Claire Tabouret: Behind the Notre-Dame Stained Glass

French artist Claire Tabouret, 43, has been selected to create six contemporary stained-glass windows for the south aisle chapels of Notre-Dame de Paris—a €4 million project blending classical form with a modern vision. Despite public debate over replacing 19th-century geometric windows by Viollet-le-Duc, Tabouret’s designs promise a new, intimate experience for visitors: “living paintings” where light shifts with the weather.

Inspired from childhood by Monet’s Nymphéas and trained in Paris and New York, Tabouret brings her signature style of luminous landscapes and introspective portraits to one of the world’s most iconic cathedrals. Though she had never worked in stained glass before, she collaborated with Atelier Simon-Marq to create life-size models and sketches, exploring the theme of Pentecost—a symbol of unity and harmony.

From December 10, 2025, to March 15, 2026, her work will be presented at the Grand Palais in the exhibition “D’un seul souffle”, alongside Eva Jospin’s “Grottesco”. Visitors can step into Tabouret’s creative process, seeing firsthand the meticulous preparation behind this historic project.