PARIS.- From May 5 to 11, Christie’s hosts an exclusive exhibition showcasing the work of British artist and designer Marianna Kennedy. For this special occasion, Christie’s hands over the reins of its Parisian galleries to the vision and imagination of Tilda Swinton.

With Supersonic Mediaeval, Tilda Swinton invites visitors on an immersive journey into Marianna Kennedy’s world, deeply rooted in London’s iconic Spitalfields neighborhood. A place where Georgian heritage intertwines with hipster culture and the vibrant Bangladeshi community, Spitalfields embodies the unique hybrid spirit that defines the British capital. Who better than Tilda Swinton and Marianna Kennedy to guide you through this poetic, cinematic voyage across time, art, and design, along the streets of London?

Marianna Kennedy’s work

Marianna Kennedy first created her carved and gilded mirrors in 2006, working from her Spitalfields studio and collaborating with artisans to draw inspiration from traditional gilding and carving techniques. These works reimagined the art of gilding and carving in a fresh, contemporary context. The first significant exhibition of these works was at Galerie Chastel-Marechal in Paris in 2011. Before this, Marianna worked from her studio on bespoke commissions for various private collections worldwide.

Marianna and Tilda met through a mutual friend and bonded over their shared love of collaborating with artisans. This collaboration involves reimagining historical craft techniques, bringing them into the modern world with new materials such as resin and vibrant colors. The pieces—mirrors, bronze, lacquer works, and the “Workshop” pieces including lamps, plaster objects, and painted emblems—are either made in small editions or are one-of-a-kind creations, often filling a specific space where contemporary art and decorative elements meet. Each piece is handmade with the same meticulous attention to detail as Kennedy’s bespoke work.

Supersonic Mediaeval is an homage to craftsmanship combined with an artistic vision. The concept of creating transformative objects that enhance everyday life for people to cherish is a theme dear to both Tilda and Marianna. Their collaboration began with this shared philosophy.

Supersonic Mediaeval

The exhibition, curated by Tilda Swinton, features a carefully selected group of Marianna Kennedy’s most significant creations, offering a retrospective that captures the essence of her creative journey.

The title, Supersonic Mediaeval, is a playful nod to Tilda Swinton’s long-standing admiration for Marianna Kennedy’s work—she is, in fact, a collector herself. Striking and evocative, the title perfectly reflects the fusion of modernity and tradition at the heart of Kennedy’s art. It resonates as a poetic definition of her practice: deeply rooted in the rich historical tapestry of London’s Spitalfields, yet boldly forward-looking.

Hosted at Christie’s, Tilda Swinton reimagines the space as a theatrical set, inviting visitors to move freely through the diverse facets of Marianna Kennedy’s universe. In an atmosphere charged with cinematic energy, behind that lies a kind of “fondus” —a storeroom for props—where each piece seems poised, waiting to be cast in its next role.

Drawing inspiration from the historic houses of Spitalfields, the scenography evokes an authentic sense of the past. The materials Kennedy uses—vibrant resin, wood, mercury glass, bronze, lacquer and Murano glass—speak to her deep respect for traditional craftsmanship, which she reinterprets through a contemporary lens. Her work, balancing artistry and craftsmanship, echoes the legacy of great artists like Alberto & Diego Giacometti decorative art creations, Armand-Albert Rateau and his highly sophisticated bronze designs, Jean Dunand or Eileen Gray internationally renowned lacquer works.

By blending art and design, and creating a dialogue between past and present, tradition and modernity, Marianna Kennedy’s unique creations transcend time, achieving a deeply timeless quality.

The exhibition at Christie’s is organized by PLVR Zurich. This carte blanche given to Tilda Swinton to explore Marianna Kennedy’s work reflects Christie’s ongoing commitment to contemporary creativity in all its forms. It follows in the footsteps of recent exhibitions featuring Pierre Bonnefille, Mathieu Lehanneur, and Elie Top.