CHANEL is bringing one of its most celebrated cultural initiatives beyond Paris for the first time with the debut of la Galerie du 19M Shanghai, opening at the Museum of Art Pudong (MAP) from September 25 through November 15, 2026.
Created by CHANEL in Paris in 2021, le19M is home to 11 renowned MĂ©tiers d’art houses and nearly 700 artisans specializing in embroidery, featherwork, millinery, textiles, and decorative arts. At its heart is la Galerie du 19M, an exhibition space dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating exceptional craftsmanship.
For its Shanghai debut, the gallery expands that mission through a cultural exchange between Chinese and French artists and artisans, creating a platform where traditional savoir-faire meets contemporary creativity.
Visitors will first encounter an immersive introduction designed by Studio Adrien Gardère, offering an inside look at the techniques, materials, and craftsmanship practiced by le19M’s resident Maisons d’art. The installation highlights the hands, tools, and creative processes behind some of fashion’s most intricate work.
The centerpiece of the program is A Sense of Touch (触碰 ChĂ¹ Pèng), a group exhibition exploring craftsmanship as a living, evolving practice. Curated by an editorial committee including GONG Yan, LIN Tianmiao, ZHANG Lei, and Christelle Kocher, the exhibition brings together artists and artisans from China and France across disciplines including embroidery, ceramics, textiles, lacquer, bamboo weaving, woodcarving, and installation art.
Rather than viewing craft solely as heritage, A Sense of Touch explores touch as a way of creating, communicating, and connecting—linking personal memory, cultural exchange, and material experimentation through contemporary artistic practice.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors can experience a newly reimagined edition of Lesage. 100 Years of Fashion and Decoration, celebrating the century-long legacy of Lesage, CHANEL’s legendary embroidery house. The exhibition traces Lesage’s influence on fashion and interior design while highlighting its longstanding creative relationship with China.
Beyond the exhibitions, la Galerie du 19M Shanghai will host a series of public talks, guided tours, and hands-on workshops designed to bring the MĂ©tiers d’art to a wider audience.
By bringing le19M to Shanghai, CHANEL continues its commitment to preserving craftsmanship while fostering new conversations between cultures—proving that the future of fashion is built as much by the hands of artisans as it is by the visions of designers.
