Christian Louboutin: The Exhibition, Palais de la Porte Dorée
Get ready for red soles, spiked heels and killer shoes as a landmark exhibition celebrating Christian Louboutin comes to Paris. What better excuse for a mini break?
Christian Louboutin: The Exhibition, Palais de la Porte Dorée
A major exhibition dedicated to the work and creativity of the internationally renowned footwear designer Christian Louboutin will arrive in Paris next year. It will be housed in the Palais de la Porte Dorée, and curated by Olivier Gabet - director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
Louboutin was born in the 12th district of Paris, close to the Palais de la Porte Dorée. From an early age, he was enamoured with the architecture and ornamental richness of the institution. Indeed, he used a repertoire of forms and motifs from the Palais for his first designs, including the Maquereau shoe – made of metallic leather and directly inspired by the iridescence of the fish in the Palais de la Porte Dorée’s tropical aquarium - so it is the perfect home for the upcoming exhibition.
Word has it that in 1991, in his very first boutique, Christian Louboutin had the sudden urge to paint the soles of a pair of his designs scarlet with an employee's nail polish. Fast-forward twenty years, and Louboutin's red soles have become synonymous with luxury.
It is this daring creativity - which was informed by a passion for travel and references from the worlds of pop culture, theatre, dance, literature and cinema - that will be explored within the exhibition.
In revealing Christian Louboutin’s inspirations and creative processes, the exhibition will showcase the designer’s vision through a selection of the most precious works from his personal collection and loans from public collections. A large selection of shoes will be on display, some of which have never been displayed before.
There will also be a number of specially-created collaborations on show, including stained glass panels created by the Maison du Vitrail, a Sevillian silver palanquin and a cabaret sculpted in Bhutan. There'll also be pieces by director and photographer David Lynch, artist Lisa Reihana, Spanish photographer Blanca Li, and plenty more.
Christian Louboutin: The Exhibition will run from 25 February - 28 July 2020
Louboutin was born in the 12th district of Paris, close to the Palais de la Porte Dorée. From an early age, he was enamoured with the architecture and ornamental richness of the institution. Indeed, he used a repertoire of forms and motifs from the Palais for his first designs, including the Maquereau shoe – made of metallic leather and directly inspired by the iridescence of the fish in the Palais de la Porte Dorée’s tropical aquarium - so it is the perfect home for the upcoming exhibition.
Word has it that in 1991, in his very first boutique, Christian Louboutin had the sudden urge to paint the soles of a pair of his designs scarlet with an employee's nail polish. Fast-forward twenty years, and Louboutin's red soles have become synonymous with luxury.
It is this daring creativity - which was informed by a passion for travel and references from the worlds of pop culture, theatre, dance, literature and cinema - that will be explored within the exhibition.
In revealing Christian Louboutin’s inspirations and creative processes, the exhibition will showcase the designer’s vision through a selection of the most precious works from his personal collection and loans from public collections. A large selection of shoes will be on display, some of which have never been displayed before.
There will also be a number of specially-created collaborations on show, including stained glass panels created by the Maison du Vitrail, a Sevillian silver palanquin and a cabaret sculpted in Bhutan. There'll also be pieces by director and photographer David Lynch, artist Lisa Reihana, Spanish photographer Blanca Li, and plenty more.
Christian Louboutin: The Exhibition will run from 25 February - 28 July 2020
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| What | Christian Louboutin: The Exhibition, Palais de la Porte Dorée |
| Where | Palais de la Porte Dorée, 293 Avenue Daumesnil, Paris, 75012 | MAP |
| When |
25 Feb 20 – 28 Jul 20, Check website for daily opening |
| Price | £9 |
| Website | Click here for more information and tickets |