PROFILE. Kevin Billard, in love with the ephemeral
FFAF/Inka - Axel Damamme
Florist and decorator of the Prince’s Palace in Monaco for more than three years, Kevin Billard is already one of the best in his field. At just 27 years of age, he was recently crowned France’s vice-champion florist, rewarding an immense and deep-seated passion for a profession that has inspired him since he was very young.
It’s a bit like a sand castle that is washed away by a wave. Or an ice sculpture that melts with the heat of the sun’s rays. The ephemeral, or the beauty of a present with no future.
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“I love the ephemeral,” Kevin Billard told us in a restaurant on the place du Palais. “What matters to me, whether it’s in the celebratory or sad moments in life, is that single, short instant in time when we go “wow”.”
An appetite for competition
To capture the moment and make a lasting impression, to wipe the slate clean and start over from scratch, that is this flower and table decorating lover’s motto. He quickly acquired a taste for receptions, thanks to his grandparents: “They had this gift for going all out when they were entertaining. They were the ones who passed this art of aesthetics on to me.”
Born on the shores of Lake Annecy, in a green and bucolic setting, Kevin Billard then grew up in the Var, near Le Luc. A childhood with green spaces for a backdrop, which shaped his mind and sharpened his artistic sensitivity.
What matters to me, whether it’s in the celebratory or sad moments in life, is that single, short instant in time when we go “wow”.
Kevin Billard
“I still have that need for nature today,” he says. “I am lucky to live in a leafy spot not far from Nice city centre. I need to switch between urban and rural settings.”
It was on the French Riviera that Kevin Billard took off professionally. A graduate of the prestigious hotel school in Cannes, where the floristry profession is also taught, the young florist trawled through the shops, after trying out the competition arena: “I love a challenge! »
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After graduating, Kevin Billard was quickly attracted to competitions. A veritable “revelation” for him. After a first national final in 2015, where he finished eighth, the ephemeral virtuoso finished fourth in the European championships, in 2018.
Excellence, serving the Prince’s Palace
Promising achievements, which did not go unnoticed: “My school called to tell me that the Prince’s Palace was looking for an artisan florist.” The interview went very well: “I started in December 2018, during the holiday celebrations.”
Every morning, it is an honour to walk through these reception rooms that have shaped history.
Kevin Billard
As part of a team of one hundred and twenty-five craftspeople, all of whom excel in their field, Kevin Billard is one of two florists at the Prince’s Palace, in charge of design and events.
“Every morning, it is an honour to walk through these reception rooms that have shaped history”, he says. “We make sure the arrangements are healthy and that nothing has gone wrong during the night.” Most of the flowers come from local producers. A strong desire on the part of Prince Albert II: “We try to develop the local market as much as possible.”
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Convinced that he will remain a florist for the rest of his life, “I have really found my vocation“, Kevin Billard has set himself a major goal in the years to come: to take part in the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France competition (best French artisans).“But I’ll take my time,” he adds. Patience, a matter of principle.