Colette Bernard, BFA Fine Arts (Sculpture and Integrated Practices) ’21, is an “artrepreneur”—part artist, part influencer, and part business owner—who turned the hands-on skills she learned at Pratt and its upstate extension campus, Pratt Munson, into a thriving creative career.
“I got really into the basics of how to create anything. Woodworking, welding, mold-making—I learned all those fundamentals, then I used that to build the brand that I have today,” Bernard said in an interview.
From an interactive mural you can play like a game to a climbing wall made of candy hearts, here’s a look at three projects that started it all, previously highlighted on Pratt’s news page and in Prattfolio.
The Mural You Can Play Like a Video Game
Most murals are just for looking. Bernard decided to make one that people could play.
Her massive I-Spy mural, painted on a blank wall she spotted outside the Children’s Museum of Acadiana in her hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana, is a giant, real-life search-and-find game.
The inspiration for the quirky characters came from her sketchbook. It was filled with drawings of strangers she spotted in New York City after relocating from Pratt Munson to Pratt Institute to complete her degree.
The interactive part? Museum visitors get a checklist to hunt for all 84 hidden items scattered among the faces, from a tiny bowling pin to a floating sandwich.
She Made A Climbing Wall Out of 3D-Printed Candy Hearts
For her sculpture and performance “Not So Sweethearts,” Bernard put a twist on the classic Valentine’s candy.
She created a climbing wall where the handholds are giant, pastel-colored hearts. But instead of “BE MINE,” her hearts have cheekier messages like “sweet nothing” and “unmatched.”
To bring the idea to life, she learned how to use the 3D printers at a pop-up tech lab at Pratt. The experience was a game-changer for her. “Having free reign over a 3D printer gave me the opportunity to experiment,” she said. “I finally got to teach myself how to use the machine rather than dropping off my file and not knowing what happens when the piece is printed.”
The Daring Idea That Earned Five Figures in Preorders
(Featured in Prattfolio)
With only $100 in her bank account, she invested in three product samples, including a wisdom tooth design. Despite warnings that it was too impractical to sell, Bernard believed in her vision.
To find her first customers, she posted the design on Instagram with hashtags like #DentalSchool and #WomenInDentistry.
The strategy paid off. She racked up five-figures’ worth of preorders before a single claw had shipped.
It was proof that people in uniform, like scrubs, were eager for ways to show their personalities. She expanded the line with more designs for healthcare workers, including prescription bottles, vision charts, and blood vials.
But the collection didn’t stop there. Now, Career Claws features clever designs for everyone from movie buffs (film reels) to hopeless romantics (love letters).
Beyond the viral success of Career Claws, Bernard has built a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
She sells her designs online and at Cocodrie Collective, the gift shop she founded in Lafayette. (The store’s name comes from the Louisiana French word for “alligator.”)
Once a month, Bernard also transforms a downtown block into a bustling Cocodrie Art Market, showcasing local talent and fostering community.