Upcoming Man Ray Exhibition
Atelier 3’s most historic collaboration was with Man Ray. Conceived in New York in 1916–17 as a series of collages, Revolving Doors was first exhibited in 1919 but wasn’t realized in textile form until 1972–73, when Man Ray worked with Atelier 3 to bring the project to life in tapestry.
Frédérique Bachellerie and Péter Schönwald with Man Ray tapestry, ‘Concrete Mixer’
The project was as much a story of collaboration as of innovation. When Man Ray first visited Atelier 3 in Paris in 1973, he was deeply moved by the weavers’ ability to capture the sharp geometry and layered colors of his collages in textile form. Their process went beyond replication, building what Frédérique Bachellerie described as “a new skin from the print.” The resulting tapestries fused Surrealist abstraction with a rich, tactile presence, offering what Man Ray himself once called “machines for the mind” — images that open and close like thought, now given monumental scale in woven wool.
Atelier 3
Didier Marien and the team from L’Atelier 3.
Founded in Paris in 1972 by Frédérique Bachellerie, Péter Schönwald, and Michel Slaghenauffi, Atelier 3 quickly established itself as one of the most innovative workshops in modern tapestry. At a time when artists like Calder, Miró, and Le Corbusier were exploring textiles, Atelier 3 brought a radical philosophy: weaving was not reproduction, but artistic interpretation.
Rejecting factory-like methods and numbered cartoons, Atelier 3 worked from the front of the loom, allowing the weaver to see the tapestry as it developed in real time. This approach elevated the weaver from technician to co-creator, ensuring each work retained the vitality and originality of the artist’s vision.
Frédérique Bachellerie and Péter Schönwald in front of Arman tapestry, ‘Colère de guitare’
The founders shared a desire to revive forgotten weaving techniques while opening the medium to the avant-garde. Their commitment to innovation extended to materials: combining wool with unconventional fibers and metallic threads to reflect the spirit of each artist’s work.
This balance of tradition and experimentation made Atelier 3 a trusted partner for leading 20th-century artists. Over the decades, Atelier 3 has collaborated with many leading artists, including Man Ray, Arman, Pierre Alechinsky, and Bernard Cathelin. Each tapestry stands as a dialogue between artist and artisan, merging conceptual daring with the tactile depth of textile.
Frédérique Bachellerie and Péter Schönwald in front of Bernard Cathelin tapestry, ‘Katsura – Harmonie noire et verte’
Today, Atelier 3’s works are championed by Modern Masters Tapestries/Boccara Gallery, under the direction of Didier Marien. The gallery’s international presence ensures these woven masterpieces are seen at major fairs and exhibitions, celebrated as both fine art and cultural heritage.
This November, Boccara Gallery New York will present Man Ray: Revolving Doors Tapestries — the first U.S. exhibition of the complete series woven by Atelier 3, offering collectors and audiences a rare chance to experience this pivotal collaboration.
