Arts and Culture of Montparnasse
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN THE VICINITY OF ATELIER 11
Discover Parisian artists' studios through a series of walks: “Around the Bourdelle Museum” featuring Atelier 11, “Around La Ruche /the Hive”, “Around the Cemetery”, “Around Giacometti” and “Around Monsouris”.
Bourdelle Atelier-Museum
An art museum dedicated to the work of French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle (1861–1929), a major figure in the art and art education in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century. Starting his career as Rodin's apprentice, for over forty years Bourdelle served as a teacher, mentor, and father figure to many international student artists, including Alberto Giacometti as well as women sculptor, including Germaine Richier, promoting gender equality. Inaugurated in 1949, the museum preserves the studio where Bourdelle worked and lived for 45 years, housing rich and varied collections of the artist’s sculptures, drawings, photographs, and painted work, as well as his personal collection. Learn more
Atelier Marie Vassilieff
A cultural institution of the City of Paris, originally the former studio of Russian artist Marie Vassilieff (1884 - 1957). In 1915, she opened a canteen in her studio for local artists living under harsh conditions, which then became a popular gathering place for the artistic community during the war. Artists and intellectuals including Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Guillaume Apollinaire, Marc Chagall, Fernand Leger, as well as her Cité Falguière's neighbours Amedeo Modigliani and Chaim Soutine, were frequent visitors of the place. Later Villa Vassilieff served as a Museum of Montparnasse, then operated by Bétonsalon as a center for art and research. It is now operated by AWARE Association that disseminates research on women artists of the 19th and 20th century while supporting contemporary creation. Learn more
Espace Frans Krajcberg
Located next to the Atelier Marie Vassilieff in the historic Chemin du Montparnasse, an alley with a great artistic history that housed the studios of many artists. As a former Parisian studio of Frans Krajcberg, one of the greatest Brazilian artists of the 20th century and an environmental activist, it is now operating as a Contemporary Art Center for Art & Nature. A cultural place of the City of Paris, the Espace Frans Krajcberg manages a permanent collection of the artist open to researchers and students and also hosts temporary exhibitions about art and nature. Learn more
Zadkine Atelier-Museum
Dedicated to the memory and the work of Ossip Zadkine (1890-1967), one of the major figures of the École de Paris. A cubist sculptor of Russian origin, he lived and worked in this house for nearly forty years. Bequeathed to the City of Paris by his widow, painter Valentine Prax, since 1982 it operates as a museum with comprehensive collection of the artist’s works. Along with the Bourdelle Museum, it is one of the rare sculptors’ studios which have managed to be preserved in Paris, bearing witness to the Montparnasse of artists. Learn more
Chana Orloff Atelier-Museum
An artist connected to l’Ecole de Paris, after a classic training at the national art school, Orloff discovered sculpture at the Russian academy in Montparnasse, where she became friends with Marc Chagall, Soutine, and Zadkine. A sculptor of natural subjects including women as mothers, Orloff is best known for her sculptured portraits of famous contemporary sitters – Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani. The studio, designed by Auguste Perret in 1925 in the Villa Seurat, still belongs to a family of the artist, with Orloff’s grand children carrying the legacy of the artist. Learn more
Academie de la Grande Chaumière
Located in the heart of Montparnasse, Academie de la Grande Chaumière is a private art academy famous for many artists – from Amedeo Modigliani to Chaim Soutine and Louise Bourgeois – who worked and taught there over the decades. A place of resistance and creation, it is the only institution at the beginning of the 20th century that paved the way for independent art, allowing all forms or techniques to freely express themselves without the restrictions of academic trends. Today, the Academie remains a place where anyone with an interest in art can take classes and workshops, working from live models. Learn more
La Ruche - Cité d'Artistes
Also known as "The Beehive". Located near Montparnasse and normally closed to the public, it was founded in 1900 as a residency for hundreds of international artists seeking shelter and acceptance during the interwar period and beyond. Its past artist residents include Marc Chagall, Fernand Léger, Modigliani, Chaïm Soutine, Ossip Zadkine, and Alfred Boucher. La Ruche’s architectural elements come from the l'Exposition de Paris 1900, designed by Gustave Eiffel. Today, la Ruche remains a sanctuary for about fifty artists who are currently living and working there. Visits by invitation only. Learn more
Giacometti Institute
