NZ House & Garden—February 2026
Meet the Maker
COMPILED BY SHANDELLE BATTERSBY
Multidisciplinary artist Virginie Binet-Johnson, aka virginieig, is always exploring new mediums.
When it comes to photography, multidisciplinarv artist Virgine Binet-Johnson speaks of the joy of "freezing precious moments on paper". The French-born creative, who releases her art under the name virginieg, first started taking photographs on her travels, often using tips from a friend who photographed the Parisian fashion shows.
"I always explored how to see things and find beauty around myself, and tried to frame it the best way I could," she says. Virginie, who moved to Auckland with her family 20 years ago, also paints and makes jewellery and ceramics, and has recently been experimenting with transferring her photos onto linen.
Left, Virginie Binet-Johnson, aka virginiejg, pictured with Flow, a collection of her photographs printed onto linen. Right, Black & White.
"I love fabrics and I want to create clothing with the things I enjoy photographing," she says. "I am creative and I love exploring and learning new things, or maybe just refreshing things that once upon a time were very familiar."
Virginie's favourite pieces are “the unexpected ones, the ones that unfold intuitively, naturally, organically... Any time I let myself go with the flow I am guided by the medium in front of me.”
Her best photos, she says, are those that “offer some vulnerability, creating a connection with the viewer... showing simple and intricate details”.
See more of Virginie's work on Instagram at @virginiejg, and at Collective by Box online, Depot Artspace and virginiejg.com.
My favourite things...
GOING ON ADVENTURES At the beach, in a new country, in an exotic dish, in melodious music, in anything creative - even outside my front door.
COLLECTING My specialty is heart-shaped items that usually find me!
LITTLE PLEASURES Sharing a cup of tea with a friend, watching the clouds shaping, composing a bouquet of fresh flowers that I love picking as I go.
