Sophie Calle on Becoming an Artist: A Serendipitous Journey
In an interview for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), French artist Sophie Calle (born 1953 in Paris) recounts her unconventional path to becoming an artist. She describes a gradual discovery of her vocation, guided by chance and instinct rather than deliberate planning. While traveling without a fixed destination, she found herself drawn to photography. Over time, she felt that accumulating images was insufficient, so she incorporated writing and performance into her practice. Her first exhibitions followed, and the rest is history. The interview is part of SFMOMA's extensive collection of artist conversations available on YouTube.
Key facts
- Sophie Calle is a French contemporary artist born in Paris in 1953.
- The interview is hosted by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).
- Calle's artistic beginnings were serendipitous, discovered through travel and instinct.
- She initially focused on photography before adding writing and performance.
- Her first exhibitions marked the start of her established career.
- The interview is available on SFMOMA's YouTube channel.
- The article was written by Valentina Tanni.
- The article was published on Artribune in 2016.
Entities
Artists
- Sophie Calle
Institutions
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
- Artribune
Locations
- Paris
- France