Discover Centuries of French Art with “Sèvres Extraordinaire! Sculpture from 1740 until Today”
Exhibition
Agathon Léonard, Danseuses N°5, 1ère et 2ème grandeur. © Gérard Jonca.
Bard Graduate Center Gallery
18 West 86th Street
New York, New York
10024
Saturday, September 21, 2024 - Sunday, January 5, 2025
From September 21 – January 5, visit Bard Graduate Center Gallery to explore rarely seen archival materials and never-before exhibited works outside of France, celebrating the timeless artistry and innovation of French manufactory Sèvres.
Bard Graduate Center and Sèvres, Manufacture et Musée nationaux, present Sèvres Extraordinaire! Sculpture from 1740 until Today, the first U.S. exhibition dedicated to the evolution of Sèvres’ sculptures from its founding in 1740 to the present. Curated by renowned experts, this exhibition showcases nearly 200 objects, including pieces never before displayed outside of France, and highlights the manufactory’s artistic innovation, technological advances, and enduring influence.
Centered on Sèvres’ artistic legacy, the exhibition redefines Sèvres sculptures beyond mere function or decoration, featuring figures, busts, medallions, and three-dimensional pieces, including vases, centerpieces, clocks, and inkstands. It examines the broader context of French sculpture and the evolution of artistic styles from Rococo to Pop Art, showcasing works by historic and contemporary artists, including Étienne Maurice Falconet, Auguste Rodin, Yayoi Kusama, and Louise Bourgeois.
Exhibition highlights include the eighteenth-century L’Amitié by Falconet, Rodin’s Vase Saigon, and Kusama’s Golden Spirit, as well as a film illustrating the intricate process behind the manufactory’s porcelain sculptures.
Spread across four floors, travel through displays from the manufactory’s early years, showcasing rare soft-paste porcelain works and centuries of innovation, to modern collaborations that keep Sèvres at the forefront of ceramic art.
Sèvres Extraordinaire! not only honors the legacy of Sèvres Manufactory but also underscores its ongoing impact on the arts. By examining Sèvres’ dynamic relationship with art, technology, and state sponsorship, the exhibition highlights how this historic institution continues to shape contemporary trends in sculpture today.
Reserve your tickets here for this one-of-a-kind exhibition!
Support for Sèvres Extraordinaire! Sculpture from 1740 until Today is generously provided by the Lee B. Anderson Memorial Foundation, the Majolica International Society, the Belvedere Trust, Michele Beiny Harkins, Giles Ellwood and Philippe Sacerdot, and other donors to Bard Graduate Center.