Chana Orloff: the story of a forgotten sculptor and her secret studio in Paris

In a small, discreet cul-de-sac in Paris’s 14th arrondissement lies a timeless place: the studio of sculptor Chana Orloff. Little known to the general public, this bright and intimate space offers a glimpse into the life and work of a major 20th-century artist.

A leading figure of the Parisian avant-garde, Chana Orloff navigated the upheavals of her era with remarkable creative force. Today, her studio, now a museum, preserves the atmosphere of her life as an artist and offers visitors a unique immersion in the history of modern sculpture.

A life between exile and creation

From Ukrainian origins to arrival in Paris

Chana Orloff was born in 1888 in Ukraine to a modest Jewish family. In 1905, her family emigrated to Palestine, where she helped her parents while working as a seamstress. But the young woman already had a passion for drawing and design.

In 1910, she decided to move to Paris to learn dressmaking. Her artistic talent was quickly noticed. She enrolled at the School of Decorative Arts and attended the Marie Vassilief Academy, in the heart of the artistic Montparnasse district. There she met many avant-garde figures such as Picasso, Modigliani, and Soutine. It was during this period that she discovered sculpture and created her first works. This discipline would become the center of her life.

A renowned artist from the School of Paris

By the 1920s, Chana Orloff had established herself as a portrait painter sought after by the artistic and intellectual elite of Paris. She exhibited alongside great names such as Matisse and Van Dongen and was awarded French citizenship and the Legion of Honor.

She has developed a personal, modern, and refined style, working with clay, wood, bronze, and plaster. Her sculptures, often portraits or female figures, are distinguished by their simplicity and expressiveness.

In 1926, she had her home and studio built in Paris by architect Auguste Perret. This place would become the center of her creative work for more than forty years.

War and Resilience

World War II profoundly disrupted the artist’s life. As a Jewish woman, she was in constant danger. Warned of an imminent arrest before the Vel d’Hiv roundup, she fled Paris with her son and found refuge in Switzerland.

When she returned in 1945, she found her studio ransacked and part of her work destroyed or stolen. Despite this shock, she immediately resumed work. Her post-war sculptures bear witness to this period of pain but also of reconstruction. In the years that followed, she gained international recognition and exhibited in Europe, the United States, and Israel. She continued to create until her death in 1968.

Today, Chana Orloff is considered one of the major sculptors of the 20th century, even though her name remains relatively unknown to the general public.

An artist’s studio turned museum

A place designed for light and creativity

Located in Villa Seurat, near Montsouris Park, Chana Orloff’s studio was built in 1926 by architect Auguste Perret. Designed as both a living and working space, it stands out for its modern concrete architecture and light-filled rooms.

The workshop comprises several areas:

• an exhibition workshop open to the street thanks to a large bay window,
• a workshop lit by a skylight,
• a raised gallery allowing visitors to view the sculptures from different angles.

Chana Orloff lived and worked there from 1926 until her death in 1968, welcoming artists, writers, and collectors to this space, which became a veritable hub for cultural encounters.

An exceptional collection

Now converted into a workshop-museum, the site houses the artist’s largest collection: nearly 200 sculptures, as well as drawings and engravings.

The tour allows visitors to discover the works in their original setting, in an atmosphere that remains faithful to that of the period. Despite the looting that took place during the war, the studio has retained its original atmosphere and layout.

Labeled a “Maison des illustres” (House of Illustrious People), this space is a rare example of a 20th-century artist’s studio that remains intact.

Visit the Chana Orloff museum workshops

Open to the public by reservation, the Chana Orloff museum workshops offer guided or self-guided tours, mainly on weekends. Visitors can discover not only the sculptures but also the personal history of the artist and her home.

This intimate space, bathed in light and steeped in emotion, provides a deeper understanding of the work of a sculptor who endured the trials of the 20th century while pursuing her art with determination.

A hidden treasure of Parisian heritage

Visiting the Chana Orloff studio-museum is like stepping into the world of a free-spirited, modern artist who was celebrated for many years but then partially forgotten. It is also an opportunity to discover a rare place in Paris: an artist’s studio that has remained almost intact, where each sculpture still seems to converse with its creator.

Away from the major tourist circuits, this discreet space offers a unique and sensitive cultural experience. An invitation to rediscover an essential figure in modern sculpture and to immerse yourself in the intimacy of artistic creation.

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