Veuve Clicquot Celebrates 250th Anniversary With 'Solaire Culture' Exhibit
The champagne house toasts to 250 years with its first-ever global traveling exhibition.
The journey truly began in 1805 when “la grande dame de la Champagne,” Madame Clicquot, took over the House of Veuve Clicquot, founded in 1772, and brought the label to new heights. 250 years later, the House has been able to maintain its esteemed position even in this contemporary age. Being founded so long ago, it’s no small feat that the champagne house has been able to stay at the top of its industry. Having established the balance of staying attuned to its traditional roots while embracing innovation and creativity to stand out in the modern day, it’s no wonder how Veuve Clicquot has become so well known on a global scale.
In honor of its 250th anniversary, the House has created Solaire Culture—an exhibition that sheds light on the long legacy of the brand. Currently located at the 468 North Rodeo Drive Building in Los Angeles, the exhibit opens a door for its visitors to have a complete understanding of the significant heritage of Veuve Clicquot through more than 2,000 archival objects that can be seen for the first time in the U.S.
In addition to these observed archives, guests will be able to appreciate historical gems such as a reinterpreted portrait of Madame Clicquot by artist Yayoi Kusama, an original bottle of Veuve Clicquot from the 1840s that was recovered from a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea, and various historical documents.
“This exhibition is an unprecedented event for Veuve Clicquot and the symbol of our capacity to dream big and constantly innovate,” says Jean-Marc Gallot, President and CEO of Veuve Clicquot, in a press release. “Now in the United States, a key market for the House, this exhibition comes to Los Angeles, a sunshine-filled city where art, design, and style thrive, and will highlight the House’s know-how, typical of Champagne winemakers, the life of Madame Clicquot, our iconic Yellow label and the many works produced for Veuve Clicquot in the 20th century by artists such as Yayoi Kusama.”
Madame Clicquot’s reign over the brand deemed her one of the first businesswomen of modern times and broke barriers for female entrepreneurs worldwide. The House’s commitment to female entrepreneurship is not one taken lightly and brought in 10 female artists to entirely curate an exhibit that displays original artwork inspired by the revolutionary inventions Madame Clicquot brought to the world of champagne.
“We are very proud to announce an exhibition curated entirely by women, led by Camille Morineau and Constance Guisset, and solely featuring internationally renowned women artists. Madame Clicquot showed us the way; guided by her, the House is committed to supporting bold and creative women who forge a path for generations to come,” says Carole Bildé, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of Veuve Clicquot, in a press release.
With an immersion into Veuve Clicquot's vineyard and a look into the Crayères chalk cellars, the “Solaire Culture” exhibition is a unique experience where guests can connect to the champagne house in ways that can’t be found anywhere else. Open to the public through November 17, the space gives visitors a glimpse at the journey Veuve Clicquot has taken to get to where they are today and whispers the secrets that have led the House to its success.
