Karla Hiraldo Voleau

Karla Hiraldo Voleau is a French-Dominican photographer based in Lausanne.

– Home and studio — together or apart?

My home is in my backpack, and my studio is in my laptop… so I guess they’re separate.

– Do you have any daily rituals?

Since I’m constantly on the move, I find a sense of stability through the things I always carry with me: a particular kind of coffee, my turquoise coffee filter, and the objects I wear almost every day—my watch, my hoop earrings, and my blue Larimar bead.

– What is the first art book you remember?

It’s not the very first one I remember, but the art book I spent the longest time searching for is Elemer by Marton Perlaki (2015). It sold out very quickly, and years later I finally found a copy in Arles after the publishers happened to discover an old forgotten box of them.

– What is your studio/creative soundtrack?

It depends. I enjoy instrumental electronic music, fast techno, or punk with women screaming—anything that gives me energy and keeps me going.

– What is the favourite thing you have in your studio?

Whenever I’m lucky enough to have a space of my own that I can make feel like home, it’s the artworks made by my friends, along with little treasures like the ones in the photo: fragments of forest and mountains, lucky charms, and meaningful words.

– Did you always want to be an artist?

When I was a child, I wanted to be an archaeologist. As a teenager, I dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. I also considered becoming a translator or working in publishing, since I speak several languages. But during my final year of high school, I decided to pursue an artistic path. I didn’t really know what form it would take—I just knew I wanted to tell stories and make things with my hands.

– What does a free day look like?

Unfortunately, like many freelancers, days off and weekends don’t really exist anymore—just as there are rarely uninterrupted workdays either. I’m always available, always thinking about projects, deadlines, or emails. So a typical day off isn’t very glamorous: sleeping in, eating comfort food, and slowing down completely. Now that I’m in my thirties, one of my goals is to restore a healthier balance. I’m starting to think seriously about practical ways to create real, enjoyable days off.

Books & Objects