Maison Papier, a unique place where art is king and master

After working for six years at the À marée basse workshop-boutique, photographer and graphic designer Maude Jomphe decided in 2022 to embark on the Maison Papier adventure, at once a boutique, a gallery and an event space. Her motivation: to help visitors discover Madelinot artists while making their art more accessible and affordable.

Passionate about design, the arts, and the Iles de la Madeleine, her host land for over 15 years, she wants local artists' talent to shine. "I want to give them even greater visibility, so that a wider audience can discover the artists, form a meaningful connection with their approach, and surround themselves with pieces that inspire and beautify everyday life," she explains, as Maison Papier celebrated its third anniversary last June.

 

Seeing all the works that adorn the walls and shelves of this bright space on the ground floor of the PetIt hôtel de la montagne, on the heights of Bassin, on l'île du Havre-Aubert, her call has been heard. This mother of twins, who found herself without work and without a clear project in February 2022, followed her inspiration when visiting this empty space: she fell in love with it and set out to create her business with the support and encouragement of the owners of the place, Vincent and Jan-Nicolas.

The M A I S O N P A P I E R gallery-boutique features, among other things, work by visual artists from the Îles de la Madeleine in the form of reproductions printed on paper. Each selected piece is photographed, retouched, and then printed with pigment inks on smooth matte paper, resulting in faithful, vibrant colour reproduction and a fine rendering of the details and subtleties of the original work. There are also frames and selected objects made by island artisans. You can also sit down to enjoy a coffee by the large window at the back of the space or on the rear terrace with its uninterrupted view of the barachois.

 

Interesting and original: among the stages that make up Maison Papier's structure, one proves particularly valuable. A visit to the artist's studio is offered, that sacred, intimate den filled with creative energy.

Also worth mentioning is the shared idea of Maude Jomphe and the owners, who are preparing an ambitious project for 2026 to convert part of the basement into an art gallery and multi-functional space, creating an original cultural hub. They hope to host exhibiting artists, business meetings and events, launches, press conferences, and corporate 5 à 7s, making it a popular and sought-after gathering place.

Check Maison Papier's hours, open year-round, on its Facebook page. A visit worth the "small detour" to this out-of-the-way spot off the main tourist route of the Îles, but it wins hearts and captivates the eyes.

Maison Papier
maisonpapier.ca
2979 Chemin de la Montagne
Bassin, QC G4T 0A4
(418) 937-4279