Harumi Klossowska de Rola (b. 1973) has led an unconventional life, starting with her childhood spent in the Roman Villa Medici, which served as both her backyard and playground. Some of her earliest memories involve foraging for garden stones and tiny pieces of glass, which she would meticulously arrange into intricate patterns to present to her father, Balthasar Klossowski de Rola, better known as Balthus. The renowned Polish-French painter, famous for his enigmatic and provocative works, introduced Harumi to the world of art from a very young age. Reflecting on her early years, she recalls, "And what I remember most is the colors, and the way the Italian light fell on the buildings," revealing her lack of interest in the high society of Rome and her deep connection to her childhood bedroom.
This room, adorned with a kaleidoscope of Moorish tiles on its walls and ceilings, later inspired her first jewelry collection, which featured precious stones and silk. Harumi’s work continues to be infused with the wonder of her childhood. At the age of four, she moved from her Renaissance palace to her current home, Grand Chalet de Rossiniè€re, nestled in a valley near Gstaad, Switzerland. She now divides her time between Switzerland and France.
The Grand Chalet is surrounded by lush greenery that blankets the landscape in summer, with vibrant wildflowers in spring and a serene snowy silence in winter. The property also serves as a sanctuary for wild animals, including Harumi’s own undomesticated serval cat and wolf, which reflect her deep connection to nature. This enchanting environment has had a profound influence on her artistic sensibilities.
In addition to her childhood experiences, Harumi draws great inspiration from her Japanese heritage and her mother, Setsuko Ideta, who instilled in her Shinto beliefs from an early age. Setsuko, who wore a kimono daily, emphasized the importance of animistic and vegetal imagery and the use of natural and petrified wood—elements that can be seen in Harumi’s more recent works.
Harumi also spent many weekends visiting Balthus' first wife, Antoinette de Watteville, while attending boarding school. Watteville's collection of Diego Giacometti's work, along with the influence of Alberto Giacometti—both close to her father—inspired Harumi’s use of bronze in her sculptures. During her early adulthood in Paris, she spent time with her brother and his wife, Loulou de la Falaise, a muse for Yves Saint Laurent, whose bold style further influenced Harumi’s creative journey.
These early experiences led Harumi to begin crafting luxury jewelry inspired by the flora and fauna of the natural world, creating pieces for renowned houses such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Chopard, and Boucheron. However, her desire for a more hands-on artistic experience eventually led her to expand into sculpture in 2008. Combining traditional techniques with her imaginative vision, she allows the materials to guide her creative process.
Harumi found inspiration in the work of the French sculptors Les Lalanne, noting, "I like the idea of creating objects that have a purpose." Much of her artistic process begins with solitary walks in the forest, where she draws inspiration and connects with the natural world.
Her sculptures start as sketches, and then she lets the material guide her hands as she shapes and molds it. These large-scale pieces are sent to foundries in France and Switzerland, where skilled craftsmen help bring her vision to life. Harumi’s finishes most sculptures with touches of patina and final details in her own studio, working with organic materials such as wood, stone, and clay, which influence the final form of each piece.
Her approach to sculpture is fluid and intuitive, allowing her emotions and experiences to shape the work. She believes sculpture-making is a unifying experience, one that connects her soul with the world and the spirit of plants and animals. As she explains, "My main inspiration is about wild animals, or plants or trees; they're not domesticated in my work."