The reference place for the work of Alberto Giacometti, one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. Born in Switzerland in 1901, Giacometti came to Paris to study under Antoine Bourdelle in 1922. He moved into the studio at 46 rue Hippolyte-Maindron with his brother Diego in 1926, and kept the studio until he died. The reconstructed studio is now housed by Giacometti Institute in an Art Deco style building located in the Montparnasse neighbourhood, together with a selected collection of his works. As an art history center, the Institute also offers various exhibitions, research and educational programs. Learn more
Cartier Fondation
Initiated in 1984, the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain is a unique example of corporate philanthropy in France. Since moving to Paris in 1994, the Fondation Cartier has been housed in an airy building filled with light that was designed by the architect Jean Nouvel. In this unique setting, exhibitions, conferences and artistic productions come to life. The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain is dedicated to promoting and raising public awareness of contemporary art. Each year, the Fondation Cartier organizes a program of exhibitions based on either individual artists or themes, and commissions work from artists, thus enriching an important collection. Learn more
Museum of Modern Art / Musée d’art moderne
Located between the Champs-Elysées and the Eiffel Tower, the Museum of Modern Art, is a Ville de Paris emblematic palace of 1930s architecture. It is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in France with permanent collection of more than 15,000 works from the 20th century to the current scene, includes works by major artists in the history of art: Picasso, Dufy, Modigliani, Derain, Picabia, Chagall, but also Boltanski, Parreno and Finger. Learn more
Le Bal Blomet
Opened in 1924 as cabaret and wine bar, Le Bal Blomet quickly became a prominent jazz club for the ‘Roaring Twenties’ generation dreaming of a new world after the sufferings of the Great War. The artists of Montparnasse regularly attend the Bal Blomet to enjoy the liberal atmosphere: among them Josephine Baker, Foujita, Calder, and the muse Kiki de Montparnasse accompanied by Man Ray; the American writers Ernest Hemingway, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, and Henry Miller, were also regulars, as well as Jean Cocteau, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Visual artists from 45 rue Blomet, Joan Miro, Andre Masson, Francis Picabia, Robert Desnos, Mondrian and Kees van Dongen also frequented the place. Renovated in 2015, Le Bal Blomet hosts a multicultural program of classical jazz and African-American music in the spirit of its great time. Learn more
Cité internationale universitaire de Paris
The creation of the Cité Internationale Universitaire / International University City of Paris took place between the two world wars to promote tolerance and international understanding by providing a space for exchange between scholars and artists from around the world. With the first residence inaugurated in 1925, it has expanded to 40 residential buildings, each representing a different country and its diverse architectural style. For almost a century they have been united by its original mission: to contribute to world peace through intercultural dialogue and exchange. Learn more
Historical Artists' Restaurants:
Aux Artistes
Located just around the corner from Atelier 11, L’AiR Arts residents love visiting Aux Artistes for authentic French meals hosted by Marvin, a grandson of the restaurant's original owners. Founded in 1959, when the Cité Falguière historical arts community was active and vibrant, Aux Artistes gatherings became a vital part of our contemporary residency program. Learn more
La Coupole
Since 1927, La Coupole has been a historical symbol of Montparnasse. Listed as a heritage site, this art deco style restaurant was frequented by artists of all nationalities living in Paris during the interwar years - Japanese Foujita, Russian Marie Vassilieff, Hungarian Brassai, French Andre Derain, Swiss Giacometti, Jewish-American Man Ray, Spanish Picasso are only few of them. The pillars that support the ceiling of the main dining hall are painted by artists of 1920’s Montparnasse. The images represent the three themes – Nature, Women and Celebration. Learn more
Historical Art Supply Stores:
Sennelier
An iconic art supplies store with two locations in Montparnasse area, Sennelier, was founded in 1887 by the craftsman of color, Gustave Sennelier. The store closely collaborated and provided art materials to his many renowned customers, such as Paul Cezanne, Pierre Bonnard, Vassily Kandinsky, Sonia Delaunay, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau and more recent to Hans Hartung, Olivier Debre, David Hockney. Learn more
Adam Montparnasse
Adam-Montparnasse was a flagship store for painters and sculptors in Paris, such as Braque, Dubuffet and Zao Wou-Ki. This is where in 1957 its owner Edouard Adam developed international Klein Blue pigment for Yves Klein and black for Pierre Soulage. Learn more
Charvin
Manufacture of Colors, founded in 1830 in Côte d'Azur, known for developing colors for painters such as Cézanne, Bonnard, Ambrogiani who stayed and worked on the Coast. Learn more
For more information in the area, check our Practical Info and Area Guide
Discover Parisian artists' studios through a series of walks: “Around the Bourdelle Museum” featuring Atelier 11, “Around La Ruche /the Hive”, “Around the Cemetery”, “Around Giacometti” and “Around Monsouris”.
