© Jean Nouvel / ADAGP, Paris, 2025. Photo © Martin Argyroglo
It’s the biggest Parisian move of the year : the Fondation Cartier, a true temple of contemporary art, is leaving boulevard Raspail to settle in the very center of the capital, right in Palais-Royal, directly facing the Louvre. To celebrate its new home, the Exposition Générale dazzles visitors until August 23 with a vast selection of photographs, paintings, sculptures and breathtaking XXL installations. Stopping by to welcome the institution to its new address is basically mandatory.
A Modular Space in the Heart of Paris
This new Fondation Cartier embodies a dialogue between past and present: the Haussmannian building of the former Grands Magasins du Louvre meets the bold contemporary work of Jean Nouvel, who redesigned the entire interior. Bathed in natural light with sweeping views of Place du Palais-Royal through monumental glass façades, this new setting nearly steals the show from the hundreds of works on display. The concept ? Five mobile platforms offer endless possibilities for future scenography, making the building itself a genuine architectural feat. Visitors wander through the space, moving from floor to floor, climbing up and down while surrounded by artworks from every discipline and background.
© Jean Nouvel / ADAGP, Paris, 2025. Photo © Martin Argyroglo
Celebrating the Monumental
The General Exhibition brings together an unprecedented selection of over forty years of contemporary artistic creation. As a deep dive into the Fondation Cartier’s collection, it showcases more than 600 works by artists from all over the world, including David Lynch, James Turrell, and Chéri Samba. The vast venue is filled with large-scale works on multiple themes and is organized into four sections : a reflection on living worlds with Être Nature; an exploration of technique and material experimentation with Making Things; a slightly dystopian encounter of science, fiction and technology in Un Monde réel; and an ephemeral architectural laboratory with Machines d’Architecture. Each ticket is more than museum admission : it’s an immersive journey through different universes and ways of interpreting the world. Think : a massive fabric wall in autumn shades, a polyester-and-fiberglass sculpture shaped like a giant head, monumental plants soaking up sunlight through the glass façade… sensory overload in the best of ways. Expect to spend at least an entire afternoon to take it all in. In the midst of this creative whirlwind, one highlight stood out to us: the nature-inspired sculptures of Brazilian artist Véio, instantly stirring our wanderlust…
© Freddy Mamani Salon de Eventos Santidio / Pereira Junya Ishigami and Luiz Zerbin by Marc Domage (left and right) – Bodys Isek Kingelez by Clérin-Morin (center)
Exposition Générale at the Fondation Cartier for Contemporary Art, Open until August 23, Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 8pm and until 10pm on Tuesdays. Full price : €15, reduced price : €10.
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