Founded in Auvergne in 2022, Pignon sur Rue uses art to capture and promote the region’s beautiful contrasts. The brand produces a number of stylised, retro-style posters reminiscent of the work of French illustrators like Roger Broders and Géo Dorival. Maxime Biamba — Pignon sur Rue’s president — has said that one of the goals of the company is to “reinvent the world of online posters”.
I ran into Biamba earlier this year at the Salon Des Voyages, an exposition focused on tourism in Auvergne. Later on, he agreed to speak to me about Pignon sur Rue’s inspirations as well as its take on local entrepreneurship.
A.D. Manns: What inspired you to create Pignon sur Rue? What’s the significance of the name of the company?
Maxime Baimba: The inspiration behind the creation of Pignon sur Rue came from our consuming passion for French design and terroir.
We were completely seduced by the timeless beauty of the French landscape and wanted to immortalise it through flat design wall posters.
The name “Pignon Sur Rue” evokes the idea of being well established and visible in the urban landscape, while playing on the French expression meaning to have a good position or to be well-regarded.
For us, it reflects the ambition to pay homage to the French regions while occupying a special place in the hearts and homes of our customers.
AM: Have you always been interested in art?
MB: Yes, we’ve always had an interest in art, particularly graphic design as a way of blending creativity and communication.
Our passion for art has extended beyond traditional boundaries to embrace the representation of French landscapes and cultural elements through a modern, colorful artistic prism.
As a reminder, we come from a video background.
AM: What do you enjoy the most about being an entrepreneur? What’s most challenging about it?
MB: What we value most as entrepreneurs is the freedom to create and share our vision with the world. Being able to turn our passion into a business and touch people with our creations is incredibly rewarding.
The greatest challenge lies in managing the multiple aspects of the business, from production to marketing, while maintaining a high level of quality and innovation.
Creativity has to be constantly balanced with commercial realities, which can be both challenging and demanding.
AM: Which part of Auvergne are you from?
MB: Our team hails from Clermont-Ferrand and the surrounding area, in the heart of the Auvergne region.
This city, surrounded by extinct volcanoes and rich in historical and cultural heritage, is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for us.
Living and working in this region allows us to stay connected to the essence of our mission : to celebrate the beauty and diversity of the French landscape through our creations.
AM: Which of Auvergne’s landmarks is your favourite?
MB: Among the many emblematic sites of the Auvergne, our favourite is the puy de Dôme.
It’s not very original, but you can’t pick and choose your favourites!
This volcano offers a breathtaking view of the Chaîne des Puys and symbolizes the region’s natural majesty and rich history.
Its imposing presence and natural beauty make it a constant source of inspiration for our work, reflecting the very essence of the Auvergne in our creations.
