Claire Tabouret to Design Notre-Dame’s Stained-Glass Windows

Claire Tabouret b. 1981, France Follow +

Claire Tabouret, a figurative painter who lives between France and Los Angeles, was announced the winner of a competition organised by the French Ministry of Culture, intended to add a modern flourish to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, which dates back to the 12th century.

Her winning designs were chosen by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris and French President Emmanuel Macron, after being selected among eight finalists shortlisted by an artistic committee of 20 members.

The designs, which feature people in prayer and contemplation in hues of turquoise, yellow, pink, and red, will replace windows in six chapels along the southern side of Notre-Dame, originally designed by French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, which survived a 2019 blaze at the cathedral.

The project, however, has been criticised by heritage associations, scholars, and architects. Opponents argued removing the original stained-glass windows would violate the principles of the 1964 Venice Charter, a set of guidelines that provide an international framework for the conservation and restoration of historic buildings.

The petition to keep Viollet-le-Duc’s windows has garnered 234,000 signatures, reported The Art Newspaper. Heritage groups have also pledged to take the issue to court.

President Macron has previously faced criticism in response to the Notre-Dame rebuild. Shortly after the fire—which destroyed the cathedral’s wooden roof and severely damaged its upper walls—Macron announced an international competition for the design of a new spire. The outcry was so great that he was forced to reconsider, and pledged to rebuild the spire according to Viollet-le-Duc’s original plans.

At a press conference held at the cathedral, Tabouret addressed concerns about the redesign, explaining: ‘I’ve read about the different opinions of people because I want to understand their arguments.’

The artist praised the idea of adding ‘movement to a historic building that is so well loved,’ adding, ‘We need to remain in movement, we need to be confident in our era and show confidence in contemporary artists.’

Notre-Dame reopened on 7 December in a ceremony attended by politicians and influential figures, including Donald Trump, Jill Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Elon Musk, and Prince William.

Tabouret’s stained-glass windows are set to be installed by the end of 2026. —[O]

Main image: Claire Tabouret. Photo: © Stéphane de Sakutin / AFP.