LOS ANGELES—When François Clicquot passed away in 1805, just seven years after his wedding to Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, the widow—veuve in French—opted not to dissolve her late husband's wine and textile business. Instead, the 27-year-old woman boldly took the reins of the company, becoming one of the first businesswomen in the 1800s to run an international business.
Although the company was originally founded in 1772 by François’ father, Philippe, it wasn’t until Barbe-Nicole took charge that it grew into Veuve Clicquot, one of the world’s largest and most popular Champagne houses.
Now, the iconic brand is celebrating its 250th anniversary by paying tribute to its matriarch with Solaire Culture, the company's first-ever global traveling exhibition. The experience evokes Veuve Clicquot’s legacy through a variety of installations—including works from 10 woman artists who were asked to create original pieces inspired by Madame Clicquot and the Champagne house. 
Solaire Culture took over 468 N. Rodeo Dr., the building that most recently housed Louis Vuitton's traveling exhibition.Photo: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot
“It’s pretty rare to be able to celebrate the 250-year anniversary of a company—we are very proud of it,” said Veuve Clicquot CEO Jean-Marc Gallot, in an on-site interview with BizBash the day before the exhibition opened. “The name of the company is Veuve Clicquot, and everything we do is in the spirit of Madame Clicquot—a spirit of audacity and entrepreneurship."
That spirit, Gallot added, was also present in the overall "Solaire" theme. "Solaire like yellow of the sun, when the sun is rising at the beginning of the day and everything is possible," he explained. "We wanted to pay tribute to all the people that have been working these 250 years to make better wine, but also to create a wonderful link between people.” 
The exhibition immerses guests in the history of Veuve Clicquot, with a staircase that nods to some of the brand's most popular years.Photo: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot
The space was conceived in collaboration with French curator and art historian Camille Morineau and French designer, interior architect, and scenographer Constance Guisset. Morineau worked to find a mix of established and up-and-coming female creators from around the world, including renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama along with Sheila Hicks, Tacita Dean, Cece Philips, Rosie McGuinness, and others.
“We wanted different generations of artists and different types,” Morineau told BizBash, noting that the exhibit features a mix of painters, sculptors, illustrators, and more. “For me, Madame Clicquot was a 21st-century woman born in the 19th century. You can imagine her toughness—it’s pretty remarkable. And in a way, a lot of the woman artists at the time were doing the same.”
She continued, “The whole show is about that amazing history, and the fact that Madame Clicquot can be inspiring us even today." 
The space includes works from 10 female artists, who were each asked to create original artwork inspired by Madame Clicquot and the Champagne house.Photo: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot
Curator Camille Morineau worked to find a mix of established and up-and-coming creators from around the world, including renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama along with Sheila Hicks, Tacita Dean, Cece Philips, Rosie McGuinness, and more.Photo: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot
“It's really a fantastic exhibition because we are celebrating a great woman who was very bold and audacious," said scenographer Guisset of her inspiration for the design, which evokes the brand's yellow branding and the colors of a sunrise throughout. "It’s really a celebration of her honesty, and the fact that this brand is really sunny with a lot of surprise and happiness inside. The design reflects the values of the brand.”
Solaire Culture originally debuted in Tokyo in June—and to Gallot, hosting the second edition in the U.S. made sense. “When Madame Clicquot took over in 1805, many people were worried she wouldn’t be able to run the company. But not only did she run it, she had an incredible vision about the quality of the wine and its international development," he explained.
"We’ve been shipping to the U.S. now for 240 years," Gallot added. "So when it came to selecting the places where we have the exhibitions, we’re choosing key places for Veuve Clicquot around the world–and the U.S. is our No. 1 market.” He notes that Tokyo, where the exhibition began, and London, where it’s heading next, are the other two most important markets for Veuve Clicquot outside of its headquarters in France.
The exhibition further reflects the brand's values with a give-back component: On-site, guests can enjoy curated food pairings and Champagne from notable Los Angeles-based woman chefs like Jeanne Cheng, Lenora Marouani, Nancy Silverton, and Brooke Williamson—and all proceeds will be donated to Regarding Her Food, a national nonprofit driven by women and non-binary restaurateurs that aims to empower and advance women, women of color, indigenous women, LGBTQ+ identifying women, and non-binary food and beverage entrepreneurs.
“Madame Clicquot is inspiring us every single day in everything we do," summed up Gallot. "That’s the beauty of this incredible woman.”
Scroll down for more photos and details from the exhibition. 
The exhibition is "a celebration of Madame Clicquot's honesty, and the fact that this company’s brand is really sunny with a lot of surprise and happiness inside," said designer and scenographer Constance Guisset. “She created many different inventions that really changed the way we make Champagne.”Photo: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot
The “Solaire” idea evoked the brand’s overall philosophy, a nod to Madame Clicquot’s resilience and optimism—and the idea that “each new day opens new paths to build a brighter future,” according to the brand’s website.Photo: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot
The space also features museum-like rooms that highlight the history of the brand.Photo: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot
More than 80 archival objects and historical pieces are on display.Photo: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot
In addition to paintings and illustrations, the exhibition features several 3D art installations. “We wanted different generations of artists and different types,” explained Morineau.Photo: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot
There's also a space that showcases Veuve Clicquot's appearances in pop culture where guests can sit and listen to recordings of works by the likes of James Bond writer Ian Fleming.Photo: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot
