Modern Masters Tapestries is pleased to present the first Bernard Cathelin exhibition at its Paris gallery, from September 8 to October 17, 2026, bringing together a selection of approximately ten exceptional tapestries from the Modern Masters Tapestries collection.
Presented at 19 Galerie Véro-Dodat, 75001 Paris, the exhibition offers a focused exploration of Cathelin’s textile work and his remarkable collaboration with Atelier 3, the Parisian workshop that played a central role in translating his distinctive painterly language into tapestry.
Bernard Cathelin: From Painting to Tapestry
Born in Paris in 1919, Bernard Cathelin developed a highly recognizable visual language characterized by strong compositions, rich textures, and deeply expressive color. His work remained closely connected to the landscapes of the Drôme region while also reflecting the influence of his extensive travels, particularly in Mexico, India, and Japan.
Japan became an especially important source of inspiration. Its architecture, gardens, sense of balance, and refined relationship between form and space resonated deeply with Cathelin and can be felt throughout his work.
Tapestry provided a natural extension of this artistic language. The density of wool, the depth of woven surfaces, and the subtle variations created by hand weaving gave Cathelin an opportunity to reinterpret the texture and chromatic richness of his paintings on a monumental scale.
Bernard Cathelin and Atelier 3: An Exceptional Collaboration
Cathelin’s relationship with Atelier 3 began in 1973, when he commissioned the Parisian workshop to create his first tapestry, The Mexican Market. It marked the beginning of an exceptional collaboration that would continue throughout his career and beyond.
Founded in Paris in 1972 by Frédérique Bachellerie, Péter Schönwald, and Michel Slaghenauffi, Atelier 3 developed a distinctive approach to modern tapestry. Rather than treating weaving as the simple reproduction of an existing artwork, the workshop approached it as a genuine act of artistic interpretation.
Working manually and directly from the original artwork rather than relying on conventional numbered cartoons, the weavers sought to translate the nuances of Cathelin’s paintings through the selection of fibers, colors, textures, and weaving techniques.
This close dialogue between painter and weaver resulted in tapestries with a character of their own: works that remain unmistakably Cathelin while revealing the extraordinary tactile possibilities of textile art.
Today, Atelier 3 continues to weave works designed by Bernard Cathelin under the impetus of Boccara Gallery, perpetuating a collaboration that has spanned more than five decades.
Around Ten Bernard Cathelin Tapestries on View in Paris
The exhibition brings together approximately ten Bernard Cathelin tapestries from the Modern Masters Tapestries collection, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience the scale, texture, and intensity of these works in person.
Among the works presented is Katsura – Harmonie noire et verte, a composition that reflects Cathelin’s profound fascination with Japan and demonstrates the remarkable dialogue between his painterly vocabulary and the craftsmanship of Atelier 3.
Visitors will also discover Nature morte bleu et noir aux aubergines and Nature morte aux deux bouquets de roses. Through these works, Cathelin’s recurring subjects acquire an entirely new material presence: familiar forms are transformed by wool, texture, and the subtle variations inherent in hand weaving.
Seen together, the tapestries reveal the breadth of Cathelin’s textile oeuvre and demonstrate why his collaboration with Atelier 3 occupies a distinctive place in the history of 20th-century modern tapestry.
Visit the Exhibition at Modern Masters Tapestries Paris
The exhibition is presented from September 8 to October 17, 2026, at the Modern Masters Tapestries gallery in Paris, within the historic Galerie Véro-Dodat, just a few steps from the Louvre.
MODERN MASTERS TAPESTRIES
19 Galerie Véro-Dodat
75001 Paris, France
For collectors, designers, and enthusiasts of modern textile art, the exhibition provides an opportunity to discover these works at close range and appreciate the craftsmanship, textures, and colors that cannot be fully conveyed through photography.
In Paris? Visit Boccara at Fine Arts Paris 2026
Visitors coming to Paris for the exhibition are also invited to discover Boccara Gallery at Fine Arts Paris 2026, held at the Grand Palais from September 19 to 23, 2026.
At Stand C30, Boccara will present a selection devoted to exceptional modern tapestry, including works by Le Corbusier, Pierre Alechinsky, Sonia Delaunay, and Man Ray.
The two presentations offer a complementary opportunity to explore the extraordinary renewal of tapestry by major 20th-century artists: an exhibition dedicated to Bernard Cathelin and Atelier 3 at Modern Masters Tapestries, and a broader selection of modern masterpieces presented by Boccara at the Grand Palais.
