Giles Miller Studio's L’Envol is a multisensory encounter near the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Giles Miller Studio participated in a competitive tender to conceive a large-scale public artwork near the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

The brief sought a piece that "would inject energy, inspiration and a distinctive sensory experience into the daily lives of the thousands of people who pass the wall where it would be installed". The client’s ambition was to commission a work that was not only monumental in scale but profound in impact.

In response, the studio envisioned a piece that would transform dynamically depending on the viewer’s position, the time of day and the ambient light. This interactivity—subtle, yet ever-present—embodied the studio’s commitment to sensory engagement and place-making through visual art. L’Envol was born as an immersive, responsive sculpture: one that shifts with each encounter, offering an evolving experience to its audience.

Ceramic was the natural choice of material—an enduring medium that the studio has explored and celebrated for over 15 years. Crafted in partnership with trusted Italian ceramicists, the hand-made components of L’Envol carry an artisanal quality that can be both seen and felt. The mottled chrome glaze finish on each ceramic form not only reflects its environment but also distorts it, producing a poetic interaction between viewer, object and space.

L’Envol is more than a static artwork—it is a living mirror to its community. Its textured, reflective surface encourages photography and videography, capturing fleeting interactions and shifting moods. Whether encountered as a moment of surprise or a daily visual companion, the artwork offers continual moments of uplift and intrigue. Its very name, French for “The Flight,” speaks to its aspiration: to elevate.

The project’s scale and the number of stakeholders involved presented natural challenges. Uniting diverse interests and visions into one cohesive artistic outcome demanded both patience and shared commitment. With the support of a visionary client and the expert coordination of Artbliss in Paris, Giles Miller Studio was able to preserve creative integrity while ensuring the work remained accessible and meaningful to all.

L’Envol is a multisensory encounter. Its thousands of 3D ceramic elements engage the eye and the hand, echoing the fractal geometries of nature that evoke calm and harmony. The glistening chrome surface dances with light and shadow, while its form invites tactile curiosity and emotional resonance. It stands as a testament to the studio’s belief in the emotional power of material, light and form to elevate everyday experience.

Discover more

All images courtesy of Giles Miller Studio. Credit: OLCO Studios.