Le design selon Pierre Paulin, 1927-2009
Auteur(s) : Florence Hudowicz
Exhibition at the Musée Fabre, Montpellier, 27 June – 1 November 2026
A leading figure in 20th-century design, Pierre Paulin (1927–2009) played a key role in the true emergence of this discipline in the aftermath of the Second World War, in a country undergoing reconstruction. During the ‘Trente Glorieuses’, in a world experiencing unprecedented economic expansion, Pierre Paulin became an interior designer and designer.
From his earliest creations to his now-iconic chairs, his work reflected the technological optimism and utopian visions of the 1960s and 1970s. Produced by the leading design houses and featured in the MoMA’s collections from 1968 onwards, and commissioned by the highest state institutions, Paulin profoundly transformed the landscape of French design.
This exhibition catalogue offers an overview of Paulin’s career and his iconic works, whilst revealing the vitality of a legacy that remains very much alive. It demonstrates how his exemplary career illustrates and challenges the richness of design – a multifaceted and ever-changing discipline – which the designer always viewed, first and foremost, as serving the public.
