Modern French Tapestry in the Spotlight: “Wall Power!” at the Clark Art Institute and the Role of Galerie Hadjer

A Rediscovery of Tapestry Through Modern Art

From December 14, 2024, to March 9, 2025, the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, will host an exceptional exhibition titled “Wall Power! Modern French Tapestry from the Mobilier national, Paris.” This unique event celebrates the richness, diversity, and vitality of modern French tapestry, a form of art often overlooked by the general public but here revealed in all its expressive power and central role in the narrative of 20th-century art.

Featuring 32 monumental tapestries, all drawn from the prestigious collections of the Mobilier national, Wall Power!traces the evolution of this textile art form through the lens of modernist creativity. It highlights the fruitful collaboration between France’s historic tapestry workshops—notably those of the Gobelins, Beauvais, and Aubusson—and key figures from the modern and contemporary art worlds.

Renowned Artists and Timeless Craftsmanship

The exhibition includes works by iconic artists such as Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Le Corbusier, Sonia Delaunay, Victor Vasarely, Alexander Calder and Zao Wou-Ki, among others. These visionaries embraced the endless creative potential of tapestry—its vibrant colors, rich textures, and monumental scale. Rather than mere reproductions, their works reflect a profound reinvention of pictorial language expressed through woven fiber.

Wall Power! also pays tribute to the master weavers, the highly skilled artisans who, using the artists’ original designs, bring each work to life in textile form. This dialogue between artistic innovation and traditional craft elevates tapestry to a major art form at the intersection of painting, design, and architecture.

A Living Modernity

While most of the featured works were created between the 1940s and 1980s, Wall Power! is not merely retrospective. The exhibition also embraces the present, showcasing contemporary pieces such as those by Kiki Smith, which illustrate how tapestry remains a vibrant, evolving medium—capable of tackling modern themes with both sensitivity and boldness.

Far from being a static or nostalgic art form, modern tapestry emerges as a living medium, in constant transformation, firmly rooted in tradition yet open to new aesthetics and contemporary concerns.

Galerie Hadjer: Bridging Heritage and Creation

Specializing in both antique and modern tapestries, Galerie Hadjer, based in Paris, plays a vital role in the ongoing recognition of textile art as a major artistic discipline. For several generations, the gallery has worked to bring visibility to historic tapestry masters while also supporting today’s contemporary creators, continuing the legacy of France’s grand tapestry tradition.

By exhibiting works from historical ateliers and engaging with contemporary production, Galerie Hadjer actively contributes to the preservation and renewal of this unique cultural heritage. Today, it stands as a key player on the international tapestry scene, serving both seasoned collectors and passionate enthusiasts.