--- title: valerie carmet description: " French-American contemporary Pop Art assemblage artist " url: "https://www.artsume.com/a/valeriecarmet" type: artist createdAt: 2026-04-24 updatedAt: 2026-04-27 disciplines: - Pop Art - Mosaic Art - Multidisciplinary location: "Miami, FL, United States" website: "https://www.valeriecarmet.com" birthYear: 1967 --- # valerie carmet * French-American contemporary Pop Art assemblage artist | Pop Art, Mosaic Art, Multidisciplinary | Based in Miami, FL, United States* ## Artist Statement The ToyBox Collection is rooted in my fascination with childhood as both a place of innocence and a site of early social conditioning. I work with discarded and recycled plastic toys—objects that are universally recognizable and emotionally charged—to explore how play shapes identity, values, and power structures long before we are aware of them.My technique combines assemblage, Pop Art, and sculptural collage. Each piece begins with a precisely cut wooden silhouette—often referencing iconic symbols, characters, or cultural forms—which functions as both frame and constraint. Within this defined shape, I carefully compose hundreds of toys, arranging them by color, scale, and narrative tension. The process is meticulous and intuitive at once, balancing formal composition with emotional resonance.Stylistically, my work embraces the bold color, immediacy, and accessibility of Pop Art, while subverting its apparent lightness. Toys, meant to entertain and comfort, become vehicles for deeper commentary on gender roles, consumerism, violence, environmental damage, and mental health. What initially appears playful slowly reveals layers of meaning, inviting viewers to confront uncomfortable realities through familiar imagery.Sustainability is central to my practice. Many of the toys I use are collected from beaches, second-hand sources, or discarded belongings. By repurposing these objects, I give new life and significance to materials designed for obsolescence, reflecting on both environmental impact and emotional disposability. Ultimately, The ToyBox Collection is an invitation—to reconnect with memory, to question what we normalize through play, and to recognize that the stories we tell children often mirror the world we have created as adults. The work is intentionally seductive, because dialogue begins where attention lingers. ## Biography Valerie Carmet is a French-American Pop Art assemblage artist based in New York and Miami. Best known for The ToyBox Collection, she transforms discarded toys into three-dimensional works exploring memory, identity, and social issues. Using recovered plastics set into precise wooden silhouettes, her playful pieces address gender, sustainability, consumerism, violence, and mental health. Exhibited internationally and held in private collections. ## Curriculum Vitae ### Education - **2004** - Certificate, in Mosaic Art, The Mosaic Art School, Ravenna - **1989** - MBA, Ecole Supérieure du Commerce Exterieur (E.S.C.E), Paris ### Solo Exhibitions - **2017** - "Renaissance," Arc de Triomphe Paris - **2016** - "Solo Show," Martial Vivot Paris (Curated by French Wink) - **2008** - "Solo Exhibit," The Square East Gallery New York - **2003** - "Continental Mosaic," Washington Square Windows New York - **2001** - "Couleurs et Matières," Tribeca New York ### Group Exhibitions - **2025** - "Opening group show at ANIMA GALLERY," ANIMA GALLERY Athens - **2025** - "UPRISE: The art of resistance," Untitled Space Gallery New York - **2023** - "Showfields main window in Noho store for pride month," Showfields New York - **2022** - "Scope," Azart Gallery Miami - **2022** - "Chic Evolution Gallery," Chic Evolution Gallery Fort Lauderdale - **2021** - "Opening Chic Evolution Gallery," Chic Evolution Gallery Fort Lauderdale - **2021** - "Not so classic classics," Range of Art Gallery Honfleur - **2020** - "Art 4 Equality x Life & The pursuit of Happiness," Untitled Gallery New York - **2020** - "Art must go on," Gallery Range of Art Honfleur - **2019** - "Scope," Azart Gallery Miami - **2019** - "AAF New York City," Azart Gallery New York - **2019** - "Living the dream," Chic Evolution Gallery Atlanta - **2019** - "Group Show," Range of Art Gallery Honfleur - **2019** - "AAF London," Gallery Range of Arts London - **2019** - "Art up art fair," Gallery Range of Arts Lille - **2019** - "Les femmes," MX