist
“Beauty will save the world.”
Born on June 18, 1968, in Amiens, France, Nathalie Picoulet showed an early fascination with drawing, influenced in particular by her Italian heritage and the Renaissance masters. She pursued her studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Amiens from 1987, then enrolled at the Higher School of Art and Design in the same city in 1991.
It was in the early 1990s that she discovered pastels, a medium she adopted to begin her professional career as a portrait artist. Before dedicating herself fully to the female nude, she explored landscapes, seascapes, and still lifes with great sensitivity. What truly distinguishes Nathalie Picoulet is her exceptional sense of color and her unparalleled mastery of nuances. This chromatic subtlety, almost alchemical, transforms her nudes into veritable visual poems, where light seems to emanate from within the work itself.
In 2004, the French Pastel Society recognized her unique talent and invited her as a guest of honor to its Parisian exhibition. The following year, in 2005, its president, Jean-Pierre Mérat, awarded her the prestigious title of Master Pastel Artist. Since then, her work has garnered international acclaim: collaborations with galleries in the United States, England, the Netherlands, and China (where she notably inaugurated the first Shanghai Pastel Festival).
His recognition has grown over the years with numerous awards:
• 2005: Master Pastel Artist Title – French Pastel Society
• 2018: 1st Prize at the Art Capital Exhibition (pastel section) – Grand Palais, Paris
• 2022: Grand Prize at the Drawing and Watercolor Exhibition – Grand Palais Éphémère, Paris
• 2022: Akoun Guide’s Favorite (official rating)
• 2025: Grand Jury Prize at the “Pastel Artists – 30th Edition” Exhibition of the Pastel Society of Canada