Collection: Jean-François Lettre

Jean-François Lettre was born in 1973 in the city of Sorel, Quebec. From 1992 to 1994, he studied ecology at the Cegep de Sherbrooke, then developed his first experiences in wood processing in a forest environment in a self-taught manner.

With his seasonal work as an arborist, he uses quiet periods to develop and improve his woodworking techniques. Winter is the season that allows him to make and sell his creations, in addition to taking various training courses with the ARTÉBOIS Cabinetmaking School, a school specializing in the field. The tree, its past, the events that have marked its life and that are inevitably found in its wood give the artistic direction to his creations.

In January 2013, Jean-François quit his job and began creating nature-inspired accessories and small pieces of furniture full-time. Over the next two years, he participated in several markets, trade shows, and festivals, and his products were highly appreciated by the public. Nature continued to inspire him, and he developed different methods to highlight the unique characteristics of wood.

Inspired by Quebec visual artists such as Jimmy Perron, Dominic Besner and especially by the work of Korean artist Lee Jae-Hyo, Jean-François invented a new technique in the fall of 2015: "Myco-engraving." He uses the lines, marks and colors left in the wood by fungi, knots and cracks to create unique and inimitable images and paintings.