Galerie Montréal - **2018** - "Paris Artistes show," Arc de Triomphe Paris - **2018** - "Scope," Azart Gallery New York - **2018** - "Art Wynwood," Azart Gallery Miami - **2018** - "Group Show," The Untitled Space Tribeca - **2017** - "DiverCity," Emurj Gallery Barcelona - **2017** - "Paris Artistes 2017," Bastille Design Center Paris - **2017** - "POP-UP/POP-ART," Azart Gallery Chelsea (Curated by Latifa Metheny) - **2017** - "Art in Motion II," Anderson Contemporary New York - **2017** - "Art Wynwood Miami," Azart Gallery Miami - **2016** - "Art Basel Miami," Aqua/Azart Gallery Miami - **2016** - "Real/Fake," Anderson Contemporary Gallery New York - **2016** - "Wynwood Art Fair," K+Y Gallery Miami - **2016** - "LA Art Fair," K+Y Gallery Los Angeles - **2015** - "Art Basel Miami," Scope with K+Y Gallery Miami - **2015** - "Art Fair Istanbul," Envie d Art Gallery Istanbul - **2015** - "Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong," Envie d Art Gallery Hong Kong - **2015** - "Affordable Art Fair Singapore," Envie d Art Gallery Singapore - **2015** - "Affordable Art Fair New York City," Envie d Art Gallery New York - **2014** - "Young at Heart," FiDi Gallery New York - **2013** - "Group show," FiDi Gallery New York - **2005** - "Mosaic compass roses installation," Rockefeller Center Observation Deck New York - **2004** - "Mosaic Women," The Higgins Art Gallery Cape Cod - **2004** - "Mostly Mosaics," Gallery Nantucket Island - **2004** - "The Giving Tree," D.Y.C.D New York - **2003** - "Wall Installation," The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Fort Lauderdale - **1997** - "Group Installation," Anandamali Mosaic Gallery Tribeca ### Bibliography - **2024** - "Art Seen publication," *The curator's salon* Vol. Issue 14 - **2024** - "Create Magazine," *Create Magazine* Vol. issue #45 - **2024** - "Colors," *Arts to heart Magazine* - **2024** - "women: Inside and Outside," *Art to Hearts* - **2023** - "Feature," *Curious French Art Blog* - **2023** - "Interview," *French Quarter Magazine* - **2023** - "Women's Art Magazine," *Women's Art Magazine* Vol. Spring issue - **2022** - Eliza Ali, "Create! Magazine," *Create! Magazine* Vol. issue #30 - **2022** - "Profile," *Women United art Magazine* Vol. issue #1 - **2022** - "The Huts magazine," *The Huts magazine* - **2022** - "Art seen magazine," *Art seen magazine* Vol. winter issue - **2022** - "Calendar feature," *ArtCan* - **2017** - "Article - Valerie Carmet on Art and Inspiration," *Downtown magazine* - **2016** - "Real fake: The Art, Life and Crimes of Elmyr de Hory," *Documentary* - **2016** - "JoQuz Highly gifted network," *JoQuz Highly gifted network* Vol. Magazine April issue - **2016** - "FavHouse.com," *FavHouse.com* - **2015** - "Jornal Do DF Brasil," *Jornal Do DF Brasil* - **2013** - "Article - Valerie Carmet artist based in Tribeca," *Tribeca Citizen* Vol. May issue - **2004** - Sonia King, "Mosaic: Techniques and Traditions," *Sonia King's book* - **2004** - "NBC Dateline: Show - The last hours of Jesus," *NBC Dateline* - **2001** - "Elle Decor – Trend Alert section – le coq des Prairies," *Elle Decor* ### Professional Experience - **2007** - Instructor, School Project at Manorhaven Elementary School, Port Washington - **2004 - 2005** - Instructor, The Learning Annex, New York - **2004** - Workshop Instructor and Artist, Children's Museum of Art, New York - **2003 - 2006** - Instructor, Beacon Program-University Settlement, Lower East Side - **2003 - 2007** - Instructor, PS 234, Public School in Tribeca, Tribeca - **2002 - 2003** - Instructor, Washington Market School, Tribeca - **1997 - 1999** - Exclusive Artist, Anandamali Gallery, New York ### Gallery Representation - Anandamali Mosaic Gallery, New York - Anderson Contemporary, New York, (Current) - ANIMA GALLERY, Athens, (Current) - Azart Gallery, New York, (Current) - Chic Evolution Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, (Current) - Emurj Gallery, Barcelona - FiDi Gallery, New York, (Current) - K+Y Gallery, Los Angeles, (Current) - Maison 24 Pop Art Gallery, New York - Martial Vivot, Paris - MX Galerie, Montréal - Range of Art Gallery, Lille, (Current) - The Square East Gallery, New York - Untitled Space Gallery, New York, (Current) ## Portfolio ### What's love got to do with it (2026) *Mixed media: wood, Plexi, recycled and vintage Barbie and Ken dolls toys, Paint, Led