Art and craft trades Art and craft work go hand in hand in the Grand Duchy

A royal initiative and a huge popular success

Their Royal Highnesses the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess launched the De Mains de Maîtres initiative to showcase modern craft trades in the Grand Duchy. The exhibition at the crossroads of art and craft trades presents the search for innovation in the sector, witness to the transmission of gestures and skills, and promotes the creative talents of the Grand Duchy, including on the international scene. 

The third edition of the biennial event was held in  November 2021 at 19 Liberté and simultaneously at the residency of the Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Paris, France.

At the exhibition in Luxembourg City , around one hundred artists from Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and France presented their expertise on the theme of "Viv(r)e la matière" (Living the material).

Around ten of Luxembourg's craftspeople and creators exhibited their works in the salons and garden of the Ambassador’s magnificent XIX century mansion in Paris. Unlike the Art Paris fair  that was held at the same time and which was open to the general public, the "Impressions of Autumn" exhibition could only be visited by private appointment.

The theme of the fourth edition is "Le Geste et le Territoire" (The Gesture and the Territory). At 19 Liberté, in Luxembourg City, it will present 77 artists from the Grand Duchy and around 40 from Portugal. The latter is the guest of honour, since its nationals constitute the largest migrant community in Luxembourg. The works speak of Luxembourg as a land of transit and a welcoming country, of its ethnic and cultural mix, of its artistic identity and cultural heritage, of the environment, of the transfer of knowledge and of technological resources, and of its links with Portugal. From the 23rd to the 26th of November, you are invited to travel and dream, since artistic creations transcend borders.

A themed biennial event, well-known internationally, offering prizes

Léa Schroeder – an eclectic creator

Léa Schroeder has been creative since she was a child. Her mother introduced her to ceramics when she was just four years old; she studied Art Design in Paris. She learned her trade from the creative stage through to production, and during her training she was able to gain work experience with major brand names such as Louis Vuitton and Hermès. She went on to specialise in accessories by attending a training course in Milan with one of the world's leading luxury groups, and when she returned to Paris she ended up signing a contract to work with Lancel. 

Léa Schroeder is a versatile artist: She is equally at home working in ceramics, graphic design and textiles. Each product is designed as a total package: product, packaging, communication and presentation. Her ceramics, in cloisonné faience, are also produced for commissions. She draws inspiration from stories, customs and traditions. The spiritual aspect represents the relationship between humans and nature, and she believes its interpretation is the basis for all creative work. Léa Schroeder develops her ideas using both digital and craft techniques: two elements that might seem contradictory but are in fact complementary for the artist, who cannot do without either.

Her studio is currently at the 1535° in Differdange, were she can take advantage of the innovative environment and contact with other creators. As both an artist and a businesswoman, she advises young entrepreneurs to believe in themselves and in their projects, to keep training themselves and stay informed, to diversify and reinvent themselves all the time, and to set out on the journey she defines as continuous discovery.