The Monokeros Gallery in Shanghai is proud to announce the first solo exhibition of Georges Pelletier in Asia, “Light Dwells in the Earth,” opening on November 12, 2025. A major figure of French ceramics in the 1960s, Pelletier shapes clay with a nearly sculptural approach, integrating bold openwork structures and a play of shadow and light, thus elevating ceramics from “functional objects” to “poetic art.” This exhibition, presented at the Monokeros Gallery, brings together more than thirty works representative of his recent production, from his famous “Sun” lamp series to mirror decorations and sculptures, highlighting his unique expression within the field of ceramics. The exhibition’s theme, “Light Dwells in the Earth,” symbolizes the fusion of light and clay, and metaphorically reflects the human perception of space, temperature, and time: light is shaped by clay, and art is reborn into life.
Exhibition view of “Light Dwells in the Earth” (Image reproduced with the kind permission of the Monokeros Gallery)
The exhibition “Light Dwells in the Earth” presents both the iconic works and the broader creations of Georges Pelletier, for whom light is the very essence of his art. Among them, the “Sun” series, his most emblematic work, stands out in particular: the lamps radiate from their center like sunlight, and this light, passing through the ceramic texture and openwork patterns, diffuses a gentle, enveloping warmth.
Each piece transcends its function as a source of illumination to become a sculpture of light and form, an entity that finds its balance between architecture and poetry.
Georges Pelletier with his son Benjamin Pelletier. Photo © Helmut Berta
Georges Pelletier (1938–2024), born in Brussels, Belgium, was active in France during the 1960s and became one of the most representative ceramists of the 20th century. At the age of 15, he moved to Paris to study painting, an experience that allowed him to benefit from the guidance of Fernand Léger, a master of 20th-century Cubism. In 1955, at just 16 years old, Pelletier was accepted into the École Supérieure Nationale des Arts et Métiers in Paris, where he met Charlotte Perriand and discovered her ceramic works in various projects, an encounter that deeply influenced his understanding of the relationship between materials and space. In 1961, at the age of 23, he founded his own ceramic studio in Paris. His distinctive style immediately attracted the attention of the prestigious French furniture house Maison Bobois, marking the beginning of a twelve-year collaboration that propelled him into the French spotlight.
In 1973, he decided to move to Cannes, France, where he opened a new studio.
Benjamin Pelletier in his studio. Photo © Helmut Berta
Nearly half a century later, the studio remains unchanged, the very place where Georges Pelletier and his son worked side by side for many years. Sadly, Georges Pelletier passed away in 2024, a loss deeply felt in the world of ceramics and among collectors. His creative spirit, however, continues in another form: his son, Benjamin Pelletier, has inherited his father’s techniques and philosophy, from the selection of clay and the blending of glazes to the mastery of firing. As Georges Pelletier once said: “Sculpting clay is a need, an addiction.” Today, Benjamin continues to sculpt near the same kiln. The shimmering light and warm clay not only preserve his father’s craftsmanship, but also create a dialogue across time, one that revolves around the eternal forms of life, hand-sculpted matter, and light.
Table lamp from the “Sun” series, image © Justin Paquay
Exhibition view of “Light Dwells in the Earth” (Image reproduced with the kind permission of the Monokeros Gallery)
In the exhibition at the Monokeros Gallery, the gentle natural light and the folds of the curtains create a peaceful and harmonious space. Light filters through the openwork patterns of the ceramics and rests upon the grain of the antique wooden furniture, breathing new life into both objects and light. Georges Pelletier’s “Sun” and “Totem” series take on a new dimension here, appearing simultaneously as remnants of the past and as beacons illuminating the future.
Exhibition view of “Light Dwells in the Earth”
(Image reproduced with the kind permission of the Monokeros Gallery)
This exhibition brings together more than thirty works by Georges Pelletier, in various forms: ceramic lamps, mirrored decorative objects, and sculptures. Each piece bears the mark of craftsmanship and time. The Monokeros Gallery, with its unique medieval atmosphere, places Pelletier’s works within a play of shadow and light. Light passes through the clay, silently telling a story of time, craftsmanship, and dwelling. Here, light is not merely a source of illumination, but a symbol of life.
Earth, in its most rustic form, carries within it the warmth of the creative work of the artist’s father and son, transmitted across generations. These ceramic sculptures, delicately bathed in light, embody the continuation of Georges Pelletier’s creative spirit: an ancestral savoir-faire and a philosophical reflection on “habitat.” Light dwells in the earth, but also in the human heart.
Exhibition view of “Light Dwells in the Earth”
(Image reproduced with the kind permission of the Monokeros Gallery)
“Light Dwells in the Earth” is not only a retrospective of Georges Pelletier’s artistic language, but also a contemporary reflection on how light can be woven into life. These works, born from fire and earth, are no longer merely objects to be displayed, they become vessels of time and carriers of emotion, responding to the human longing for warmth, order, and beauty in their most authentic form.
Exhibition view of “Light Dwells in the Earth”
(Image reproduced with the kind permission of the Monokeros Gallery).
The scenography of the Monokeros Gallery constructs an idealized “collector’s universe” through an architectural language in which “restoration of the past,” “present display,” and “visions of the future” intertwine. Placed within this setting, Pelletier’s ceramic lamps seem to become temporal markers: their light gently caresses every corner of the space, allowing visitors to feel the almost tangible poetry that emerges from craftsmanship and the interplay of shadow and light throughout the exhibition walk.
Exhibition view of “Light Dwells in the Earth”
(Image reproduced with the kind permission of the Monokeros Gallery)
The exhibition was inaugurated on November 12, 2025, at the Monokeros Gallery in Shanghai and will run until December 31, 2025. In this space shaped by light, earth, and time, Georges Pelletier’s works are no longer mere objects to behold, but become the soul of the place, allowing visitors to rediscover the meaning of “light dwelling in the earth.”
About the Monokeros Gallery :
Nestled in the heart of a former factory in Shanghai, this 1,500-square-meter art space continues the brand’s commitment to the philosophy of giving “new life to old objects.” The designers preserved the original wooden dome structure, where the raw texture of the walls blends with clean, modern lines to create a rich and visually captivating environment. The brand was founded by the Delplace couple, who bring extensive experience from the European vintage market. Having worked for many years at the Saint-Antoine antiques market in Paris, they benefit from privileged sourcing networks and a unique advantage in selecting and acquiring objects. Monokeros focuses on 20th-century European vintage design and exclusively represents more than ten contemporary French artists. The name of the brand reflects its founders’ passion for unique pieces, sourced from across Europe and brought to China. From rare, one-of-a-kind collectibles to creations by niche artists, the brand blends furniture and art to create a meeting place for art lovers. As the first French vintage furniture showroom in Shanghai, the brand infuses its selection with a style that is both relaxed and elegant; the traces of time and inherited family craftsmanship give vintage pieces a sense of timeless vitality.
