The Bourdelle Museum is currently hosting an exhibition titled The Fabric of the Artist, which explores how artists from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century used clothing and personal appearance to express their identities and creative styles. The exhibition was inspired by the discovery of clothing items belonging to Antoine Bourdelle, a French sculptor, in the former apartment of his daughter Rodhia. On display are more than 50 textile items, accessories, and objects worn by artists, alongside 50 photographs, 33 paintings, 12 drawings, and 9 sculptures. These items are arranged in a chronological and thematic journey through eleven sections. Approximately a quarter of the artists featured in the exhibition are women.
At the center of the exhibition is an interactive digital installation that allows visitors to create their own artist outfit by choosing from a range of clothes and accessories. Once the outfit is completed, the system reveals which artist profile the visitor most closely matches. The exhibition is particularly aimed at younger audiences, with special guided tours for families and school groups. A children's tour is available, with panels placed at the height of young visitors to make the experience more accessible. Free assistance is also available to help visitors navigate the exhibition.
The museum offers guided tours for adults and teenagers aged 12 and older, as well as family tours for children as young as 7. One of these guided tours is called Silhouettes of Artists, in which visitors create their own silhouette using clothing and accessories that represent different artists' styles. Additional creative workshops are available for families, including It's Me, the Artist! for children aged 3 and above, Each One Their Own Style for children aged 7 and above, My Light Costume for children aged 7 and above, and Woven and Colored Paper Costume for children aged 6 and above.
Educators can book a 1h30 guided visit with a speaker who tailors the experience to the age and level of the students. They can also opt for a 3-hour modeling workshop titled Panoply of Genius or The Artist on Stage. After exploring the exhibition, students are encouraged to imagine themselves as artists, using symbolic elements of the artists' styles to create their own self-portraits and stage their own images. A 2h30 workshop titled Futurist Covers is also available for participants.
To participate in any of these activities, visitors must reserve a spot through the museum’s public service at 01 84 82 14 55 or via email at bourdelle.reservations@paris.fr. The exhibition The Fabric of the Artist will remain open until January 24, 2027. The Bourdelle Museum is located at 18, rue Antoine Bourdelle, 75015 Paris.
Bourdelle Museum Explores Artists' Clothing in New Exhibition
AI-rewritten from original reportingHow it works
art-fashionmuseum-exhibitionartist-clothingeducational-activitiesparis-museuminteractive-art



