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Art & Culture

Comité Colbert Celebrates 250 Years of Franco-American Ties with Special Exhibition

“Hidden Treasures: 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories” will bring together over 65 maisons and cultural institutions at The Shed from May 26-31

By Alexandria Sillo
Exhibition room with mannequins in elegant dresses and display boxes along both walls, showcasing various fashion items.
Rendering of “Hidden Treasures, 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories.” Photo: Courtesy of Comité Colbert

This spring, The Shed will host a special exhibition presented by Comité Colbert that will explore 250 years of artistic exchange between France and the United States. Presented in five chapters, “Hidden Treasures, 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories” will feature never-before-seen American archives, with each participating French maison represented by a single artifact. Baccarat, for instance, will display George Chevalier’s Horloge Soleil Héritage, which was featured in the maison’s first U.S. boutique on East 57th Street in New York, and later at Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe’s apartment.

Vintage Celine Scarf scarf featuring historic US mail designs with carriages, mailboxes, and patriotic emblems on blue background, from the exhibit Hidden Treasures, 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories.
Celine US Mail scarf. Photo: Courtesy of Celine
Illustration of a historical building with columns and a dome, featuring a woman with a wheelchair and an interior scene, from the exhibit at the Shed, Hidden Treasures, 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories.
Yves Delorme. Photo: Courtesy of Yves Delorme

The chapters open with First Encounters, which explores the foundations of the Franco-American exchange through diplomacy, trade, and cultural discovery. Crossing Oceans focuses on the golden age of transatlantic travel, which propelled the movement of people, ideas, and luxury goods. The Rise of Icons chapter recognizes the emergence of globally recognized brands that are shaped by American culture, while Crafting Diplomacy captures moments where design, craftsmanship, and hospitality intersect with politics and international relations. Finally, Creative Resonances spotlights the contemporary collaborations and cultural exchanges shaping modern creativity.

Elegant Christian Loboutin beige high heels adorned with intricate lace details and sparkling embellishments, from the exhibit at the Shed in New York, Hidden Treasures, 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories.
The 2012 Christian Louboutin Cinderella slipper. Photo: Courtesy of Christian Louboutin
Ballerina brooch adorned with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies, elegantly posed with arms raised and one leg extended , from the exhibit at the Shed in New York, Hidden Treasures, 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories.
Van Cleef, Dancer clip. Photo: Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels

Participants include Christian Louboutin, represented by a 2012 collaboration with Disney that reimagined Cinderella’s glass slipper, Yves Delorme, represented by a scenographic artwork exploring the enduring dialogue between French textile heritage and American architectural imagination, Van Cleef & Arpels, represented by a ballerina clip, Celine, represented by a stunning scarf, and many others.

Tickets for the special exhibition are available beginning April 24.

“Hidden Treasures, 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories”is on view at The Shed May 26–31.