From American Horror Story to the SZA SOS Tour, French-born and globally raised spatial designer Lorr Volatier has made a name for herself by turning imagination into immersive reality. By the age of four, she had already lived in four countries, an upbringing that sparked her deep sensitivity to space, story, and the emotional resonance of design. But did you know spatial design was even a path you could take in the art world? Lorr didn’t either…until a tutor noticed her flair for atmosphere and suggested she look into art direction. The rest is a globe-spanning journey through film sets, fine art, and live installations. Whether she’s crafting surreal music videos or building spaces you can physically step inside, Lorr’s work invites us to feel as much as we see.
We caught up with her from an artist residency in Bali to talk about finding magic in mood boards, why star anise belongs in her creative cocktail, and how she’s designing her next adventure, one immersive dreamscape at a time.
How did you first step into the world of spatial design? Was there a moment, project, or place that sparked it all?
It was planted in me during childhood. I moved around a lot. I had lived in four different countries by the time I was four years old. I struggled to adjust to any one space because we moved so often. That’s where my curiosity and longing for space began.
After graduating from high school, I enrolled in a foundation course in the arts at the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham, England. There, I got to try my hand at a filmmaking program and had a great time developing the aesthetic for my first short film. My faculty member at the time told me I should look into art directing. I looked up the title and instantly felt it was a job designed for me.
From there, everything moved quickly. I applied to schools in the US, was accepted to my first choice in North Carolina, and moved across the world to study for a BFA in Production Design. After graduating, I moved to Los Angeles and was hired to work on American Horror Story. I spent two years working in television, while also designing commercials and music videos on the side, until COVID hit. That’s when I decided to go fully independent and create my first set purely for people, not production, a space designed to visually transport people into a world that felt like stepping into a painting.
I created my first immersive installation. It was a blend of everything I’d learned building sets and my original love for fine art. Taking that leap led to more opportunities in live events, and I even went on tour with SZA as a set dresser.
When you’re starting a new project, what’s your first creative step? Is it a sketch, a mood board, a playlist, a material sample… or something else entirely?
It usually begins with a burning desire to speak about something, something that’s asking to be translated and transmuted from the inside out. I feel a strong passion to express the light of an experience I’m going through, in the hopes it might resonate with others navigating something similar. I think about the story and the emotions I want to evoke, and I move from there. I search through Pinterest and make vision boards on Canva. I print them out and hang them on my wall. Once I have a clear intention and direction, everything in my environment begins speaking loudly, and inspiration flows abundantly throughout the process. I feel guided in a way I can’t fully take credit for.
Are there any artists, artworks, or cultural institutions that have shaped your creative vision or that you return to for inspiration when you’re in need of a spark?
Absolutely, many!!! Moki Cherry, Mariko Mori, Yayoi Kusama, Chiharu Shiota, Egon Schiele, Taro Okamoto, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Jacques Tati, Mélanie Pages, Banksy, and Olafur Eliasson, to name just a few. If I could teleport to the Museum of Ethnology in Osaka, Japan, I’d never run out of inspiration. I’m deeply inspired by the individuality of cultures and how different communities express beauty as a connection to source. Humanity is incredibly creative in every corner of the world, there’s so much to learn and observe through culture.
If your design style were a cocktail, what would be in it?
Star anise would definitely be in it, it would taste warm, slightly fruity (think elderflower or lychee), with an edible flower of course, and natural sugar cane for a touch of sweetness. I’d describe my creative flavour as deep, expansive, colourful, and rich in meaning. I love to pack my work with layers of concept and symbolism. It’s a flavour that opens the door to a world you’ve never been to before, one you can revisit whenever you need a sense of awe and belonging.
Imagine this: you’re dropped in a random country with a backpack and 48 hours to build a pop-up installation. What’s in your bag, what’s the concept, where are you, and who’s your dream local collaborator? It’s a design survival challenge – go, go, go!
I love this question! I’d be dropped in either Ibiza or Brazil, with a LOT of textiles, sewing supplies, my sketchbook, laptop/iPad, and a local guide to the art shops in the area. I’d create a giant soft, immersive sculpture. My dream collaborator would be Miranda Makaroff. I really admire the way she blends fine art and sculpture to create immersive installations that evoke awe and encourage play. Her work feels kindred to mine and has inspired me deeply.
What’s next for you? Is there a dream collaboration, medium, or direction you’re itching to explore in the next chapter of your practice?
Right now, I’m at an artist residency in Bali, working on a large immersive sculpture. I’m learning so much from the culture, people, and land of this beautiful island. Over the coming months, I plan to keep enriching myself through travel and cultural exploration. I’m drawn to the idea of a travelling exhibit, creating awe-inspiring, immersive experiences for people around the world. My mission is to share heartfelt adventures in beauty, philosophy, and connection, with the intention of sparking curiosity, reverence, and unity. I’d love to collaborate with Miranda Makaroff, work with Yayoi Kusama, and design stage sets for Qveen Herby. I also hope to continue using my creative eye to uplift other artists, spaces, and businesses that are aligned in their messages and missions.
You can follow Lorr’s creative journey on Instagram @ohmylorrr and learn more about her work on her website: www.lorrvolatier.com.
