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 49 Checked Out Why is hotel art so boring? Arts & Culture Issue 49 Cult Rooms The history—and future—of Luna Luna Park. Arts & Culture Issue 49 Last Night What did gallerist Selma Modéer Wiking do with her evening? Arts & Culture Issue 47 Thanks, I Hate It How to give feedback to art friends. Arts & Culture Issue 46 Puff Piece On inflatable art. Arts & Culture Issue 44 Hannah Traore The art world's next big thing is a gallerist.
