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Sami Haddad and the colours of Marseille

Terracotta, ochre and long shadows — painting the Mediterranean one thick layer at a time.

Sami in the studio, Marseille.
Sami in the studio, Marseille.

Sami opens the studio door at eight, coffee in hand, already talking about the light. "Mornings are for colour," she says — Marseille is still quiet, and the big north window does most of the work.

Sami paints the light of the Mediterranean — terracotta, ochre and long shadows — in thick layers of acrylic.

Where it all starts

Every series begins with a walk and a sketchbook. Markets, tram stops, the corner of a kitchen table — Sami collects small moments and lets them sit for weeks before turning any of them into a finished piece.

I want people to feel the temperature of the day when they look at my work — not just see it.

— Sami Haddad

Early sketches for the new series, pinned above the desk.
Early sketches for the new series, pinned above the desk.

From the easel to your wall

Once a piece is finished, it is scanned at high resolution and colour-matched by hand against the original. Only then does it go live on Salon — available as an art print, canvas or aluminium, in four sizes.

"Knowing someone chose my work for their home is still the best part," Sami says. "Every order notification feels like a small exhibition opening."

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