CLAIRE TABOURET
b. 1981, FranceClaire Tabouret is a French contemporary artist whose psychologically charged figurative paintings have made her one of the most compelling voices in contemporary art. Her international acclaim reached a new height when she was selected by the French Ministry of Culture to design six new stained glass windows for the historic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, a commission that positions her work at the intersection of contemporary art and cultural heritage.
Early Years
Born in Pertuis, France, in 1981, Claire Tabouret studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, graduating in 2006, and also attended Cooper Union, New York, in 2005. Her upbringing in Provence and academic training in Paris shaped her sensitivity to themes of memory and the human condition. Since 2015, Tabouret has lived and worked in Los Angeles, where she continues to develop her distinctive approach to painting, drawing, and sculpture.
Claire Tabouret Artworks
Claire Tabouret's artworks are known for their expressive brushwork, vibrant and muted palettes, and exploration of identity, transformation, and the passage of time. Her paintings often depict groups or solitary figures in moments of introspection, drawing on both personal and collective memory.
Seminal Artworks and Developments
'Makeup' Series (2015–ongoing)
This series features young women and girls with faces smeared in cosmetics, symbolising childhood experimentation and the construction of identity.
'The Last Day' (2016)
A monumental painting of costumed children, this work explores memory and group dynamics. It set a record at Christie's, selling for $863,000, highlighting Tabouret's growing market presence.
Chapel Commission, Château de Fabrègues (2017)
Tabouret transformed the interior of a chapel in France with murals depicting costumed children, merging sacred space with the innocence and theatricality of youth.
'Wrestlers' and 'Dancers' (2018)Created for exhibitions at Picasso's studio and Almine Rech Gallery, these works explore struggle and harmony, referencing both art history and Tabouret's dialogue with the legacy of Picasso.
'Lockdown Self-Portraits' (2020)
Produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, these introspective works reflect on isolation and vulnerability, further cementing her reputation for capturing the psychological depths of her subjects.
Notre-Dame Cathedral Windows (2024–2026)
In 2024, Tabouret was selected by a 20-member committee, including conservators, artists, and representatives from the Paris diocese and Ministry of Culture, to design six new stained-glass windows for the south chapels of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Her winning proposal depicts groups of people in prayer, rendered in luminous turquoise, yellow, pink, and red hues. The windows will be fabricated in collaboration with the historic Atelier Simon-Marq glass workshop in Reims, with installation projected for completion by the end of 2026. This project situates Tabouret's art within a centuries-old tradition of sacred art and underscores her prominence in contemporary art.
Select Public Commissions, Awards and Accolades
- Chapel interior, Château de Fabrègues, France
- Stained glass windows, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, France (commissioned 2024)
- Yishu 8 Prize, Beijing (2012)
- Femmes en Or Prize (2014)
- Marin Prize (2013)
- SJ Berwin Prize (2011)
- Jeune Créateur Prize (2009)
Exhibitions
Claire Tabouret has been the subject of both solo exhibitions and group exhibitions at important institutions. Below is a selection of important exhibitions.
Solo Exhibitions
- Au Bois d'Amour, Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, 2023
- Immortelle, MO.CO, Montpellier, 2023
- I am spacious, singing flesh, Palazzo Cavanis, Venice Biennale Collateral Event, 2022
- L'éloquence des larmes, Château La Coste, Le Puy-Sainte-Reparade, 2022
- One Day I Broke a Mirror (with Yoko Ono), Villa Medici, Rome, 2017
- The Dance of Icarus, YUZ Museum, Shanghai, 2017
- Les Débutantes, Galerie Bugada & Cargnel, Paris, 2015
Group Exhibitions
- Holy See Pavilion, Biennale Arte 2024, Venice
- Women Painting Women, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 2022
- Present Generations, Columbus Museum of Art, 2021
- L'illusion des lumières, Palazzo Grassi, Venice, 2014
FAQs
Where can I see Claire Tabouret's work?
Claire Tabouret's artworks are held in major public collections including the Centre Pompidou (Paris), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Institute of Contemporary Art Miami, Dallas Museum of Art, Pinault Collection (Paris and Venice), and Musée Picasso, Paris. Her exhibitions have been staged at institutions such as Almine Rech Gallery (Paris, London), Perrotin (Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo), and Night Gallery (Los Angeles). The new stained glass windows she is creating will be installed in Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, by 2026.
What themes does Claire Tabouret explore in her art?
Claire Tabouret's art explores themes of identity, memory, childhood, and the emotional complexities of human relationships. Her works often depict groups, assemblies, or solitary figures in ambiguous, dreamlike settings, using expressive colour and brushwork to evoke psychological depth.
How did Claire Tabouret become internationally recognised?
Claire Tabouret's rise was catalysed by early support from major collectors and institutions, including exhibitions at Palazzo Grassi, Musée Picasso, and participation in the Venice Biennale. Her distinctive approach to figuration and psychological depth has attracted global attention, culminating in her commission for Notre-Dame Cathedral.
What are some of Claire Tabouret's most notable artworks?
Among Claire Tabouret's most celebrated works are The Last Day (2016), The Siblings, the Makeup series, and her Lockdown Self-Portraits. These works exemplify her exploration of vulnerability, transformation, and collective memory.
Are there any interesting facts about Claire Tabouret?
Claire Tabouret transformed a chapel's interior with a mural of costumed children, blending sacred and theatrical imagery. Her painting The Last Day sold for $863,000 at Christie's. She is now contributing to Notre-Dame Cathedral's restoration through her stained-glass window designs, a commission selected from over 100 submissions and approved by the French President and Archbishop of Paris.
How do you pronounce Claire Tabouret's name?
Claire Tabouret is pronounced 'Klair Ta-boo-ray'
Ocula | 2025
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