The prismatic landscapes of French artist Isabelle Guillet-Bouloc, also known as ZiB, are a triumph of synaesthesia. Large orange suns evoke the crisp scent of marine water, exotic birds conjure up visions of warm equatorial lands, while palm trees standing against pristine cerulean skies make us want to dig our hands into the grains of a sandy beach. The sensory inebriation of Guillet-Bouloc’s paintings is all the more powerful as she distills fragments of her life and weaves them into opulent motley tapestries. There are memories of her summers spent by Brittany’s shores with her grandparents, reflected in the gray and emerald green tones of the Atlantic ocean. There is the Mediterranean sea with its shimmering silvery glow and there is Africa, where Guillet-Bouloc spent seven years absorbing the vibrant colors of textiles and local architecture. A consummate musician, Guillet-Bouloc artfully orchestrates all these elements into a cohesive harmonious melody, a true feast for the senses.

Based in Southern France, Guillet-Bouloc graduated from the music conservatory of Toulon. Also in France, she received painting instruction at Ecole Martenot in Orange and studied under a professional painter for a year in Laudun. Before devoting herself entirely to art, Guillet-Bouloc was a professional singer and pianist and worked as a balloon twister for private events.