A few years ago, Fabienne Verdier dislocated her shoulder trying to carry a paintbrush so heavy she couldn’t move it around without hurting herself. “It was because of all my crazy experiments, I didn’t pay enough attention,” she says with a mischievous giggle. What kind of paintbrush can put a shoulder out? Verdier invented it. The 57-year-old artist, who spent 10 years learning the art of calligraphy from old masters in China, works with an unusual set of oversized devices inspired by the traditional Chinese brush. They are giant, handleless brushes made from up to 25 horsetails and capable of holding over 25 gallons of paint. Verdier suspends them from the ceiling of her studio in Le Vexin, an hour north of This story is from Kinfolk Issue Thirty-One Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 51 Emily Gernild The Danish painter breathing new life into an old medium. Arts & Culture Food Issue 51 Imogen Kwok The artist takes food styling quite literally, creating accessories out of fruits and vegetables. Arts & Culture Issue 50 Close Knit Meet the weavers keeping traditional Egyptian tapestry-making alive. Arts & Culture Issue 50 New Roots The Palestinian agriculture collective sowing seeds of community. Arts & Culture Issue 49 Checked Out Why is hotel art so boring? Arts & Culture Issue 49 Cult Rooms The history—and future—of Luna Luna Park.
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