French artist Sophie Lécuyer crafts worlds that exist in the in-between—spaces where the real and the surreal merge, where shadow and light tell stories without a single word. Her black-and-white series, a striking departure from color-driven narratives, leans into the ghostly, the poetic, and the hypnotic. It is as much about texture as it is about absence, creating an atmosphere that lingers long after viewing.
Lécuyer, a graduate of the École Supérieure d’Art in Epinal, works primarily in illustration and printmaking. Her haunting aesthetic recalls early photographic experiments and silent film stills, yet remains deeply contemporary. The monochromatic series strips away distraction, pulling the viewer into a stark, dreamlike world. Shadows become actors, and negative space feels alive. “I like to work with what is not shown,” Lécuyer has said in interviews. “The mystery in the gaps is just as important as the image itself.”
The works evoke a sense of suspended time—figures, sometimes faceless, dissolve into landscapes or are consumed by encroaching darkness. Her pieces often feature flowing fabrics, obscured identities, and surreal compositions that hint at the subconscious. It’s the kind of imagery that could belong in the pages of AnOther Magazine or the moodboards of designers who appreciate the tension between concealment and revelation.
Lécuyer’s influence extends into fashion, where the dialogue between clothing and identity mirrors her artistic approach. The layering of textures in her illustrations parallels the draping of fabrics, while the stark contrasts feel reminiscent of avant-garde fashion photography. Designers such as Yohji Yamamoto and Ann Demeulemeester share a visual language with her work—a fascination with shadows, mystery, and the poetry of monochrome.
Her work has been exhibited internationally, appearing in galleries across France and beyond. For those wanting to explore her hauntingly beautiful world, her portfolio can be found at sophielecuyer.com, and selected pieces are available through contemporary print galleries.
Sophie Lécuyer’s black-and-white series is a reminder that silence, shadow, and suggestion can be as powerful as bold statements. In a world saturated with color and noise, her work speaks in whispers—and somehow, that makes it even louder.