Bourdelle Atelier-Museum
An art museum dedicated to the work of French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle (1861–1929), a major figure in the art and art education in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century. Starting his career as Rodin's apprentice, for over forty years Bourdelle served as a teacher, mentor, and father figure to many international student artists, including Alberto Giacometti as well as women sculptor, including Germaine Richier, promoting gender equality. Inaugurated in 1949, the museum preserves the studio where Bourdelle worked and lived for 45 years, housing rich and varied collections of the artist’s sculptures, drawings, photographs, and painted work, as well as his personal collection. Learn more
Atelier Marie Vassilieff
A cultural institution of the City of Paris, originally the former studio of Russian artist Marie Vassilieff (1884 - 1957). In 1915, she opened a canteen in her studio for local artists living under harsh conditions, which then became a popular gathering place for the artistic community during the war. Artists and intellectuals including Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Guillaume Apollinaire, Marc Chagall, Fernand Leger, as well as her Cité Falguière's neighbours Amedeo Modigliani and Chaim Soutine, were frequent visitors of the place. Later Villa Vassilieff served as a Museum of Montparnasse, then operated by Bétonsalon as a center for art and research. It is now operated by AWARE Association that disseminates research on women artists of the 19th and 20th century while supporting contemporary creation. Learn more
Espace Frans Krajcberg
Located next to the Atelier Marie Vassilieff in the historic Chemin du Montparnasse, an alley with a great artistic history that housed the studios of many artists. As a former Parisian studio of Frans Krajcberg, one of the greatest Brazilian artists of the 20th century and an environmental activist, it is now operating as a Contemporary Art Center for Art & Nature. A cultural place of the City of Paris, the Espace Frans Krajcberg manages a permanent collection of the artist open to researchers and students and also hosts temporary exhibitions about art and nature. Learn more
Zadkine Atelier-Museum
Dedicated to the memory and the work of Ossip Zadkine (1890-1967), one of the major figures of the École de Paris. A cubist sculptor of Russian origin, he lived and worked in this house for nearly forty years. Bequeathed to the City of Paris by his widow, painter Valentine Prax, since 1982 it operates as a museum with comprehensive collection of the artist’s works. Along with the Bourdelle Museum, it is one of the rare sculptors’ studios which have managed to be preserved in Paris, bearing witness to the Montparnasse of artists. Learn more
Chana Orloff Atelier-Museum
An artist connected to l’Ecole de Paris, after a classic training at the national art school, Orloff discovered sculpture at the Russian academy in Montparnasse, where she became friends with Marc Chagall, Soutine, and Zadkine. A sculptor of natural subjects including women as mothers, Orloff is best known for her sculptured portraits of famous contemporary sitters – Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani. The studio, designed by Auguste Perret in 1925 in the Villa Seurat, still belongs to a family of the artist, with Orloff’s grand children carrying the legacy of the artist. Learn more
Academie de la Grande Chaumière
Located in the heart of Montparnasse, Academie de la Grande Chaumière is a private art academy famous for many artists – from Amedeo Modigliani to Chaim Soutine and Louise Bourgeois – who worked and taught there over the decades. A place of resistance and creation, it is the only institution at the beginning of the 20th century that paved the way for independent art, allowing all forms or techniques to freely express themselves without the restrictions of academic trends. Today, the Academie remains a place where anyone with an interest in art can take classes and workshops, working from live models. Learn more
La Ruche - Cité d'Artistes
Also known as "The Beehive". Located near Montparnasse and normally closed to the public, it was founded in 1900 as a residency for hundreds of international artists seeking shelter and acceptance during the interwar period and beyond. Its past artist residents include Marc Chagall, Fernand Léger, Modigliani, Chaïm Soutine, Ossip Zadkine, and Alfred Boucher. La Ruche’s architectural elements come from the l'Exposition de Paris 1900, designed by Gustave Eiffel. Today, la Ruche remains a sanctuary for about fifty artists who are currently living and working there. Visits by invitation only. Learn more
Giacometti Institute
The reference place for the work of Alberto Giacometti, one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. Born in Switzerland in 1901, Giacometti came to Paris to study under Antoine Bourdelle in 1922. He moved into the studio at 46 rue Hippolyte-Maindron with his brother Diego in 1926, and kept the studio until he died. The reconstructed studio is now housed by Giacometti Institute in an Art Deco style building located in the Montparnasse neighbourhood, together with a selected collection of his works. As an art history center, the Institute also offers various exhibitions, research and educational programs. Learn more
