Atelier Alain Ellouz headquarters, the new cradle of art and design
The Atelier Alain Ellouz headquarters offers a remarkable setting for an exhibition equally impressive, in terms of both the number of pieces and artists on exhibition © photo Christel Martin.
The exhibition creates a tone based on a persistent dialog between alabaster, Atelier Alain Ellouz’ favorite material, and scads of creations in earthenware, brass, oak and bronze from international designers.
Upon entrance, visitors are swept into a surreal environment, one constructed by Alain Ellouz using alabaster stone.
Luminous panels help set a stage that depicts the process from the stone’s extraction to its transformation into slabs for stonecraft.
As visitors entered the building with a champagne glass in hand, they admired one of Atelier Alain Ellouz’ iconic pieces, a magnificent composition of SOHO pendant lights unfurling at the center of the Art Deco-inspired stairwell. The composition’s luminescent alabaster medallions are encircled with an inlaid gilt buckle and hang weightlessly from vertical rods equally as golden.
The visit continues on to the second floor of the exhibition.
Cabinet de Virtuosités is a nod to the array of design firms presenting an eclectic selection of curiosities, the watchword uniting the collection being ‘virtuosity’… technical and sculptural virtuosity of course, but also and above all aesthetic virtuosity.
The designers on display represent various currents of sculptural design, including organic, minimalist, raw and even virtualist expressions. Instead of setting them against each other, Galerie Philia brought them together to create a resonance that calls us to discover this upsurge in the world of design, whose roots are anchored in an undulating renaissance of functional sculpture. Most of the pieces were sculpted especially for this exhibition and have therefore not been shown before.
© Maison Mouton Noir, Galerie Philia.
Coffee table and chair by Atelier Cartès Demarquet made from raw whitewashed wood. Sculpted clay, steel and wood floor lamp by Faina, and ceramic lamp by Pia Chevalier. © Maison Mouton Noir, Galerie Philia
‘Fragmenté’ slate dining table by Frédéric Saulou, ‘Dot’ chair by Cédric Breisacher and ‘Icarus’’lighting by Jérôme Pereira © Maison Mouton Noir, Galerie Philia
Coffee table, stool and slice shelf by Cédric Breisacher. ‘Dual’ clay pendant lighting by Willem Van Hoof © Maison Mouton Noir, Galerie Philia
Bench by Jörg Pietschmann and coat rack by Elissa Lacoste © Maison Mouton Noir, Galerie Philia
Elisa Uberti ceramic chairs, ‘Native’ lighting elements by Hot Wire Extensions. Mirror by Hot Wire Extensions, Precious Artifact floor lamp and Atelier Alain Ellouz pendant light
In the foreground: ‘Los Tres Deseos’ sculpted stools by Pietro Franceschini. © Maison Mouton Noir, Galerie Philia
In the foreground: ‘Stag T’ and ‘Urn’ by Rick Owens
Background: ‘3 Tops Agatha’ coffee table by Draga & Aurel, Mirrors L and M by Cobra Studios.[GI3]
© Maison Mouton Noir, Galerie Philia
The dialog between alabaster and the other materials is particularly resonant on the building’s 4th floor. In a space generally dedicated to the AAE showroom, the collection’s furniture pieces mingle with exceptional lighting elements sculpted from alabaster and rock crystal by Atelier Alain Ellouz.
The smaller alabaster pendant lights from the Atelier Alain Ellouz Edition collection float above the ‘Aluminum Concretion’ shelf by Studio Julien Manaira. © Maison Mouton Noir, Galerie Philia
The delicate sensuality of the aerial, alabaster pendant lights paired with the sheepskin rugs by Carine Boxy. © photos Christel Martin
The exhibition will take place from November 8, 2021 to April 29, 2022.
CABINET DE VIRTUOSITÉS
Atelier Alain Ellouz showroom
17 rue des Jonnières
91570 Bièvres
Contact: Julie Denmanivong
Tel : 01 73 95 0 320
Email: julied@atelieralainellouz.com
Visits by appointment monday to friday from 9am to 5pm
Carpark on the site or RER C Bièvres station
This event marks an important phase in Atelier Alain Ellouz’ development, which is heading no holds barred into the world of artistic creation. While the showroom aims to truly inspire designers, the surroundings, with its lush green gardens and terraces as well as its unique architecture, is set to become an artistic epicenter for creators and exhibits, in a salute, of course, to alabaster’s splendor.
