Artist in residence: Marie Détrée Brings the Sea to the Lycée

Since the beginning of March, the Lycée has had the privilege of welcoming Marie Détrée as part of our Artist in Residence program.

Marie Détrée's story is one of adventure, dedication, and a lifelong love of the sea. Born in Saint-Malo into a family of sailors, the ocean was never far from her imagination or her art. That deep connection to maritime life took on a remarkable new dimension when she was appointed Official Painter of the French Navy — a prestigious distinction that granted her an equivalent rank and military status, and with it, access to the full fleet of French naval vessels. In just a few years of navigation, her canvases have captured the light and motion of seas across the globe.

Artistic Encounters

Over the course of her month-long stay, Marie Détrée brought that same spirit of exploration directly into our classrooms. From Gr6-12, students had the opportunity to discover her work, engage with her artistic style, and learn the techniques that have defined her practice. Her visits were not passive presentations — they were conversations, demonstrations, and moments of genuine artistic exchange. 

A Palette of One's Own

For our Grade 10–12 Art elective students, the experience reached a creative peak during a very special outing to the Reservoir. Inspired by a dedicated lesson with Marie Détrée on the art of building a personal color palette — layering different colored markers over one another to discover unexpected blends and harmonies — each student arrived with something uniquely their own: a personalized cyanometer.

A cyanometer, historically used to measure the blueness of the sky, became in Marie Détrée's hands a tool for self-expression. Each student's version was a small color wheel filled with their favorite combinations — hues they had discovered, mixed, and claimed as their own artistic signature. At the Reservoir, surrounded by open sky and the quiet of the natural landscape, they translated that personal palette into drawings that reflected both her influence and their own perception of their surroundings.

 A Lasting Mark on Our Walls

Before leaving us, Marie Détrée left the Lycée with a gift that every student, parent, staff, and visitor will be able to enjoy for years to come — a stunning mural in the entrance of our school. Painted in the colors of San Francisco, the mural is a beautiful meeting point between her world and ours. 

From now on, every morning, as our students walk through the doors, they will be greeted by a piece of art that carries Marie's spirit — her love of the sea, her eye for color, and the graceful, unhurried way she has always approached the world around her. We couldn't think of a more fitting reminder of the month we shared together.