The 5 Best (Free) Exhibitions to See This Winter

© François Gragnon / Paris Match – Karel Chladek – Scotty Ramon

No need to queue for hours outside the most popular museums in the French capital to get your culture fix. This winter, Parisian art galleries are buzzing with inspiring free exhibitions you can enjoy without waiting in line or spending a single euro. From photography and ceramics to painting and even sculpture, there’s something for everyone. On the agenda : glamorous shots of Brigitte Bardot, a journey between painting and music by Kid Cudi, an exhibition curated by Saint Laurent artistic director Anthony Vaccarello, pieces blending Tokyo and Paris influences, and an immersive dive into clubbing culture through images. Five must-see exhibitions to add straight to your to-do list.

You probably know him for his many hit tracks such as Pursuit of Happiness, Just What I Am or the iconic Memories featuring David Guetta. But did you know that American rapper Kid Cudi is also a talented painter ? Scotty Ramon, his real name, is unveiling his very first solo exhibition in the heart of the  Marais, titled Echoes of the Past, and we can’t wait to discover his hidden artistic side.

The star of his paintings ? His alter ego, Max. Sometimes a simple silhouette falling from the sky, sometimes more detailed and laughing out loud, the young boy takes center stage in a series of dreamlike paintings blending simplicity, pop colors and geometric shapes. These visual works express what music had done until now: a true introspection and confrontation with himself. The bonus ? Fans will love that the visit unfolds to the rhythm of an original sound piece by Kid Cudi himself, played throughout the space. Music  – the artist’s first love – accompanies the visitor’s gaze, extending the universe of his paintings and offering a fully immersive sensory experience.

Echoes of the Past at Galerie Ruttkowski;68, 8 rue Charlot, Paris 3e. . From January 31 to March 3, 2026. Public opening on January 30 from 5pm to 8pm. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm and Sunday from 2pm to 6pm. Free entry.
© Scotty Ramon / Galerie Ruttkowski 68

A haute couture exhibition curated by Anthony Vaccarello ? Say no more. Head to the Saint Laurent Rive Droite boutique to discover Objets de mon Affection, an exclusive exhibition dedicated to the work of American artist Man Ray.

His signature ? Reinventing the mundane and turning the ordinary into the iconic. A true all-rounder, Emmanuel Radnitzky, his real name, began his career in painting before expanding into photography and film. A key figure of Dadaism – a movement rejecting logic, aesthetics and bourgeois values – Man Ray championed absurdity and irrationality through his art. A surreal world unfolds inside the boutique, inviting visitors to rediscover everyday objects… differently. Among them : Boîte à Lettres, combining a black zinc mailbox with seven hand-painted ceramic letters, or the surreal sculpture Red Hot Iron, which transforms a simple iron into a meaningful art object. The extra touch ? For the occasion, Anthony Vaccarello reinterprets Man Ray’s iconic sculpture Haltères / Square Dumbbells, turning a familiar fitness tool into a purely contemplative piece. Available in matte black metal or mirrored versions, each signed and presented in a luxurious case for collectors eager to take a piece of art home.

Objets de mon affection at Saint Laurent Rive Droite Paris, 213 rue Saint-Honoré, Paris 1er. Until February 22. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 7:30pm; Wednesday until 6pm; Sunday from 11am to 7pm. Mirrored dumbbells €1,750, black dumbbells €1,350.
© Man Ray 2015 Trust / Adagp, Paris 2026. PHOTO MARC DOMAGE.

A sulky pout, long blonde hair, timeless black eyeliner and a deep love for animals ? No doubt about it, it’s Brigitte Bardot. After Vanessa Paradis at the end of last year, Galerie de L’Instant celebrates another French icon through photography. Just weeks after her passing, this fiercely free woman is honored in an evocatively titled exhibition : Et Dieu créa…Bardot ( = And God… Created Bardot) !

The gallery makes its stance clear: celebrating the actress without endorsing her “highly debatable positions and sympathies.” In the heart of the Marais, its walls are adorned with some of the most stunning images of BB. Vintage prints, film stills and reception photos capture the boldness and thirst for freedom – shocking at the time – of the Queen of La Madrague. From dancing in Florence or embracing Marcello Mastroianni on the set of Vie privée, to strolling through Capri or London with her iconic hairstyles, or shaking hands with Queen Elizabeth in Leicester Square, she’s revealed from every angle. A perfect excuse to admire her legendary looks and the fashion trends she sparked, still influencing fashionistas today. The result ? A sudden urge to travel back in time and live the 1960s in Saint-Tropez…

Et Dieu… créa Bardot at Galerie de l’Instant, 46 rue de Poitou, Paris 3e. From January 29 to March 29. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm, Monday from 2pm, Sunday from 2:30pm to 6:30pm.
© DR / La Galerie de l’Instant

Japanese elegance is coming to Paris ! After its success in the Land of the Rising Sun, the exhibition Beyond Our Horizons takes over Galerie du 19M in a newly reimagined version. A new venue, but the same mission: celebrating creative exchange between Japanese and French artisans through breathtaking works.

Step into a journey through materials, creativity and craftsmanship, halfway between Tokyo and Paris. Sculptures, ceramics, textiles and light installations guide visitors through creations that connect iconic Japanese savoir-faire with French excellence. The delicate Japanese ajiro-bari weaving converses with the pleating work of Atelier Lognon from Maison Lemarié; ceramic master Zengoro Eiraku’s pieces are embellished with flowers and insects by French embroidery house Atelier Montex; while karakami-style printed flowers – a traditional Japanese technique – face the sculptural blooms of Maison Lemarié. More than an exhibition, it’s a true dialogue between cultures, offering a timeless experience beyond borders.

Beyond Our Horizons at Galerie du 19M, 2 place Skanderbeg, Paris 19e. From January 29 to April 26. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 6:30pm. Free entry with reservation.
© Clarisse Ain

Clubbing culture takes over Quai de la Photo with a photography exhibition entirely dedicated to legendary nights out. More than just a party scene, it’s a social, artistic and political phenomenon spotlighted in The Beat Goes On. From its roots in the 1970s to today, from New York to Paris, this exhibition explores what nightlife reveals about our societies.

A true journey through five decades of music, dance, pop lights and intoxicating kisses, the exhibition brings together over a hundred photos and videos by artists from around the world, shown in France for the first time. This collective approach offers a 360° view of nightlife, an ode to those who have danced for fifty years to connect, assert themselves and dream together. From iconic New York disco clubs to 1990s British raves and Berlin underground basements, a common thread runs through it all : the desire for freedom. Bonus point ? Four months of vibrant programming with parties, screenings, artist talks and DJ sets to extend the energy of the images IRL.

The Beat Goes On at Quai de la Photo, 9 port de la Gare, Paris 13e. Until April 24. Open Wednesday to Sunday from noon until at least midnight (up to 2am).
© Karel Chladek – Tristan O’Neill

Also discover 5 fascinating documentaries to boost your general knowledge and  The Most Anticipated Exhibitions of the Winter