Just a few days ago, I exhibited for the very first time at the Grand Palais in Paris during Art Capital 2026. I participated with the Salon des Indépendants, a historic institution that has long embodied artistic freedom and independence of expression.
Seeing the Grand Palais filled with French and international artists, visitors, and hundreds of works was overwhelming in the best possible way. It is one thing to share drawings online, in the quiet space of a screen. It is something entirely different to see them take their place on a wall, in a setting as historic, imposing and beautiful as this one in Paris, where people can stand close enough to study every detail.
About the works
For this first participation at Art Capital, I chose to present Timeless and Dioribbon.
They are very different subjects, and I selected them intentionally so that visitors could encounter two sides of my figurative universe. One represents a female figure without identity, a presence rather than a portrait. The other focuses on an everyday object, something we might usually throw away or overlook without a second thought. Yet both belong to the same black and white world, where a story is suggested rather than explained.
The experience of being seen
What stayed with me most was watching how visitors interacted with my drawings.
Many people stopped. Some photographed details. Others leaned in closely, studying the surface, trying to understand how the image was made. More than once, someone told me they thought it was a photograph. Then they stepped closer again, surprised to discover graphite and pierre noire instead.
That kind of looking is rare. It reminded me why I continue to work the way I do, to create images that ask for time and attention and, in return, offer something lasting.
A personal reflection
I will say this honestly. It took courage to do this.
I am not someone who ever feels finished. I am rarely completely satisfied with what I create. Yet, for the first time in a while, I allowed myself to believe that these pieces were ready to be seen, not only online but in a space like this, alongside so many talented artists. I am deeply grateful that I made that decision.
Another beautiful part of the experience was meeting artists from around the world. Each conversation carried a different story, different mediums, different lives, different reasons to create. Even when our styles were far apart, there was a shared understanding that making art still matters.
If there is one thing I am taking with me from this week, it is this: images travel quickly online, but drawings ask for presence. They change with distance. They shift with light. They respond to time. And sometimes, when someone stands in front of them long enough, they become more than an image. They become a story the viewer decides to enter.
Thank you to everyone who came, looked closely, spoke with me, or simply paused in front of my work. It meant more than I can say.
With gratitude,
Veronica
If you wish to explore more of my charcoal and graphite drawings, you can visit the gallery to discover fine art prints and original works that continue this dialogue of emotion and presence. You are also welcome to join the newsletter for gentle updates on new pieces and to enjoy 10% OFF your first order.
Note: This blog article was originally written in English. Other language versions are automatically translated to make the content accessible.
