Personal Space: Inside Sculptor Marie Khouri’s Home Studio and Gallery

If you’re lucky enough to explore the gallery-like home of Marie Khouri—watching natural light dance across pristine marble sculptures, exploring the wiry floral wall hangings and intricate charcoal topographies of her Middle Eastern hometown—you might assume that the artist herself is just as perpetually polished. But tiptoe down the basement steps and you’re likely to find Khouri in all her steampunk glory: outfitted in a gas mask, taking a blowtorch to a molten piece of bronze, surrounded by shards of offcuts, bits of Styrofoam, hacksaws and duct tape. Her well-worn overalls are coated in drips of hardened wax from casting models, and she admits to constantly shedding like a candle as she buzzes around her workspace.

Because, while her work is beautiful, meaningful and meditative, Khouri is hardly precious about it. She jokes about her first career as a translator after growing up in a multilingual family (“I was lazy; I picked a career that just came into my hands as I was born”) and is similarly lighthearted about her brief foray into drawing (“the teacher literally took me by the hand and said I should try sculpting”). She’s lived in this Kerrisdale house for two decades, and still remembers her family’s first impression: “It just felt like home the moment we walked in.” Now, with intentional spaces for Khouri’s favourite works and works-in-progress, it’s a living love letter to her artistic career—and the beating heart, naturally, is the shadowy, intimate basement studio teeming with clay and metal and glass. “It’s a space of deep solitude and creative intensity, where time seems to bend and focus sharpens,” she says. The giant ant figure that looms over her right shoulder is, of course, “a reminder to work hard.”

READ MORE: Inside Illustrator Carson Ting’s Art-Filled Home Studio

Photo Tour: Marie Khouri’s Personal Gallery and Workshop

Personal Touch

Even Khouri’s large public works have a hand-formed vibe, and she demonstrates why by holding a tiny model: each curve nestles neatly into the line of her thumb or the shape of her palm. When those little clay models eventually become giant works of marble, her handiwork is still felt throughout.

Looking Sharp

Khouri’s topographical charcoal works serve as a memory project, mapping out meaningful places in her life. In each one you can find a signature single nugget of bronze shining out from the craggy black surface.

READ MORE: Artist Carla Tak Has an Incredible Art Collection in her Olympic Village Home

Say the Word

Her work I Love has lived in the Vancouver Art Gallery, Egypt and Paris, but the reference model (Let’s Sit and Talk) lives at home with Khouri. Arabic letters spell out the piece’s name, and call back to Khouri’s time working as an interpreter. “I’ve really done full circle in my life in the sense that I’ve gone back to words and to writing, to alphabet,” she says.

Model Behaviour

One wall of Khouri’s basement pays tribute to small-scale models of her public works of art, many of which have permanent homes in and around Vancouver (the mast-like Nautika is in Olympic Village and Cascade City—which looks like two distinct stainless steel figures when viewed from different angles—is in Richmond).

The Great Outdoors

Khouri says creating public art is like “using the cityscape as your gallery.” Works like Les Fleurs du Mal (inspired by the deconstructed petals of flowers) complement the natural environment while making a bold visual statement.

READ MORE: Meg and Steve Hübert Hand-Painted the Tiles in Their Kitchen

Art of Gold

5 tips for collecting art from artist Marie Khouri

1. Learn About the Artist

Take time to research the artist’s background and creative path. Understanding their story will deepen your appreciation and help you see why their work connects with you.

2. Look for Rarity and Quality

Seek out rare works or small editions—these often hold or increase their value over time. But remember: rarity alone isn’t enough; the work should also feel meaningful to you.

3. Never Buy Just to  Match the Couch

Avoid choosing art only because it complements your decor. Great art can transform a space on its own terms, not just blend in.

4. Buy from Reliable Sources

Purchase art from reputable galleries, established dealers or directly from the artist. This ensures authenticity and supports the creative community.

5. Buy What Speaks to You

Don’t feel pressured to follow trends or buy something just because it’s fashionable. Trust your instincts—if a piece moves you, that’s reason enough to bring it into your home.