Hilton McConnico casts a magic spell over L’Atelier Renault

From October 27, 2012 to January 13, 2013, L’Atelier Renault on the Champs-Elysées will be decked out to celebrate the magic of Christmas with an exceptional exhibition conjured up by the famous designer, Hilton McConnico.


The passion of Christmas by Hilton McConnico

The “Clio Christmas Romance” is a love story with a touch of humor and poetry invented by the famous American designer in the magical setting of L’Atelier Renault, transformed into a Christmas tale...

“When I was little, I loved it when my parents read me stories. As a teenager, I wrote poetry. So when L’Atelier Renault asked me to do the sets for the exhibition, I wrote a Christmas story,” explains Hilton McConnico. “My idea was that, while all that glitters at this time of year is very enticing, you shouldn’t overlook the human side. I decided to update the classic tale a bit. Santa Claus is completely out of his depth in the digital age, so his son Nicholas takes over the reins. It’s a mini tale with a love story, suspense and adventure all rolled into one.”

Santa Claus’s son Nicholas is in love with Chloe, the keeper of the Secret of the Seasons. Nicholas flies through the sky in a high-tech sleigh, turning stardust into gifts, which he delivers with the aid of a GPS…


Renault, a Christmas display on the Champs-Elysées

A not-to-be-missed stop on the most elegant avenue in the world, L’Atelier Renault pays homage to traditional Christmas store window displays. Forests of white trees, passion-red Christmas balls, and digital shooting stars will enchant young and old alike.


New Clio, design with a passion

Styled by the teams of Renault’s new designer, Laurens Van den Acker, New Clio embodies love in Renault’s design strategy. The flame red launch color evokes passion and love at first sight.

Hilton McConnico has designed an entertaining setting for New Clio with the story of Santa Claus’s son Nicholas and Chloe, the keeper of the Secret of the Seasons, offering visitors a chance to see the star exhibit of the Paris Motor Show through a passionate love story tinged with poetry and mischief.

Visitors to L’Atelier Renault will go away enchanted and will be able to take home a souvenir by having their photograph taken with Santa Claus’s son behind the wheel of New Clio!




Hilton McConnico

Hilton McConnico was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1943, and is a painter, designer, photographer, set designer, and stage director.
He has been living and working in Paris since 1965. After working for several years as a fashion designer for major Parisian labels, he moved into the movie industry. He designed the sets for some 20 films, including François Truffaut’s Confidentially Yours. In 1983, he won a César award for best set design for Jean-Jacques Beineix’s Moon in the Gutter.

His witty, whimsical sets have earned him as reputation as one of the most multi-talented and creative artists of his time. He designs window displays for Galeries Lafayette, exhibitions for Hermès, with whom he has worked for 20 years. He has also designed the interior architecture of the Hermès museums in Seoul and Tokyo. Hilton McConnico has won many awards for his designs. In the past 20 years, he has designed successful collections for brands such as Daum, Cristalleries de Saint Louis, Toulemonde Bochart, Lampes Berger, Arthus Bertrand and Lanvin. Some of these, such as the Daum Cactus glassware, the Chilli Pepper rugs for Toulemonde Bochart, and the poster for the latest Crazy Horse show, have entered the permanent collections of museums around the world. In 2006, he won the luxury goods industry’s “Talent de l’Audace” prize for the whole of his career.

In 2011, he was awarded the Légion d’Honneur by the French minister of culture, Frédéric Mitterrand.


About L’Atelier Renault

Open daily from 10:30 am to 11:30 pm (and to 1:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays), L’Atelier Renault organizes special events year-round on Renault and the latest Renault news. With its suspended walkways and mezzanine overlooking the exhibition space, the venue also features a vehicle sales outlet, a boutique where visitors can find brand merchandising, and the L’Atelier Renault Café restaurant and bar, for lunch and dinner or simply to unwind for a moment on the most beautiful avenue in the world. A Hot Spot WiFi service is provided free of charge.