the living heritage of intercultural artistic exchange
It is our great pleasure to reveal the imminent restoration and renovation of the last preserved atelier of the historical artists community of Cité Falguière in Paris. This cultural heritage project has been initiated by L'AiR Arts with the vision of establishing an International Arts Research Residency dedicated to the intercultural artistic exchange as the legacy of the École de Paris.
During its 150 years of artistic history, the Cité Falguière artist community served as a working and living place to more than a hundred French and international artists, including Amedeo Modigliani, Tsuguharu Foujita, Constantin Brancusi, Chaïm Soutine, and Paul Gauguin. Known as the École de Paris, the exchange between artists of different nationalities, languages, cultures and religions resulted in a remarkable diversity of styles and marked the birth of Modernism, one of the most prolific periods in art history.
Often artists from different cultural and social backgrounds, such as Russian Chaïm Soutine and Italian Amedeo Modigliani shared the same atelier space that brought them closer together and provided the opportunity for exchange, encouragement and inspirations.
During its 150 years of artistic history, the Cité Falguière artist community served as a working and living place to more than a hundred French and international artists, including Amedeo Modigliani, Tsuguharu Foujita, Constantin Brancusi, Chaïm Soutine, and Paul Gauguin. Known as the École de Paris, the exchange between artists of different nationalities, languages, cultures and religions resulted in a remarkable diversity of styles and marked the birth of Modernism, one of the most prolific periods in art history.
Often artists from different cultural and social backgrounds, such as Russian Chaïm Soutine and Italian Amedeo Modigliani shared the same atelier space that brought them closer together and provided the opportunity for exchange, encouragement and inspirations.
“One day I arrived around 11pm or midnight at the Cité Falguière.… Modigliani and Soutine were lying on the floor. Of course, there was no light or gas. They each held a candle in their hands; Modigliani was reading Dante and Soutine, Le Petit Parisien.” — PINCHUS KREMEGNE
Today the only testament to the history of this artistic community is Atelier 11 - the last remaining artist studio at Cité Falguière. Bursting with artistic and cultural heritage, just as commemorated by Chaïm Soutine in his painting L’Atelier de l’artiste à la Cité Falguière from 1915-16, the Atelier requires a major restoration. To preserve the architectural heritage of this remarkable building and to continue the artistic legacy of Montparnasse within the contemporary culture, L’AiR Arts Association together with local and international artists and architects plans to initiate an extensive restoration and renovation of both exterior and interior spaces of the Atelier.
Set to begin by the end of 2021, the renovation will result in a multi-functional welcoming spaces that will preserve the essence and artistic spirit of a quintessential artist studio of Montparnasse while offering a practical and relevant platform for contemporary projects. As we restore this historical atelier, we plan to reconstruct the history of this exceptional artists community and uncover the individual stories of its past residents. Our research and communications will aim to promote and highlight 150 years of artistic life at the Cité Falguière, contributing to the influence of the École de Paris on the global arts community.
The 2022/23 residency season post-renovation will mark the beginning of the atelier’s new chapter as a place for research, exchange and creation. A historic hub for artistic exchange, our vision for this International Arts Research Residency is to revive the open and creative energy of the École de Paris and to support cross-cultural dialogue today through diverse cultural programming. The Atelier 11 residency will be focused on solo and duo projects that will run parallel to our international group programs, arts residencies for local practitioners, partner programs and events open to a broader community. An experimental collaborative platform for contemporary projects, it will be supported by 4 main pillars: intercultural exchange, research, professional development, and creation.
Set to begin by the end of 2021, the renovation will result in a multi-functional welcoming spaces that will preserve the essence and artistic spirit of a quintessential artist studio of Montparnasse while offering a practical and relevant platform for contemporary projects. As we restore this historical atelier, we plan to reconstruct the history of this exceptional artists community and uncover the individual stories of its past residents. Our research and communications will aim to promote and highlight 150 years of artistic life at the Cité Falguière, contributing to the influence of the École de Paris on the global arts community.
The 2022/23 residency season post-renovation will mark the beginning of the atelier’s new chapter as a place for research, exchange and creation. A historic hub for artistic exchange, our vision for this International Arts Research Residency is to revive the open and creative energy of the École de Paris and to support cross-cultural dialogue today through diverse cultural programming. The Atelier 11 residency will be focused on solo and duo projects that will run parallel to our international group programs, arts residencies for local practitioners, partner programs and events open to a broader community. An experimental collaborative platform for contemporary projects, it will be supported by 4 main pillars: intercultural exchange, research, professional development, and creation.
I’m so happy to know L’AiR Arts have emerged from the pandemic stronger and more committed and engaged than ever. This new development, the use and restoration of Atelier 11, is brilliant, harmonious with your mission, and historically important, looking both forward and back. Bravo to all involved. - Rosalyn Driscoll, USA, L'AiR Arts alumna artist-in-residence
Visit us!
To celebrate the atelier’s historical legacy before embarking on the restoration and renovation programme, in the summer-fall 2021 L’AiR Arts initiated several artistic research projects. The objective of these research programs is to facilitate the continuity between centuries and to preserve the link between past and future by honouring historical residents of Cité Falguière and celebrating contemporary artists. It also offered post-pandemic opportunities, while helping to revive creative mobility and intercultural exchange.
The Atelier was open to the general public for the first time as part of the European Heritage Days in September, and then for other special events, open studios and exhibitions as well as by appointment. Our final open studio event took place in December 2021, as part of the In Situ Residency.
The Atelier was open to the general public for the first time as part of the European Heritage Days in September, and then for other special events, open studios and exhibitions as well as by appointment. Our final open studio event took place in December 2021, as part of the In Situ Residency.
We invite you for a virtual 3D tour of Atelier 11 before the renovation. Discover its historical 3-level space, featuring The Fragile Power of Drawing exhibition presented as part of the Drawing Research Residency that seeks to pursue the tradition of artistic research in Paris.
With support from partners in France and around the world, we hope to restore the artistic spirit of this global arts community in Paris and to ensure its sustainability for generations to come. Please join our collective efforts of preserving, restoring and animating the living heritage of the École de Paris represented by the Atelier 11.