The Art of Scent

Please note new opening date for The Art of Scent: November 20, 2012.

The Art of Scent 1889-2012 is the first major museum exhibition to recognize scent as a major medium of artistic creation and fifteen artists who work in this medium.

The exhibition focuses on twelve works made between 1889 and 2012, and will include Jicky, created by Aimé Guerlain in 1889; Ernest Beaux’s Chanel N° 5 from 1921; Jean-Claude Ellena’s Osmanthe Yunnan from 2006; and Daniela Andrier’s Untitled, created in 2010.

Each scent was selected by curator Chandler Burr to reveal the evolution of aesthetics in the medium or to illustrate major innovations in scent design. Among the innovations was the introduction of synthetic raw materials, which appeared in the late nineteenth century. Before then, the creation of scents was limited to only natural ingredients; synthetics transformed artisanal products into works of art.

The installation of this exhibition was designed by the internationally acclaimed architectural firm Diller, Scofidio + Renfro. In addition to allowing visitors to experience the twelve works of olfactory art, an interactive salon illustrates the importance of design in creating these works.

The exhibition opens on November 20, 2012 and continues through March 3, 2013.

The Art of Scent is made possible by The Estée Lauder Companies—a Founding Major Donor—and other Major Donors, including Chanel, Inc., Givaudan, Hermès Parfums, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc, L'Oréal and P&G Prestige. Additional support for The Art of Scent is provided by Funders Arcade Marketing USA and Guerlain, as well as Diptyque and Women in Flavor and Fragrance Commerce Inc.