Elles font l’abstraction, the first major exhibition dedicated to women artists. The Centre Pompidou, together with La Prairie, is showing the history of abstraction from its origins to the 1980s.
Elles font l’abstraction opened on 19 May and will end on 23 August. The exhibition is organised at the Centre Pompidou in Paris by Christine Macel, General Curator, and Karolina Lewandowska. The 2,000 m² exhibition space features more than 500 works combining decorative arts, photography, cinema, dance and the plastic arts. More than 100 international women artists are participating in the exhibition as co-creators in their own right of modernism. Offering a wide range of works, such as those of Sophie Taeuber-Arp, or the minimalist Bauhaus movement. Inspirations that seek perfect harmony in their works.
One of the posters of the exhibition Elles font l’abstraction
The selection of the paintings on display was the result of several years of research, which made it possible to identify women who have been key figures in the history of art, but who are often unknown to the public. In this way, they emphasise how we must continue to fight against invisibilisation. Something that harms us on an educational and social level.
Christine Macel, general curator of the Centre Pompidou, declares:
“Revisiting the history of abstraction is first and foremost about allowing women artists to take their rightful place in it. It is also about rethinking abstraction beyond painting, through the various expressions that contributed to its emergence, namely spirituality, science, the decorative arts and dance”.
Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Swiss artist / Poster exhibition They make abstraction
La Prairie is deeply rooted in art, as is the House of Luxury. As such, they aim to give voice and empower the works of women artists in the exhibition. Not only celebrating the visionary spirit of women artists, but also honouring the legacy they left behind by inspiring great male artists of the abstract movement.
La Prairie’s collaboration with the Centre Pompidou in Paris is a great opportunity for visitors to discover groundbreaking works that, in the future, may be a reference for the artists of tomorrow. The latter is very important for La Prairie. They have a historical link with Niki de Saint Phalle, who is exhibited in the centre and inspired the cobalt blue of Skin Caviar, the luxury brand’s iconic collection.
In addition, Niki de Saint Phalle‘s collection has been on display at the MoMa in New York since 11 March. Exhibiting the life and works of the avant-garde artist, who fought for her ideals of social, racial and gender equality.
Images courtesy of La Prairie
