Chanel is extending their commitment to craft beyond Paris this fall to Shanghai through their cultural platform, la Galerie du 19M.
This ambitious new chapter will be taking over the third floor of the Museum of Art Pudong, unfolding as an immersive exploration of the Métiers d’art, the specialized craft that sits at the heart of Chanel’s identity. Rather than presenting heritage as something static, the exhibition frames it as a living, evolving language shaped by both tradition and experimentation.
Shanghai feels like a deliberate choice with the city’s energy and cultural hybridity mirroring the spirit of the initiative itself; it sets up a dialogue between French artisans and contemporary creatives from China. The result is less a traditional exhibition and more a layered exchange, where embroidery, weaving, and decorative arts are placed in conversation with new ideas and perspectives.
At the center is a focus on process. Visitors are invited to engage with the tools, materials, and techniques behind the work, offering a rare look into practices that are often kept behind atelier doors. A group exhibition further expands the narrative, bringing together Chinese and French artists and designers to push craft beyond convention while remaining rooted in material knowledge.
A highlight arrives in the form of a retrospective dedicated to the storied embroidery house Lesage, tracing a century of innovation and collaboration. The presentation bridges past and present, underscoring how legacy can remain relevant through reinvention.
Beyond the exhibitions, a series of talks and hands-on workshops open the experience to a wider audience, reinforcing the idea that craftsmanship is not only to be observed, but shared. It’s a subtle but important shift, positioning savoir-faire as something accessible rather than exclusive.
la Galerie du 19M Shanghai will open Friday 25th September and run to Sunday 15th November 2026.
