Why “Still life”?

My name is Lucile Chaurin Ablanedo. I was born and raised in Tours, France, and hold a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris. I now live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with my husband and our two daughters, and work from my cozy studio near Harvard Square.

I’ve always been deeply passionate about painting still lifes. Why? Because a still life doesn’t move—it offers a sense of control and calm. I can arrange the elements—fruits, plates, flowers—just as I envision them. This stillness gives me the space and time to reflect, to dream, to draw, and to quietly explore composition, color, textures. It allows me to work slowly and deliberately, layering brushstrokes until my vision comes to life.

My work is rooted in the rich history of painting, blending the classical European tradition of still life with contemporary textures and abstract surfaces. I strive to create a dialogue between the old and the new.

To me, still life painting is more than a genre—it’s a way to connect emotionally with the world around us. It’s a celebration of the seasons, of everyday beauty, and of the quiet poetry found in ordinary objects.

Why “Factory”?

At the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, I was part of a small group of students who shared a deep interest in still life painting. One day, as our teacher and mentor Pierre Carron watched us at work, he said we should start “une usine à natures mortes”—a still life factory! That playful remark stayed with me, and today, the name of my online gallery is a tribute to the great master he was.

The word “factory” evokes energy, consistency, and the joy of making—offering a wide and ever-evolving selection of pieces. But unlike factory-made objects, each painting is entirely original and unique, crafted with care and intention. Each still life tells its own quiet story.