Traditional Patterns and New Narratives: Exploring Toile de Jouy

February 18, 2022

During this program, Sheila Bridges and Richard Saja will discuss the ways the legacy of toile has been altered, homaged, and expanded, moderated by journalist Sabine Rothman. As Sheila Bridges’ prominent toile series incorporates new and unexpected images into a toile motif—such as scenes reflecting Sheila Bridges’ African American heritage or images of Frederic Church painting a cell tower—Saja uses embroidery to create unexpected images out of traditional toile fabric. This lively moderated conversation will examine how a historic design can be used to tell new stories and incorporate diverse narratives.

Named America’s Best Interior Designer by Time magazine and CNN, Sheila Bridges is considered a creative visionary and design tastemaker. Bridges is recognized for her classic yet versatile design aesthetic and critical eye. Her visual cultural translations have been showcased in museums around the country and Europe including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Studio Museum of Harlem, The Museum of Art and Design in New York City, The Museum of the City of New York, and Musée De La Toile De Jouy in Jouy-en Josas France. Bridges is also honored to have her designs included in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum, The Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, The RISD Museum, and most recently The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC (NMAAHC). She holds degrees from Brown University and Parsons School of Design, and studied decorative arts at Polimoda in Florence, Italy. She serves on The Olana Partnership’s Board of Trustees.

An editor and producer, Sabine Rothman is one of the co-founders of Interiors Academy, a consultancy and a platform for conversations connecting the global design community. Sabine was most recently Editorial Market Director of the Hearst Design Group, where she led a team creating content for Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and Veranda magazines. Previously, Sabine held various editorial roles at Condé Nast’s House & Garden. She is co-author of the book Clarence House: The Art of the Textile (Rizzoli, 2011) with creative director Kazumi Yoshida.

Richard Saja is an artist making work in Catskill, New York. After first attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia to study surface design, he devoted his studies to the great books of Western Civilization at St Johns College in Santa Fe, NM, and received a BA as a math and philosophy major. He has exhibited internationally with shows in New York, Paris, London, and Berlin and the National Museum of Embroidery in South Korea. Richard Saja’s work has recently been exhibited at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. He will have a solo exhibition at the Toile de Jouy Museum in Josas, France in 2023.