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As the light changes and a new season begins in Paris, its galleries and museums are unveiling unmissable programming to enjoy across modern and contemporary art. Art Basel Paris should not be missed at the exquisite Grand Palais as well as their public programme presentation in collaboration with Miu Miu at Palais d’Iéna. La Galerie Dior and Claude Monet’s Water Lilies or Les Nymphéas at Musée de l’Orangerie are as captivating as ever for those who enjoy strolling peacefully through Jardin des Tuileries in the early autumn. If venturing further afield to the Côte d'Azur then visit the collection of Fondation Maeght as well as The Infinite Woman exhibition at Fondation Carmignac on the island of Porquerolles. We update this article monthly so that you can always follow the best upcoming exhibitions in Paris and beyond.
1. Paris Art Basel
Clément Delépine, Director of Art Basel Paris, leads the much-anticipated arrival of the international art fair at Grand Palais following the success of the recent Paris Olympics. Its immersive public programme continues with Miu Miu presenting a special project, titled ‘Tales & Tellers’, at Palais d’Iéna, the headquarters of France’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council. An inspiring Conversations programme has been curated by Charles Teyssou and Pierre-Alexandre Matéos in the Petit Palais. Don’t miss the Emergence sector, which celebrates exhibitors presenting young and emerging artists through solo presentations.
Address: Grand Palais, 3 avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008, Paris
Website: artbasel.com/paris
Price: From €44; concessions available
Dates: 18-12 October 2024
2. Bourse de commerce Pinault Collection
The Bourse de Commerce, a former stock exchange, has been transformed into the opulent and yet minimalist Pinault Collection, which is also housed at Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana in Venice. 10,000 works of contemporary art spanning from emerging to established artists are divided between the two cities. Architect Tadao Ando – known for Chichu Museum on Naoshima Island in Japan – reconceived the building with a focus on the monumental skylight. The cultural institution is known for its inspiring artistic programming across a broad spectrum of mediums, from paintings and photography to sculpture and media.
Address: 2 rue de Viarmes, 75001 Paris
Tickets: Feverup.com
Price: From €14; Concessions available
Dates: Closed on Tuesdays
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3. La Galerie Dior
The luminous museum La Galerie Dior is described as, ‘a place of art and memory’ and celebrates Parisian couture and the heritage of the iconic brand. Monsieur Dior was originally a gallerist and was continually inspired by art and architecture as both a collector and designer. The brand continues to be involved in art. The visionary creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri has always ensured that inspiring women are perpetually at the forefront of their leadership and vision at Dior. Experience their history through exquisite archival sketches, photographs and original looks as well as sources of inspiration from the artistic to the botanical.
Address: 11 Rue François 1er, 75008 Paris
Website: galeriedior.com
Price: From €12; concessions available
Dates: Closed on Tuesdays
4. Claude Monet’s Water Lilies at Musée de l'Orangerie
One of the most beautiful Parisian museums is the Musée de l'Orangerie built alongside the Jeu de Paume in the Jardin des Tuileries. It is known for the hypnotic Water Lilies or Les Nymphéas series, eight extended canvases by Claude Monet, which were generously donated to the French state after WWI as a symbol of peace. As with Monet’s studio in Giverny, natural light floods into the galleries and illuminates the paintings. There are also revolving temporary exhibitions to experience at the Musée de l'Orangerie with artists like Amadeo Modigliani who worked closely with illustrious French art dealer and collector Paul Guillaume.
Address: Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris
Website: musee-orangerie.fr
Price: From €12.50; concessions available
Dates: Closed on Tuesdays
5. Musée national Picasso-Paris
Musée National Picasso-Paris is an opulent museum inside Hôtel Salé, which is devoted to the Spanish artist and the artists that he worked alongside. 5,000 works of art are held within their collection including preparatory sketches as well as his prolific photographic archive and correspondence. Their temporary exhibition Dans l'appartement de Léonce Rosenberg. De Chirico, Ernst, Léger, Picabia.. brings together influential artists. The museum is located on the picturesque rue de Thorigny in Le Marais not far from Centre Pompidou. You can continue on to explore smaller galleries nearby like Thaddeus Ropac, Perrotin and David Zwirner.
