MARCH 2025
WORK OF THE MONTH: FASCINATING AND MOVING DORA MAAR
“ABSTRACT COMPOSITION” c. 1970
Oil on paper 8 x 10,5 inches
Stamp with the artist’s monogram “DM”
It was Pablo Picasso himself, whose muse and mistress she was for 10 years, who encouraged Dora Maar to work on painting when she had been concentrating on photography until then. From that moment on, she never stopped painting.
In this work, Dora experiments and creates with her painting. She assembles two sheets of paper loaded with paint that she rubs together to obtain the final piece. On a small rectangle of paper, a landscape blossoms in lyrical abstraction. A colorful poetry in communion with nature escapes from this composition, an abstraction that is both meditative and intensely experienced.
In recent years, major exhibitions have paid tribute to the artist. For example, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Tate Modern in London both held recent retrospective.
VISIT OF THE MONTH: INCREDIBLE AND WONDERFUL ATELIER DE DALE CHIHULY
The Boathouse on Lake Union
This month we met with the artist Dale Chihuly, who is an explorer of line, light and color through many mediums. Chihuly is particularly renowned for his work with glass, his material of color and light par excellence!
His great curiosity of mind and his keen observational skills allow him to constantly renew his artistic vision by creating works as personal as they are resolutely contemporary.
We witnessed a captivating and mesmerizing scene where working with molten glass becomes a carefully orchestrated dance, guided by Chihuly’s expertise. There was palpable synergy between the master and his collaborators, who worked together with impressive precision and calm. Gravity, in its role of stretching the glass, accentuated the subtle interaction between craftsmanship, art, and the natural properties of the material.
The “magic” lies not just in the aesthetic and artistic result but in the process itself, which feels both natural and mysterious. Once the process is executed, a molten object is gently cooled in a special furnace, emphasizing the importance of control and patience in the creation of the work. This discipline mirrors the meticulous labor carried out at each step.
Yet the apparent simplicity of the final piece is the result of such mastery that the viewer might believe the creation process required little effort. Behind the beauty of a work, there is often a deep and complex technique that remains hidden from those who are unfamiliar with the craft and the art!
All my thanks to Dale and Leslie Chihuly for their warm welcome!
February 2025
We’re thrilled to share that Galerie Orsay has been featured in the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog! The article highlights our mission, our historical location, and the incredible work we’re showcasing. You can read the full story here: https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2025/01/new-galerie-orsay-paris-seattle-brings-a-french-connection-to-broadway/
As we celebrate this recognition, we also want to remind you that our current exhibition,Erica Hilario’s Ø49MM, will be closing soon—February 14th is the final day! If you haven’t had the chance to see it yet, now is the perfect time to stop by and experience these incredible works before they leave our walls.
