The Apparent Simplicity of Pauline Deltour
At the age of just 38, the French designer passed away unexpectedly, having already established an internationally acclaimed body of work. With the exhibition “Pauline Deltour, an apparent simplicity”, which runs until 21 September 2026 at the Musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design (MADD), the museum pays tribute to her remarkably extensive body of work.
On display is the diversity of her projects: from wire basketwork for Alessi to an ultra-light stool for COR and a networked bicycle design for La Poste, right through to a ring with intertwined curves for JEM. Her designs are characterised by a particular interest in materials, processes and manufacturing tools.
She was shaped by four years spent in the studio of Konstantin Grcic in Munich, who is also co-curating the exhibition in Bordeaux.
Ten years of creative work
Hundreds of drawings, photographs and models from the studio archive offer an insight into her working methods. The exhibition highlights key stages of her career in Japan, Italy, Colombia and the USA. Numerous objects and pieces of furniture, some still in production and others made specifically for the exhibition, allow visitors to experience the projects first-hand. The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the Pauline Deltour Design Studio. A monograph is being published to accompany the exhibition, featuring contributions from the curators Anna Bernagozzi, Jonathan Olivares and Cloé Pitiot.
