Magnet Painting

Isabelle Gougenheim was born in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, the town where the name America first appeared on a map. Surrounded by symbols, geography, and reused materials, she developed an early interest in storytelling through form and texture. These roots continue to shape her artistic practice. After earning a Master’s in Fine Art and Ethnology in Strasbourg, she spent six months living with Berber tribes in Morocco. Immersed in their culture, she discovered a new visual language and deepened her connection to craft and material. Now based in Chicago, Isabelle blends painting, sewing, and collage to create vibrant, layered works. She works mainly on unprimed canvas, combining bold colors, found objects, and tactile elements. Her pieces reflect the rhythm of daily life, shaped by urban noise and moments of introspection. Through texture, color, and movement, each work invites viewers to enter a visual world that is personal and poetic. Isabelle is recognized as one of today's finest emerging artists by publishers such as Saatchi Art and AFA Publishing. She has held recent solo exhibitions in Colmar, France, as well as in Chicago. She is represented by galleries across Europe and the US.