Simone Baltaxé

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Simone Baltaxé (French, b. 1925 - d. 2009) was born in Paris. She began her artistic training at the School of Applied Arts in Paris in 1940. Disrupted by World War II, she relocated to Lyon in 1942, continuing her studies at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts. In 1946, she returned to Paris, advancing her education at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts under Jean Souverbie's mentorship. 1951 marked a significant turn in her life when she wed Noubar Martayan and moved to Lebanon, a country that became her home until 1978. Simone's work as an artist started gaining wider recognition in 1957 when she began participating in the Salons du Printemps at the UNESCO Palace. A pivotal encounter in 1964 with George Audi, a master weaver, steered her towards the world of tapestry-making. This new artistic venture found its way into the prestigious Salons d’Automne at the Sursock Museum. Baltaxé showcased her work in solo exhibitions, notably at Gallery One in 1968 and Modulart in 1974. Her distinctive works are still celebrated for their depth and texture, and remain proudly displayed in prominent collections, including the Sursock Museum in Beirut and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, testifying to her enduring influence in the art world. Baltaxé's oeuvre has recently re-captured the attention of prestigious institutions worldwide, securing her place in the collections of the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar, and the Saradar Collection in Beirut. Further cementing her status in the art world, Baltaxé is poised to feature prominently in an anticipated group exhibition at the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, dedicated to celebrating the contributions of women artists. This accolade underscores the significance of her work and its vital place within the narrative of contemporary art.