Frédéric Mitterrand, Minister of Culture and Communication, on Wednesday, November 23, 2011, awarded the title of «Master of Art» to six exceptional professionals in the arts.

Since 2010, the Ministry of Culture and Communication has awarded
this title every year in order to highlight an intangible heritage
and encourage its transmission. To do this, the Master
receives an annual State allowance of 16,000
in order to offer high-level training during
Three years to a student.

Frédéric Mitterrand has distinguished six professionals of excellence, including the
embroiderer François Lesage, appointed Master of Art in an honorary capacity for
his entire career. The remarkable know-how and exceptional
The talent of these artisans contributes to the spread of
in fields as varied as printing, the arts
plastics, design, ceramics, fashion, books and publishing. This
new promotion also highlights the rich collaboration
between art masters, artists and contemporary designers.

Joël Bertin, typesetter
Last founder in Europe, Joël Bertin is team leader at
within the Atelier du Livre d'Art et de l'Estampe since 2003. Redesign
National Printing Bureau, Services
photocomposition, prepress and manufacturing, it forges a solid
experience now recognized internationally. He collaborates with
with artists from all over the world such as Zanuzucchi, Ra Anan Levy
or many art publishers like Maeght, Editart-Genève, editions
of the journal Conférence, Agencia Literaria Carmen Balcells
editions Traces. Joël Bertin has also developed new
innovative techniques, such as the adaptation of some foundry
Didot stitch or cast iron fastener with clasp slot at the
for Miquel Barcelo’s book.

Gérard Borde, ceramist
After a prestigious debut in the Manufacture de Sèvres where he
participates in the production of sculptures of contemporary artists
different than François-Xavier Lalanne, Zao Wou Ki or France
Franck, Gérard Borde creates, in Limoges, a research workshop and
ceramic production in order to develop objects design. Itinerant, it
now oscillates between Limoges, where he holds the position of Director
Centre for Research on Fire and Earth Arts
(CRAFT) and Tarbes where he teaches at the Ecole Supérieure d'Art et de
Ceramics. He carries out and coordinates projects contributing to innovation
industrial, constantly seeking the limits of ceramic material.
On more than eighty projects, let’s mention Porcelain lithophania stained glass
made in 2004 with Philippe Favier. Between personal creation and
collaborations with Marc Couturier, Martin Szekely or Yann
Kersalé, Gérard Borde is constantly opening up to new projects
exceptional artistic.

François Lesage, Embroiderer
Heir to a long tradition of embroiderers for haute couture and lending
to carry, it makes its first weapons for the singular collections of Elsa
Schiaparelli. After an apprenticeship in the family workshop, he
is flying to the United States to open a workshop on the most
famous American West, Sunset Boulevard, where the know-how and
virtuosity he acquired in France quickly open the doors of
studios in Hollywood. But the death of his father puts an end to this adventure,
and in 1949, he took over his studio.
During the 1960s, his innovative talent flourished and
emancipated from the weight of tradition. He experimented with materials
new, bold materials treatments and is among its
customers of big names in fashion such as Lanvin, Givenchy, Dior,
Chanel, Grès, Patou, Yves Saint Laurent. It was during the
20 years later, he met Christian Lacroix,
Thierry Mugler and Jean-Paul Gaultier for whom his house will produce
masterpieces. His ambition does not stop there. In 1992, he founded a
embroidery school to transmit and perpetuate his art, where come
training students and embroidery enthusiasts from around the world. In
2002, his home enters the Chanel galaxy, and it becomes for Karl
Lagerfeld an irreplaceable partner, he will say: I do not conceive of
fashion without embroidery or embroidery without Lesage.”
Inspired creator and performer of the most famous designers, he realized the
largest collection of embroidery for sewing in the world.

Laurent Nogues, graphic designer in embossing, gilding and
inlay
Barely graduated from Ensaama, Laurent Nogues founded his company
Créanog in 1994, inscribing his company in the spiritual heritage of
Fournier creations, long directed by his father. To know-how
outstanding in embossing, hot stamping and
inlay on paper, it brings the extra dimension of the
graphic design that opens the doors of the most
prestigious: Christian Dior Parfums, Chanel, la Monnaie de Paris,
Cognac Lheraud. Laurent Nogues subsequently founded a management division
manufacturing that allows us to offer a much more global offer. It
will then create for Frédéric Malle, Thierry Mugler, Cartier, without forgetting
Yves Saint Laurent, house for which he imagines Christmas boxes
in 2006, or the Hennessy Cognacs in 2010 with the design
the graphic identity of Bagnolet Castle.

Yves Parisse, tailor, engraver on crystal (house Baccarat)
Yves Parisse joined the prestigious Baccarat House in 1975,
as an apprentice, then ascends one by one all the steps to reach the
Head of the engraving and large decoration workshop.
His job is to intervene after the work of the glassmaker to decorate
the hand of glasses, vases, carafes, jewels, chandeliers... It
creates linear, geometric patterns, facets, bevels, everything
by digging the glass to obtain a decoration or create a new shape.
Yves Parisse holds a special place in his workshop
and central because all exceptional works are carried out, including the
chandelier. It defines, in connection with the design office, the conditions for
to respect the spirit desired by each of the
contemporary artists and designers with whom he collaborates:
Philippe Starck, Elie Top, James Hayon, or Ora Ito.

Michaël Woolworth, lithographer, art editor
Michaël Woolworth’s specialty focuses on techniques
printing on manual presses (lithography on stone, wood
engraved, monotype, linocut, etching) and on an editorial activity,
putting his know-how at the service of contemporary artists. He
Bordas and collaborates with renowned artists, including
Jean Dubuffet, to produce, in addition to twenty plates, his
Lithographic exercises. The experience of his collaborations with Daniel
Pommereulle, Jorge Camacho and many other artists led him to
new practices such as engraved wood, linocut, engraving
carborundum and monotype, thanks to the engraving press. The activity
editorial by Michaël Woolworth and the setting up of exhibitions, for
to defend and disseminate the art of contemporary prints,
significantly increased in recent years: for example at the castle
of Chambord, monographic exhibitions on Marc
Desgrandchamps, Jean-Michel Othoniel or Djamel Tatah were
presented to show their collaboration with the workshop.

On the occasion of these nominations, unique pieces of the new
Masters of Art will be presented to the public, from 23 November to 15 January
2012, in the exhibition spaces of the Ministry of Culture and
Communication (Galleries of the Royal Palace).