Before/after photos of the lettering
A beautiful story of friendship that began in adolescence between Béatrice Catinat, a skills-based sponsor for the Palais de la Femme, and Claire Prat-Marca, founder of the association, led us to the Palais de la Femme, where we discovered an exceptional place. Its Art Deco architecture, the size of the building, but above all its mission—to prevent social exclusion and promote integration—made a deep impression on us.
A three-phase project
1 — October 2025: lettering on the facade
The palace’s pediment has been restored to its former glory thanks to Sébastien Bougier, a lettering artist and muralist. Passionate about typography and frescoes, he spent two days perched atop a cherry picker repainting the faded lettering on the façade, accompanied by artist Mattéo. Thanks to his talent, generosity, and high standards, the Palais has regained its identity in the heart of Paris’s 11th arrondissement.
At the same time, the walls were prepared for future frescoes by ten women from the Terre de Femmes integration project, a training program in the building trades for women, most of whom are exiles.
2 — Creation of the murals
Under the direction of Olivia De Bona, muralist, illustrator, and artisan, and with the participation of the women from the Terre de Femmes project, employees, residents of the Palais, and volunteers from Artivista, several murals were created on the walls of the family reception center and on the wall of the Palais entrance hall.
The week was punctuated by numerous exchanges with the Artivista team, learning and discovering an artistic world often unknown to these women, with a deep respect for collective work.
3 — Participatory workshop and inauguration
To close out the week, Artivista volunteers organized a T-shirt painting workshop for the children of the Palais.
This human and artistic adventure ended with a warm inauguration ceremony, bringing together all the participants, the Artivista team, and the patrons for a speech, a friendly snack, and lots of smiles.
This project was a true human adventure, built on collaboration, mutual support, listening, and sharing, carried out by generous artists and a team of committed volunteers.
The strength of this project? Its collective dimension. Artists, residents, employees, volunteers, and women from the Terre de Femmes integration project actively contributed to it.