Address: 5 rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris
Website: museepicassoparis.fr
Price: From €11; concessions available
Dates: Closed on Mondays
6. Fondation Maeght
The modern elegance of both the architecture and permanent collection of Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul de Vence is internationally renowned. Designed by Josep Lluís Sert, it was built in 1964 within a verdant garden on Colline des Gardettes. The permanent collection brings together modern artists like Pierre Bonnard, Anna-Eva Bergmann and Marc Chagall as well as Simon Hantaï, Pierre Soulages and Vassily Kandinsky. Another favourite artist on display is the abstract expressionist Joan Mitchell whose brilliant retrospective Monet - Mitchell was recently held in dialogue with the work of Claude Monet at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.
Address: 623 Chem. des Gardettes, 06570 Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Website: fondation-maeght.com
Price: From €16; concessions available
Dates: Open everyday 10am-6pm
7. Matisse Chapel in Vence
On the French Riviera, in a quiet corner of Vence, is a serene chapel devised by Henri Matisse in the mid-20th-century. Towards the end of his life, Matisse worked devotedly on the architecture, delicate ceramics, murals, stained glass windows, as well as the finer details like the priests’ vestments. The small Catholic chapel was dedicated to the Dominican Order and maintains a sense of spirituality. It is a profoundly immersive and meditative experience to spend a few hours there in the presence of some of the artist’s most evocative work. Whilst nearby, you can also visit the collections at Fondation Maeght and Château La Coste.
Address: 466 avenue Henri Matisse, 06140 Vence
Website: chapellematisse.fr
Price: From €7; concessions available
Dates: Closed on Sunday and Monday
8. Musée Rodin
Only a short walk from the Eiffel Tower and Grand Palais, Musée Rodin was opened in 1919 and has since been devoted to the work of the prolific French Sculptor Auguste Rodin. Get lost in the classical architecture with exquisite rocaille details. The sculpture garden is also exquisite and offers a quiet escape during the Olympics this summer. The museum featured in Midnight in Paris directed by Woody Allen, in which Carla Bruni had a cameo as a tour guide
Address: 77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris
Website: www.musee-rodin.fr
Price: From €13; concessions available
Dates: Closed on Mondays
9. The Infinite Woman at Villa Carmignac
Villa Carmignac is a peaceful sanctuary on the island of Porquerolles in the south of France. The Provençal farmhouse is surrounded by an impressive sculpture park with sweeping views over the Mediterranean. Curated by Alona Pardo, their thought-provoking exhibition The Infinite Woman reflects on the empowerment and representation of women. Expect Italian renaissance masters like Sandro Botticelli alongside contemporary artists like Loie Hollewell and even an on-site fresco France-Lise McGurn. The exhibition will be accompanied by a diverse cultural programming from meditation to intimate film screenings in the sculpture garden.
Address: Villa Carmignac, Porquerolles, Île de Porquerolles, La Courtade, 83400 Hyères
Website: fondationcarmignac.com
Price: From €16; concessions available
Dates: Until 3 November 2024 (Closed on Mondays)
10. Terra at La Maison de Pommard
A short train journey from Paris across the UNESCO world heritage vineyards of Burgundy is a multi-sensory exhibition curated by the London-based art historian Emie Diamond, Jenn Ellis and produced by Milena Berman. Opening alongside Art Basel Paris at Grand Palais, Terra is inspiring art lovers and collectors to venture beyond Paris and discover the beautiful architecture and landscapes of nearby Burgundy. International galleries including Saatchi Yates, Almine Rech, Coulisse and Edel Assanti bring together both emerging and established artists in this unexpected setting and offer visitors a new perspective on contemporary art.
Address: Château de Chevigny-en-Valière, Résidence de Moyne-Blandin, and La Maison de Pommard
Website: linktr.ee/terra.fr
Price: Free
Dates: From 18 October to 17 November 2024