Galerie Negropontes presents contemporary design inspired by Henri Matisse's legacy

Galerie Negropontes in Paris is hosting a free exhibition exploring Henri Matisse's influence on contemporary design until July 31, 2026. The show, organized in parallel with the major Matisse retrospective at the Grand Palais, features works from Maison Matisse, founded in 2019 by the painter's great-grandson. Instead of focusing on painting, the exhibition highlights how Matisse's visual universe inspires modern creations in glass, ceramics, textiles, lighting, and jewelry. Key motifs from the artist's work—including windows, bathers, dance, cut-outs, and Mediterranean themes—are reinterpreted through contemporary pieces. Alessandro Mendini's faïence vases, fired eight times above 900°C, translate Matisse's decorative space into three-dimensional form. The Bouroullec brothers' installation of terracotta, anodized aluminum, and porcelain transforms the window motif into an architectural landscape washed in watery blues and greens. Other featured works include Agnès Baillon's diaphanous swimmers, Perrin & Perrin's glass sculptures, and Éric de Dormael's luminous cut-leaf light installations. Together these pieces create a vibrant interior space saturated with Mediterranean color and light—a three-dimensional realization of a Matisse-inspired living environment. The exhibition is located at 14-16 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau in Paris's 1st arrondissement, with free admission Monday through Saturday from 10am to 7pm.