lights* *60x 42 x 7* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled Barbie and Ken dolls with LED lights framed in a 3D lacquered white wood frame and plexiglass front protector --- ### Good Boy Gone Bad (2025) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi recycled and vintage Plush Snoopy and Woodstock toys, Paint* *60 x 30 x 7* Multiple unique vintage, plush dolls framed in a 3D lacquered white wood frame and plexiglass front protector --- ### Twisted (2024) *Mixed media: wood, Half moon Plexi, recycled and vintage toys, Paint* *61" x 51" x 4"* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled figurines in a 3D half moon Plexi and in a lacquered white aluminum frame. --- ### Welcome to Miami (2024) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi , recycled and vintage sand toys, Paint* *70 x 60 x 5.5* Spray paint, glitter vinyl, multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled beach toys framed in a 3D lacquered white wood frame and plexiglass front protector. --- ### "America: Let's play over the rainbow" (2024) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi recycled and vintage Pez toys, Paint* *60 x 36 x 4* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled PEZ figurines framed in a 3D lacquered white wood flag frame and plexiglass front protector. --- ### Gotta Ketchum All! (2023) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi ,recycled and vintage Pokemon toys, Paint* *25" x 25" x 4"* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled Pokémon figurines in a 3D lacquered white wood frame and plexiglass front protector. --- ### Pride is Freedom (2023) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi recycled and vintage Pez toys, Paint* *37 x 23 x 4* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled PEZ figurines framed in a 3D lacquered white wood frame and plexiglass front protector. --- ### Dirty Mr Potato (2022) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi, recycled and vintage Mr and Mrs potato toys, Paint* *36" x 25" x 5"* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head figurines in a 3D lacquered white wood frame and plexiglass front protector. --- ### Luke, I am your father (2022) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi , recycled and vintage Lego dark vaders, toys, Paint, glitter vinyl* *60 x 36 x 4* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled Lego Star Wars figurines framed in a 3D lacquered white wood frame and plexiglass front protector. --- ### Emmanuelle (2018) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi, recycled and vintage Happy meals miniature barbiestoys, Paint* *24" x 13.5" x 4"* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled Barbie dolls from the 90"s in a 3D lacquered white wood frame and plexiglass front protector. --- ### Caddy (2017) *Mixed media: wood, Plexi , recycled and vintage Match box cars toys, toys, Paint, glitter vinyl* *31 " x 14" x 4"* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled toy cars framed in a 3D lacquered white wood frame and plexiglass front protector. --- ### Girl'z Play Pez (2017) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi recycled and vintage Pez toys, Paint* *36" x 13.5" x 4"* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled PEZ figurines framed in a 3D lacquered white wood frame and plexiglass front protector. --- ### Boy'z Play Pez (2017) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi recycled and vintage Pez toys, Paint* *36" x 13.5" x 4"* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled PEZ figurines framed in a 3D lacquered white wood frame and plexiglass front protector. --- ### Keep it under control (2016) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi recycled and vintage metal and plastic guns toys, Paint* *16" x 16 " x 4 "* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled plastic and metal toy guns framed in a 3D lacquered white wood frame with a plexiglass protector. --- ### May the force be with you (2016) *Mixed media: wood,Plexi , recycled and vintage Lego storm troopers toys, Paint* *60" x 36" x 4"* Multiple unique vintage, collectible and/or recycled Lego Star Wars figurines framed in a 3D lacquered black wood frame and plexiglass front protector. ## Links - **Website:** https://www.valeriecarmet.com - **instagram:** https://instagram.com/valeriecarmet_studio