Le Fresnoy—Studio national des arts contemporains is pleased to announce the appointment of Isabelle Gaudefroy as its new director, to succeed Alain Fleischer. She will take up her post on February 2, 2026.
An artistic director, curator and producer, Isabelle Gaudefroy began her career working alongside Georges Aperghis at the Théâtre des Amandiers in Nanterre, where she produced contemporary opera and music theatre.
From 1999 to 2010 she directed the Soirées Nomades programme at the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain while curating a number of exhibitions, including Rock’nRoll 39-59 (2007), and Beat Takeshi Kitano, Gosse de Peintre (2010).
In this capacity she also initiated, conceived and produced the performing arts section of the Printemps de septembre à Toulouse, starting in 2001.
In 2011, Isabelle Gaudefroy joined the board of the Fondation Cartier, first as director of programming and artistic projects, then as artistic director, helping to develop and reshape the programming of an institution known for its innovative approach. This period saw her curate the exhibitions America Latina (2013), Junya Ishigami, Freeing Architecture (2017) and Nous les Arbres (2019).
Isabelle Gaudefroy sits on a number of other boards. From 2000 to 2020 she was president of the RB Jérôme Bel company and she is currently chair of Joris Lacoste’s Compagnie Echelle 1:1.
Her vision for Le Fresnoy—Studio national
As a recognised figure on the French cultural scene, Isabelle Gaudefroy will bring the institution her experience, her artistic rigour, her vision and her commitment to contemporary creation. Based around a constant dialogue between the arts, experimentation and support for artists, her career is perfectly in line with the missions of Le Fresnoy, namely: to support experimentation, nurture new creativity and encourage crossovers between disciplines.
For Le Fresnoy—Studio national des arts contemporains, Isabelle Gaudefroy has conceived a project which places interrelation at the heart of the institution. Following this guiding principle, she will seek to strengthen both the bonds between artistic disciplines, and the institution’s own bonds with its territory, and with the worlds of French and international arts, as well with science, particularly the life sciences.
With this project, Isabelle Gaudefroy assumes the heritage of this singular space that was the visionary brainchild of Alain Fleischer, while at the same time putting down markers for the future, at the heart of a region that has made the creative industries a priority.
Her aim is to reconfirm the distinctive identity of Le Fresnoy, structured around three pillars: “Le Fresnoy the Institute” (teaching and research), “Le Fresnoy Studio” (production), and “Le Fresnoy Centre” (from which works and knowledge are shared with the general public). Similarly, the key principles of teaching at Le Fresnoy will be maintained, especially the central role of the production phase in artistic training, as well as mentorship by leading artists. At the same time, Isabelle Gaudefroy will seek to further develop relations with Le Fresnoy’s local area, starting with the site itself, a former popular entertainment centre whose memory is literally enshrined in today’s building.
Just as Alain Fleischer did before her, Isabelle Gaudefroy is determined to ensure that this unique institution continues to cultivate its “realistic utopia.”
Homage to Alain Fleischer
The members of the Board and the entire team at Le Fresnoy, together with all the artists, wish to express their deepest gratitude to Alain Fleischer, whose vision, energy and unfailing rigour did so much to make Le Fresnoy what it is today.
Under his leadership, Le Fresnoy grew and came to enjoy national and international renown. His dedication, his support for artists and his passion for building bridges between genres and practices created a rich and lasting legacy.