Coinciding with Maison & Objet, Invisible Collection presents Sensitive Surfaces, an exhibition that brings together Studio MTX, French Maison d’Art resident of le 19M, and Studioparisien, an AD 100 honoree. This project originates in a long-standing affinity. “We have been working with Studio MTX and the Maisons d’art of le 19M since 2022, and I proposed initiating this dialogue with Studioparisien,’ explains Isabelle Dubern Mallevays. ‘Romain Jourdan and Laurène Barbier Tardew work worldwide as architects for leading jewelry houses. They have a profound understanding of the language and poetry of craftsmanship. Their furniture, which we have presented since the very beginning, expresses a distinctive form of precious brutalism, singular within the landscape of French decorative arts.”
Rather than a simple display of works, the immersive installation centers on one original artwork by Marie de Lignerolles, specially commissioned for the event and handmade with painstaking precision by the skilled artisans of Studio MTX. Known for her refined gouaches, where depth of color generates striking clarity, the French artist explores a new medium here in terms of size and scope, as her original gouache is faithfully transposed onto embroidered architectural panels, referred to as the “Leaves,” a signature creation of Studio MTX. “This collaboration marks a turning point in my practice. It has led me to work at a scale I am not accustomed to, moving into a new, spatial dimension,” says Marie de Lignerolles, adding: “It has also shifted my approach to technique: embroidery introduces a new layer of meaning and expression, amplifying the effect I seek to produce.”
This debut collaboration has been in the making for some time, as Mathieu Bassée, the artistic director of Studio MTX, was eager to showcase the maison’s unparalleled savoir-faire when partnering with contemporary artists. “Collaborations always feel a bit like a leap into the unknown. I already knew Marie de Lignerolles’s work, but I was surprised — and completely won over — by the evocative power her drawings bring to the Leaves. They move them into a different creative space and turn them into a hybrid object, one that both questions and attracts,” comments Bassé.
Within the intimate setting of Invisible Collection’s gallery, a dreamy scenography unfolds. The beautiful work by de Lignerolles hangs from the ceiling, surrounded by an array of colorful “Leaves” panels, free-floating in midair — a very cinematic image that stays with visitors. Connecting without ever touching, almost as though caressed by the Leaves, the new furniture pieces by Studioparisien, ground the overall sense of lightness. The seating is a mix of past and recent collections, including Sevigné and Hydra. Connoisseurs will recognize the sophisticated lines that define Studioparisien’s signature aesthetic, here somewhat more restrained, leaning into geometries that add depth and stature. The Sevigné borrows from the Greek letter Pi, with two legs placed side by side in a traditional tripod structure, while the Hydra is defined by faceted, diamond-shaped armrests that become a visual feature. As a whole, the soft geometry and generous padding lend the pieces both presence and refinement.
