Japanese artist TADASHI KAWAMATA joined Ruinart’s Conversations with Nature

Maison Ruinart x Tadashi Kawamata: Where Art, Nature and Champagne Converge

Maison Ruinart, the world’s oldest champagne house, has announced the latest chapter of its celebrated international art series, Conversations with Nature — a platform that invites visionary artists to explore and restore humanity’s conscious connection to the natural world.

For 2026, Maison Ruinart has chosen Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata as its creative collaborator. A globally recognised figure in contemporary art, Kawamata is renowned for his immersive, large-scale in-situ installations crafted from wood and reclaimed furniture — structures that fundamentally alter how we perceive the spaces and natural environments around us. His works, whether taking the form of pyramids, shelters, or winding walkways, invite visitors to physically engage with art, offering a transformative shift in perspective.

A Vision Rooted in Nature

When Tadashi Kawamata first visited Maison Ruinart’s iconic address in Reims, he was immediately struck by the harmony between the Maison and its natural surroundings — the morning mist drifting over the vines, the warmth of early sunlight, the breeze moving through the leaves, and the rich biodiversity of birds, insects, and fauna that thrive in the Champagne region. From this “first impression,” a series of drawings and models emerged, laying the foundations for what would become a deeply site-specific body of work.

Kawamata’s installations are conceived simultaneously as imaginary refuges responding to the fragility of nature and as quiet homages to nature’s extraordinary capacity to adapt — a philosophy that mirrors Maison Ruinart’s own centuries of evolving savoir-faire in champagne-making.

Three In-Situ Installations in the Champagne Region

The heart of the collaboration takes shape through three monumental in-situ installations at 4 Rue des Crayères, Maison Ruinart’s emblematic address in the Champagne region: Tree Hut, Nest, and Observatory. Together, the trio forms a coherent whole, each piece inviting visitors to attentively observe the vibrations of nature — from weather and climate to biodiversity — that are essential to the harmony of champagne.

Kawamata’s process is equally considered at the smaller scale. Working with structures built from recycled wood before scaling up to monumental shelters, the artist values the relationship between miniaturisation and monumentality. “Big things become small, in-situ installations become objects,” he explains. “Small formats enable me to test balances, tensions, and can later become monumental. It is important that the spirit remains the same, focusing on the hand, wood and time.”

From Paris to the World

The project made its debut in Paris at the Palais de Tokyo in February 2026, before travelling to 4 Rue des Crayères in Reims. Throughout the year, preparatory works — including sketches, drawings, and scale models — will be exhibited at leading international contemporary art fairs where Maison Ruinart is a partner, bringing Kawamata’s vision to audiences across the globe.

A Limited-Edition Collector Piece

Adding an exclusive dimension to the collaboration, Tadashi Kawamata has also designed a limited-edition collector piece to house a Jeroboam of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs — a beautiful intersection of art and champagne that is sure to be highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs alike.

Conversations with Nature continues to affirm Maison Ruinart’s position at the intersection of art, sustainability, and champagne culture — and with Tadashi Kawamata’s extraordinary vision, the 2026 edition promises to be among the most compelling yet.

Maison Ruinart 4 Rue des Crayères, 51100 Reims, France +33 3 26 77 51 51 ruinart.com