Cartier Fondation
Initiated in 1984, the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain is a unique example of corporate philanthropy in France. Since moving to Paris in 1994, the Fondation Cartier has been housed in an airy building filled with light that was designed by the architect Jean Nouvel. In this unique setting, exhibitions, conferences and artistic productions come to life. The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain is dedicated to promoting and raising public awareness of contemporary art. Each year, the Fondation Cartier organizes a program of exhibitions based on either individual artists or themes, and commissions work from artists, thus enriching an important collection. Learn more
Museum of Modern Art / Musée d’art moderne
Located between the Champs-Elysées and the Eiffel Tower, the Museum of Modern Art, is a Ville de Paris emblematic palace of 1930s architecture. It is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in France with permanent collection of more than 15,000 works from the 20th century to the current scene, includes works by major artists in the history of art: Picasso, Dufy, Modigliani, Derain, Picabia, Chagall, but also Boltanski, Parreno and Finger. Learn more
Le Bal Blomet
Opened in 1924 as cabaret and wine bar, Le Bal Blomet quickly became a prominent jazz club for the ‘Roaring Twenties’ generation dreaming of a new world after the sufferings of the Great War. The artists of Montparnasse regularly attend the Bal Blomet to enjoy the liberal atmosphere: among them Josephine Baker, Foujita, Calder, and the muse Kiki de Montparnasse accompanied by Man Ray; the American writers Ernest Hemingway, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, and Henry Miller, were also regulars, as well as Jean Cocteau, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Visual artists from 45 rue Blomet, Joan Miro, Andre Masson, Francis Picabia, Robert Desnos, Mondrian and Kees van Dongen also frequented the place. Renovated in 2015, Le Bal Blomet hosts a multicultural program of classical jazz and African-American music in the spirit of its great time. Learn more
Cité internationale universitaire de Paris
The creation of the Cité Internationale Universitaire / International University City of Paris took place between the two world wars to promote tolerance and international understanding by providing a space for exchange between scholars and artists from around the world. With the first residence inaugurated in 1925, it has expanded to 40 residential buildings, each representing a different country and its diverse architectural style. For almost a century they have been united by its original mission: to contribute to world peace through intercultural dialogue and exchange. Learn more
Historical Artists' Restaurants:
Aux Artistes
Located just around the corner from Atelier 11, L’AiR Arts residents love visiting Aux Artistes for authentic French meals hosted by Marvin, a grandson of the restaurant's original owners. Founded in 1959, when the Cité Falguière historical arts community was active and vibrant, Aux Artistes gatherings became a vital part of our contemporary residency program. Learn more
La Coupole
Since 1927, La Coupole has been a historical symbol of Montparnasse. Listed as a heritage site, this art deco style restaurant was frequented by artists of all nationalities living in Paris during the interwar years - Japanese Foujita, Russian Marie Vassilieff, Hungarian Brassai, French Andre Derain, Swiss Giacometti, Jewish-American Man Ray, Spanish Picasso are only few of them. The pillars that support the ceiling of the main dining hall are painted by artists of 1920’s Montparnasse. The images represent the three themes – Nature, Women and Celebration. Learn more
Historical Art Supply Stores:
Sennelier
An iconic art supplies store with two locations in Montparnasse area, Sennelier, was founded in 1887 by the craftsman of color, Gustave Sennelier. The store closely collaborated and provided art materials to his many renowned customers, such as Paul Cezanne, Pierre Bonnard, Vassily Kandinsky, Sonia Delaunay, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau and more recent to Hans Hartung, Olivier Debre, David Hockney. Learn more
Adam Montparnasse
Adam-Montparnasse was a flagship store for painters and sculptors in Paris, such as Braque, Dubuffet and Zao Wou-Ki. This is where in 1957 its owner Edouard Adam developed international Klein Blue pigment for Yves Klein and black for Pierre Soulage. Learn more
Charvin
Manufacture of Colors, founded in 1830 in Côte d'Azur, known for developing colors for painters such as Cézanne, Bonnard, Ambrogiani who stayed and worked on the Coast. Learn more
For more information in the area, check our Practical Info and Area Guide