Paris in the springtime has a unique magic, which extends to its arts and culture scene. As the weather turns warmer, be sure to seek out one of this season’s most enticing exhibits. From pioneering women to the shining lights of Finland to the influence and import of the natural world, there’s something for every age and every taste. Don’t forget to check each venue’s website before you go for the latest health measures in place.
CRAZY ABOUT THE 20s
Pioneers – Artists in the Paris of the Roaring Twenties
This small but vibrant exhibit shines a spotlight on women artists during a particularly creative period of art history. Through familiar names like Tamara de Lempicka, Sonia Delaunay and Chana Orloff, as well as many lesser known ones, the show turns the female gaze on issues of politics, gender and sexuality and centers the role women played in avant-garde artistic movements like Cubism, Dadaism and Surrealism.
Where: Musée du Luxembourg, 19 rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris
When: Through July 10, 2022
Germany / The 1920s /New Objectivity / August Sander /
For a further exploration of the art of the 1920s, visit this multidisciplinary exhibit dedicated to the German “New Objectivity” movement. Painting, photography, architecture, design, film, theatre, literature and music are all featured, with a special focus on photographer August Sander. While at Beaubourg, don’t miss “Shirley Jaffe, An American Woman in Paris,” which traces the painter’s evolution from abstract expressionism to a more personal, geometrical style.
Where: Centre Pompidou, Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris
When: May 11 through September 5, 2022
NORTHERN LIGHTS
Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905), Lights of Finland
The Petit Palais continues its exploration of Nordic artists with this retrospective of Finnish painter Albert Edelfelt. Through 100 works, the exhibit retraces his influential career, split between France and Finland, and much-admired style combining impressionism and realism. While there, be sure to catch the lovely works on display from Italian Belle Epoque society painter Giovanni Boldini.
Where: Petit Palais, Avenue Winston-Churchill, 75008 Paris
When: Through July 10, 2022
Gallen-Kallela, Myths and Nature
Finnish art also holds a place of honor at the charming Musée Jacquemart-André, with an exhibit devoted to the work of painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931). Through around 70 works, the show explores how the artist’s relationship to nature changed as his style evolved from naturalism to symbolism.
Where: Musée Jacquemart-André, 158 boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris
When: Through July 25, 2022
INTIMATE INTERIORS
Impressionist Decorations – Tracing the Roots of Monet’s Water Lilies
Exploring a lesser-known aspect of Impressionism, this exhibit brings together for the first time a selection of decorative works by Cassatt, Cézanne, Degas, Manet, Monet, Morisot, Pissarro, Renoir and others. From paintings, fans, ceramics, or drawings, to the large-scale projects like Monet’s Water Lillies, these works depicting scenes from modern life, luminous landscapes or gardens brimming with flowers, invite us to enjoy this much-loved artistic movement in a new way.
Where: Musée de l’Orangerie, Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, 75001 Paris
When: Through July 11, 2022
The Theatre of Emotions
The Musée Marmottan Monet goes deep inside the expressive power of art with an exhibit that brings together almost eighty works dating from the Middle Ages to the present day retracing the history of emotions. Combining art history and philosophy, the show offers a new perspective on works from Dürer, Fragonard, Courbet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso and others, placing them in a fascinating new light.
Where: Musée Marmottan Monet, 2 rue Louis-Boilly, Paris 75016
When: Through August 21, 2022
HISTORY AND HERITAGE
Machu Picchu and the Treasures of Peru
This interactive and immersive exhibit reunites more than 190 original pieces from the greatest Peruvian museums, many of which have never left the country before. Discover 3000 years of history and civilization, seen through a collection of symbolic objects like masks, jewelry, crowns, ceremonial clothing and much more. The exhibit incorporates virtual reality and 3D technology to bring Machu Pichu to you, plus an Escape Game to thrill the entire family.
Where: Cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine, 1 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75116 Paris
When: Through September 4, 2022
On the Road to Chiefdoms of Cameroon. The Visible And The Invisible.
Tradition, power and culture lie at the core of this exhibit dedicated to the people of the high-altitude plateaus of west Cameroon. Featuring bead creations, wooden sculptures, textile production, traditional dances and more celebrating this unique and historic heritage, carefully preserved for centuries by traditional chiefs. The exhibit is also interspersed with works by contemporary Cameroonian artists.
Where: Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, 37 Quai Branly, 75007 Paris
When: Through July 17, 2022
ELEMENTS OF NATURE
Reclaim The Earth
This collective exhibit at the Palais de Tokyo follows the trajectories of 14 artists from different generations and origins, showcasing their varying treatments of the elements and examining the links between humans and nature, forcing us to think beyond the Nature-Culture divide. Don’t miss this unique artistic journey, which is positioned as an ecological “wake-up call, as much as a rallying cry.”
Where: Palais de Tokyo, 13 avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris
When: Through September 4, 2022
Delacroix and Nature
The French Romantic painter’s last apartment and studio host an exhibit exploring the complex role of nature in his work. Sketches, drawings and rare landscapes are presented bringing a fresh perspective to the detailed observation Delacroix incorporated into his portraits of flora and fauna, allowing a peek into his creative process. And don’t forget to end the visit with a tour of his magnificent gardens.
Where: Musée National Eugène-Delacroix, 6 rue de Furstemberg, 75006 Paris
When: Through June 27, 2022
