The Chana Orloff Museum-Workshops

In Paris, some cultural sites can be discovered off the beaten path, away from the major museums and the most popular tourist routes. In the 14th arrondissement, the Chana Orloff Museum-Studios offer a rare experience: the chance to step inside the home and studio where the sculptor lived and worked for more than forty years.

Located in the heart of the Villa Seurat, this intimate spot is a wonderful place to visit during a stay in Paris, especially for lovers of art, architecture, and history.

Born in Ukraine, Chana Orloff arrived in Paris in 1910. She quickly became part of the artistic circles of Montparnasse and the École de Paris, alongside artists such as Modigliani and Soutine. She gradually established herself as a renowned sculptor and portraitist, working in wood, terracotta, bronze, plaster, and even cement.

Her work is distinguished by forms that are at once powerful, sensitive, and deeply human. Portraits, female figures, depictions of motherhood, and animals occupy a prominent place in her body of work.

The Chana Orloff Museum-Studios are located at 7 bis Villa Seurat, in Paris’s 14th arrondissement. Built in 1926 by architect Auguste Perret, the house retains the atmosphere of the place where the artist lived and created until 1968. Today, it holds the “Maison des Illustres” designation.

The tour allows visitors to explore the various spaces of the house, including the exhibition studio and the “travailloir”—the studio where Chana Orloff created her sculptures. The natural light, the spatial volumes, and the materials envisioned by Auguste Perret are integral to the experience.

More than 200 original sculptures, as well as drawings and engravings, are on display.

The Villa Seurat itself stands as a remarkable example of modern architecture in Paris. This private street in the 14th arrondissement was home to several artists and writers throughout the 20th century.

The Ateliers-musée offers self-guided tours and guided tours with a lecture on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, by reservation. The guided tour lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, followed by time to explore the premises on your own.

This outing in southern Paris offers a chance to discover another side of the capital: that of artists’ studios, small artists’ communities, and modern architecture.

• From the Hôtel du Jeu de Paume, located at 54 rue Saint-Louis-en-l’Île, head to the Pont Marie station (Metro Line 7).
• Take Line 7 toward La Courneuve – 8 Mai 1945 and get off at Châtelet, then continue by metro to Denfert-Rochereau on Line 4. From Denfert-Rochereau, the Ateliers-musée are within walking distance.
• Other options: The Ateliers-musée are accessible via Metro Line 4 (Alésia station), Line 6 (Saint-Jacques or Denfert-Rochereau stations), and Bus 62 (La Tombe-Issoire stop).

Before your visit, be sure to check the available time slots and reserve your ticket on the official website of the Chana Orloff Ateliers-musée.

Photo credit : https://www.chana-orloff.org/