Jane DeDecker, Sculptor

Scheduled for installation in September 2026 just outside Joséphine’s former residence (1929-1947), the villa Beau-Chêne in Le Vésinet, the public artwork entitled Timeless Grace is envisioned as a celebration, an immersive experience, and an educational encounter. It will invite viewers into Joséphine’s world and help ensure the enduring presence of an extraordinary woman for generations to come.

Learn more about the Joséphine Baker Commemorative Site here.

We invited Jane DeDecker to take part in the French-American Cultural Foundation’s Vingt Questions series, where she reflects on the inspirations and experiences that continue to inform her work.

1. Favorite place to visit in France, and why?

The Rodin Museum – I visited on my 21st birthday, and it changed me forever. Standing among Rodin’s figures, I felt the raw anguish and yearning for humanity that pulsed through his sculpture. As a young sculptor myself, I was struck by how deeply an artist’s hand could reveal the soul, and I began to contemplate the permanence of my own artistic voice – the message I would one day leave behind in bronze. It was also there that I first encountered the work of Camille Claudel. Her sculptures are among the most powerful I’ve ever seen – tender yet unflinching, full of grace and turmoil. As a woman sculptor, I feel an enduring kinship with her struggles and triumphs. Her work continues to remind me that beauty and strength often rise from persistence, vulnerability, and truth.

2. Favorite place to visit in America, and why?

The rooftop of the Met in New York – not only my favorite museum, but the place where my husband and I first began our lifelong shared creative discovery. It opened the door to a lifetime of experiencing art together – a tradition we’ve passed on to our children.

3. What do you think the French can learn from Americans?

A sense of unguarded optimism – the belief that possibility always outweighs limitation.

4. What do you think Americans can learn from the French?

To savor life more – to slow down, to appreciate beauty and craft.

5. Favorite French film?

Amélie has long been one of my favorite French films because it celebrates the quiet magic hidden inside ordinary moments – something I try to capture in my sculpture. The film is whimsical, tender, and deeply attentive to human connection. It reminds me that small gestures can shift a life, and that noticing people – really seeing them – is its own form of art. That sensibility feels very close to my own artistic practice, where I freeze fleeting emotions and unspoken stories into bronze.

My other favorite French film, Camille Claudel, sits on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, but together they form a perfect balance for me. Camille Claudel is about the burning intensity of creation – the cost, the passion, the obsession. As a sculptor, I understand that fire. Amélie, in contrast, speaks to the gentler side of artistry: the wonder, the curiosity, the playful urge to make the world a little better and more beautiful.

6. Favorite American film?

Killers of the Flower Moon – a hauntingly beautiful story that reminds me how art, in any form, preserves history, evokes emotion, and makes us reckon with the past.

7. Favorite French actor or actress?

Juliette Binoche – she brings grace, vulnerability, and emotional honesty to every role. Her performances capture a depth of feeling and humanity that I aspire to convey in my own work, letting stories and emotion shine through.

8. Favorite American actor or actress?

Meryl Streep – a master of empathy and transformation – endlessly curious, always authentic.

9. Most important French figure in history, and why?

Olympe de Gouges. Her voice for women’s equality during the French Revolution still echoes today – she was ahead of her time and brave enough to stand alone. Her courage and vision continues to inspire my work celebrating women who shape history.

10. Most influential American figure, and why?

Susan B. Anthony. Her unrelenting advocacy for equality continues to inspire me to celebrate and amplify women’s stories through my work, reminding me that art can be both a reflection of society and a catalyst for change.

11. What is your favorite American luxury?

Experiencing the work of American contemporary artists – there’s something invigorating about their boldness and fearless creativity. I love seeing artists take risks, push boundaries, and express ideas that challenge and inspire. It’s a luxury to witness that energy and courage firsthand, and it always sparks new ideas in my own work.

12. What is your favorite French extravagance?

Being surrounded by the paintings of the French Impressionists – their sensitive interpretations of light, color, and everyday life feel like a private indulgence for the soul. There’s a richness and delicacy in their work that invites you to pause, reflect, and savor the beauty in the ordinary.

13. Favorite American food?

Apple dumplings – sweet, warm, and full of memories.

14. Favorite French food?

A simple baguette with cheese and a glass of red wine – honest, timeless, and a small daily pleasure that feels like a celebration of life.

15. The quality you most admire about the French and Americans?

In the French – refinement and an innate appreciation for artistry, the way they see beauty and meaning in the details of life. In Americans – optimism and perseverance, the fearless drive to create, innovate, and keep moving forward even when the path is uncertain.

16. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Building a life in sculpture while raising a family. I understand how rare it is for women to do both, and I’m deeply grateful. My work now celebrates and honors the women throughout history who paved the way, whose courage, vision, and strength made it possible for future generations to create, lead, and thrive.

17. Which talent would you most like to have?

To be a musician – expressive but not as heavy as sculpture.

18. Name three people, dead or alive, who you would most like to have dinner with?

My grandmother, my mother, and my sister. We would laugh endlessly, sharing stories and memories that stretch across generations. And of course, the food would be incredible – they were the best cooks ever, turning every meal into an experience full of warmth, love, and a little magic. It would be a dinner that nourished both the body and the soul.

19. Relative to your field of study, what is the most important tradition to keep alive?

Public sculpture, experienced in the rhythm of daily life, carries a permanence that makes me deeply conscious of the message I wish to leave behind – one of positive affirmations of life and living. As an artist, I believe it’s vital to keep this tradition alive because sculpture can transform ordinary spaces into places of connection, contemplation, and inspiration. It celebrates our shared humanity, tells stories that might otherwise go untold, and invites people to pause, reflect, and engage with the world around them in ways that are tactile, visual, and profoundly personal.

20. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Perfect happiness is gathering around the table with family and friends, sharing laughter, stories, and meals that celebrate art and creativity. These shared moments of connection and joy remind me why family, friendship, and expression are at the heart of life.