Créatures ExceptionnELLES takes its name from a declaration made by Coccinelle in the 1962 film I Don Giovanni della Costa Azzurra: " Je suis une créature exceptionnelle. " More than a statement of individuality, the phrase celebrates a community of extraordinary artists whose talent, beauty, courage, and visibility transformed the history of French cabaret. Through photographs, ephemera, and personal archives, this exhibition honors the exceptional creatures of Le Carrousel, Madame Arthur, and beyond.

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The title translates into English as “Exceptional Creatures.” While créature literally means “creature,” in French it can also evoke a person of remarkable presence, singularity, and fascination. In this context, the phrase refers to performers whose artistry transcended convention and whose lives expanded the possibilities of self-expression. Whether trans women, female impersonators, or other cabaret artists working in feminine presentation, the individuals represented in this archive helped shape a unique cultural world in which glamour, transformation, and performance became forms of self-creation.

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The stylized capitalization of ELLES further enriches the title. In French, elles is the feminine plural pronoun, meaning “they.” Its inclusion reflects the feminine identities, characters, and stage personae that united many of the artists represented here. Rather than referring to a single category of performer, ELLESevokes a shared space of femininity—lived, performed, imagined, and celebrated—through which generations of cabaret artists expressed themselves and connected with audiences.

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This exhibition is dedicated to these Créatures ExceptionnELLES: remarkable performers whose glamour, artistry, resilience, and capacity for transformation continue to illuminate the rich history of French cabaret and gender-diverse performance.

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