Le Grand Mazarin – Artist in Residence

Each quarter, Le Grand Mazarin opens the doors to its fantastic universe to both emerging and established creators. Inspired by the artistic vision of this Parisian hotel, the project invites the public to escape into a world where every corner and detail tells a new and marvellous story. The ‘Artist In Residence’ programme was born from the hotel’s welcoming of various artists since its opening. Seeking to make this initiative more regular, Le Grand Mazarin created this project to showcase and support the emerging art scene in France.

The current collaboration is with the artist-painter Leona Rose. The contemporary artist presents an immersive exhibition to be discovered in the hotel’s windows, visible from Rue de la Verrerie. Starting from February and lasting until April, passers-by in Le Marais will be able to journey into the world of Matryoshka dolls.

Image credit: Le Grand Mazarin

Leona Rose’s exhibition reinterprets the famous Russian Matryoshka dolls as a metaphor for the different facets that make up human beings. Each doll, nested within another, symbolises the successive layers of identity, life stages, and inner revelations. At the heart of this reflection, the artist draws inspiration from mythical references, including the two-headed serpent, and embodies themes of duality, inner conflict, and the balance between opposing forces.

In her artwork, Leona evokes the coexistence of paradoxes: the past and the future, light and shadow, and the struggle between reason and intuition. She also refers to constant transformation and the ability to navigate multiple paths. The artist illustrates the inner journey, with feet firmly planted on the earth and the head turned toward the cosmos, inviting deep introspection.

With roots in the south of France, the universe of Leona Rose is flamboyant, colourful, and infused with a pop touch. She projects her monumental, colourful murals on walls or canvases, and works on many design projects for major brands, which she translates into various forms. Her favourite themes include tropical and dreamlike atmospheres. Her style is raw, spontaneous, and intuitive, which has characterised her artistic approach since the beginning.

Through this particular exploration, Leona encourages embracing one’s full potential, aligning with the universe, and revealing the multidimensional richness of human identity. This unique collaboration with Le Grand Mazarin, celebrates an artist full of colour, reflecting the hotel’s own flamboyant décor designed by Martin Brudnizki.

Main image credit: Le Grand Mazarin