A back-to-school season marked by design and a centenary.
Paris in September means golden light on Haussmannian facades, crowded terraces, and above all the creative effervescence of Paris Design WeekThis year, the Marais becomes the scene of a meeting between history, audacity and craftsmanship.
A stone's throw from rue des Francs-Bourgeois, behind a discreet door at 11 rue Payenne, theSwedish Institute invites you to celebrate 100 years of Swedish glassmaking excellence with Blazing Grace.
More than an exhibition, it is a 360° experience, where glass expresses itself freely, carried by five of the most exciting Swedish artists of the moment.
The Swedish Institute, a cult address in the Marais
A place of life, culture, and exchange, the Swedish Institute is a Parisian institution. Nestled in a 17th-century mansion, it is a Nordic interlude in the heart of Paris.
Its shaded garden and its FIKA coffee, with aromas of cinnamon and cardamom, make it one of the most stylish spots in the neighborhoodDuring Paris Design Week, its light-filled rooms become the perfect setting to enhance the play of transparency and color of contemporary glass.
A colorful meeting with Markus Emilsson
At the turn of a room, Markus Emilsson, curator and artist of the exhibition, appears in a three-piece suit in vibrant colors, between pink and shimmering mauveIts silhouette seems to enter into perfect symbiosis with the works exhibited, as if it were an integral part of this vibrant scenography.
“I want every visitor to feel the energy of glass, its liveliness, its unpredictability,” he says, adjusting his jacket.
This flamboyant touch is like Blazing Grace : elegant, joyful and daring.
Blazing Grace: An Ode to Living Matter
Glass, a capricious and fascinating material, is here freed from its industrial constraintsEach artist pushes their technical limits to give it a new voice.
Blazing Grace marks the centenary of the movement Swedish Grace, this style that shaped the elegant and functional image of Scandinavian design. But rather than a retrospective, it is a renaissance : proof that glass is more than ever a creative playground.
1925–2025: One Hundred Years of Swedish Grace
En 1925, Paris dedicates Sweden to the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. The creations of Rörstrand, 134 82 Gustavsberg, Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Estrid Ericson ou Orrefors embody a luminous and refined aesthetic: the Swedish Grace.
This trend combines simplicity, functionalism and elegance, seducing the whole world.
A century later, Blazing Grace revisits this heritage. The contemporary glass scene, nourished by independent workshops and experimental creations, is freeing itself from large manufacturers to celebrate the diversity of techniques and stylesParis, once again, becomes the mirror of this evolution.
1925–2025: milestones in the history of glassmaking
1925 – Paris. Swedish Grace seduces the world, Orrefors becomes an icon.
1939 – New York. Birth of Swedish Modern : democratic and bright design.
1950 years. The era of Scandinavian Design : purity and functionality.
2013. Closures of Åfors and Orrefors: end of an industrial cycle.
2010-2020. Renaissance through independent workshops and studios.
2025 – Paris. Blazing Grace famous 100 years of creativity and opens a new era.
Five artists, five universes
Maria Bang Espersen – The Alchemist
She bends and stretches glass like spun sugar, creating organic and surprising sculptures. Her experimental approach pays homage to the unpredictable beauty of the material.
Hanna Hansdotter – The Baroque
Her exuberant and sensual sculptures seem ready to overflow from their forms. She flirts with kitsch and transforms glass into contemporary object of desire.
Peter Hermansson – The Narrator
With exceptional mastery of the technique of grail, he tells surreal stories. His pieces oscillate between pastel softness and a dark dreamlike universe.
Fredrik Nielsen – The Rebel
Street culture and craft collide. Nielsen paints, breaks, reconstructs, and disrupts glass. Each sculpture is a punk statement.
Kirsten Vikingstad Hermansson – The Brutal Architect
His monumental, rough and colorful works pay homage to Swedish crystal, while diverting it.
An immersive scenography
The exhibition is designed as an artistic walkEach room interacts with the volumes of the private mansion. Natural light changes the perception of the works throughout the day.
The visitor is invited to slow down, to immerse themselves, to let themselves be surprised.
And to prolong the experience, head to FIKA coffee : a sweet Scandinavian break (special mention for the kanelbullar, cinnamon buns) in an arty and warm setting.
Our tips for a perfect visit
• Instagram spot: Kirsten Vikingstad Hermansson’s sculptures in the great hall, where the glass reflects the 18th century moldings.
• Arty break: a Nordic cappuccino at FIKA, before a stroll in the Marais.
• Design bonus: the Institute’s boutique is full of cutting-edge Scandinavian objects.
The exclusive meeting
Blazing Live – September 11 (19 p.m.–21 p.m.)
An exceptional performance to celebrate the centenary 1925–2025 :
Fredrik Nielsen and Markus Emilsson, accompanied by Andrew Erdos (PUSH Hot Glass), shape sculptures live. Fiery ovens, precise breathing, millimeter-perfect gestures: a hypnotic choreographywhich reveals the soul of the glass.
