The Fantasyland of Nathalie Lété

French artist and designer, Nathalie Lété, has become a success. She started as an artist, painting what came into her head and what pleased her. Her art has been described as both naive and sophisticated, and really it is both. Her exuberant flora and fauna images, along with themes from fairytales suggest a world that really isn't, but should be. The business came slowly, her art just naturally lent itself to objects and eventually she found herself producing ceramics, fabric, wallpaper, coasters, trays, pillows, rugs, clothing, and on and on. Some items are still handmade, while others are mass produced.

Tray by Nathalie Lété

Nathalie's studio, in the Paris suburb Ivry Sur Seine, is full of interesting oddities and assorted projects in various stages of completion. There is plenty of space for her to create. The trick, she says, is to stay an artist while keeping a balance with the business demands.

Original painting by Nathalie Lété

She has opened a showroom in a commercial building in the center of Paris. The space is set up like an imagery pied-à-terre. (Actually, it becomes quite real when she occasionally offers the space to out-of-town guests.) The unusual space includes a rather unique bed-loft as well as a custom-carved tree trunk and furniture. One wall is covered in her handmade tiles and her products are scattered throughout the space.

One of her more popular items are the silk scarves. In New York, the scarves are available at John Derian, which seems like a natural fit.

Nathalie, born in 1964, is married and the mother of two children. She was born in France to a German mother and a Chinese father. Her inspiration, she says, comes from the stories her mother would tell her, but also from American folklore, the British Bloomsbury group, and her own dreams: "I just do things that I want to see around me."

Wallpaper by Nathalie Lété

Nathalie also has an affinity for meat. Here you see one of her "Meat" rugs. If you look closely, the meat hanging in the display boucherie are actually her meat people.

Nathalie's latest book is now available.