alice colin

Charleston-based painter Alice Colin aims to express emotions and thoughts through colors and patterns.

Artist: Born and raised in Bordeaux, France, Colin left in her early 20’s to study, live and work in several other cities/countries, including Rome, London, Barcelona and New Delhi.

Along the way, she earned a master’s degree in psychology and another in communication from a business school. She moved to Charleston seven years ago.

Studio: Works from a shared studio at the Redux Contemporary Art Center in Charleston.

In the beginning: After moving to Charleston, Colin started a small online business that was focused on selling sustainable French fashion in the United States. Then Covid-19 hit, and she had to close shop in early 2020.

During that time, she was pregnant with her second child and starting to paint more. She decided to change careers. In late 2020, Colin started to show her work at various art pop-ups.

Art & materials: Mostly paintings using acrylic colors and recycled elements from daily life, such as newspaper, leather, fabrics, discarded packaging, jar labels.

What’s popular: Portraits on canvas ($950 and up) unframed.

“I paint mostly portraits, trying to capture all the history, culture, and emotions that the human skin can hold and express,” said Colin.

Favorite tool: A very small brush for details.

Inspirations: Many, including:

Travels and the countries she has lived in.
The work of French photographer Henri Cartier Bresson, especially his Surrealist period.
German dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch.
Movies of Spanish Director Pedro Almodovar, whose films feature bold colors and complex characters.
Fashion designer Jacquemus.
Sonia Delaunay, French artist and designer.
Books on audible.com. “I listen while I work,” she said. “One of my favorite authors is English novelist Lucy Foley, but I also enjoy autobiographies.”

Fun or special commissions: Large-scale murals for commercial and private residences.

Recent honors:

Selected as a visiting artist at the Gibbes Museum of Art ( in Charleston. 2023.
Invited to be a permanent artist resident at the Redux Contemporary Art Center. 2024.

Current projects:

Illustrating a children’s book about the Bible.
A 12-month collaborative photography project with a local photographer Lea Barnay-Riviere. Every month, they photograph a woman (Colin paints her skin with gold paint and gold leaf just before the photo shoot), and Barnay-Riviere takes the picture. It is called the skintsugi project (named in reference to the Japanese art skintsugi where a broken porcelain dish is fixed with pure gold).The project aims at showcasing women who suffered trauma (loss of a loved one, sickness, accident, abuse, etc.) and overcame it. Learn more at: instagram.com/skintsugi_project.

What’s next: Two exhibits at The Gibbes Museum:

Launch of her collection of dresses in collaboration with Charleston shop Beau & Ro. Private event.
Exhibit of her series of 15 portraits of South Carolina women of different skin colors using DNA testing. September and October (dates TBA). Colin’s goal is to put into perspective the diverse ethnic identity of women in the South.

Where to buy: