Can a single space be, at the same time, a home, a workshop, and a cre

Can a single space be, at the same time, a home, a workshop, and a creative refuge?

For artist and designer Magali Cariguel, the answer is a resounding yes. In her apartment-studio in Paris, the kitchen becomes the heart of the project: a functional, luminous, and purposeful center that engages with her mural work, her illustrations, and her way of living.

With a style ranging from graphic minimalism to the emotional expression of painting, Magali explores the beauty of the essential and the warmth of the handmade. Her artistic practice, which spans installations at the Palais de Tokyo, participatory works in local communities, and projects with a wide variety of brands, finds an echo in every corner of her home.

In this conversation, she talks about her creative journey, the importance of light, her intuitive approach to color, and how a kitchen can also be a statement of artistic identity.

About your artistic journey
You've had a very varied career path, encompassing painting, illustration, and art direction. What led you to mural art and mural paintings?
I started doing mural art during a trip, when I was asked to paint murals, mainly in associations where I began creating participatory projects. So it was quite natural for me to start working on large formats.
How does your work as a graphic designer influence your approach as a painter, and vice versa?
Today I work both in my studio and in my apartment, as a graphic designer and as a painter. But these two practices influence and feed off each other in a very natural way.
As a designer, I try to propose minimalist ideas, focusing on the essentials, creating projects that are both functional and aesthetically beautiful. This also leads me to incorporate illustrations into my graphic design projects.
And as a painter, it's very similar. I always try to get to the essence, to represent simple forms, with a limited color palette: a lot of black, beige, orange, or gold. My graphic projects are also enriched with emotions, both for me and for those who view them.
Your creations are often populated by dreamlike figures, animals, and feminine silhouettes. What are your main sources of inspiration?
My recurring motifs are dreamlike characters and animals. I draw a lot of inspiration from nature, from the association of shapes and colors, and from many artists who have influenced me both through their practice and their career paths.

Your living and working space
You live in an apartment where the kitchen, bed, and living room share the same open space. How does this layout affect your daily life?
I designed this apartment so I could paint, live, and work in it. That's why, when I was designing it, I completely rethought the space, opening it up as much as possible, letting in all the light, and using highly functional materials.
Previously, the kitchen was a small, separate room, where the bed is now. So I decided to move it to the center of the studio and make it the main space.
What is essential for you in a living space? How do you organize it to be both stimulating and relaxing?
My intention was to create a welcoming space, almost like a refuge, but also stimulating. That's why I wanted to play with the contrast between very raw materials—like concrete, metal, or glass—and warmer, more comforting ones, like wood, which is present in the kitchen and the window structure.
How does your interior reflect your artistic approach? Are there objects, colors, or materials that appear both in your artwork and in your apartment?
From a young age, I was very connected to the world of cooking, as my father owned an interior design store. I quickly understood that the kitchen was the heart of the home, the place where everything happened, where most of the day was spent.
I chose raw materials to recreate the feeling of being in my workshop. The idea was also to make many things myself, with the help of my family, and create a beautiful space, but in an economical way.

About your CUBRO kitchen
What attracted you to the CUBRO kitchen? Was it the design, the modularity, the materials...?
I chose CUBRO because I wanted to add a retro touch to the apartment, to bring back some of the spirit of the 70s. CUBRO offered Cherry WOOD models with round handles that seemed like a nod to retro style, but at the same time elegant, minimalist and bright.
Your kitchen is very prominent in the space. How did you plan its integration into the surroundings?
I wanted the kitchen to be the heart of the studio, the main space, with as much light as possible and functional materials. Light is essential to me, so the whole space revolves around it.
How, in your opinion, can a well-designed kitchen improve daily life, especially when you live, work, and create in the same place?
I tried to make everything as functional as possible and to reflect my artistic practice: using only what is necessary, keeping only the essentials, without excess of things.

Finally, regarding your current situation
Can you tell us about a project you're currently excited about—an exhibition, a mural, an upcoming collaboration?
I currently have several projects underway, including murals in apartments and some interior design projects. I also just finished a photographic installation for a wall during the Melvin Edwards exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo, which is currently taking place.
Where can people discover or follow your work right now?
I hope to continue my training in interior design and architecture soon.