The Centre Pompidou Expands to South Korea

Le Centre Pompidou s’exporte en Corée du Sud

The Centre Pompidou has opened a new satellite institution, the Centre Pompidou Hanwha, in Seoul, South Korea. The 11,000-square-meter venue, located in the 63 Tower and designed by the Wilmotte et Associés agency, is a partnership with the Hanwha Foundation of Culture and coincides with the 140th anniversary of Franco-Korean diplomatic relations. The opening was highlighted by a recent site visit from French President Emmanuel Macron and Centre Pompidou president Laurent Le Bon.

La MansA Launches Its Magazine

La MansA lance son magazine

La MansA – Maison des mondes africains has launched MansA Magazine, a bilingual (French/English) semiannual cultural publication. The magazine, available at newsstands, bookstores, and online, features essays, interviews, and portfolios focused on African and Afro-diasporic art scenes, adopting a critical and documentary approach. The cover of the inaugural issue features Guillaume Diop, the first Black male principal dancer at the Paris Opera.

The Martin Parr Revolution

La révolution Martin Parr

The Jeu de Paume museum in Paris is presenting a major exhibition of the late British photographer Martin Parr, on view until May 24. The show coincides with the release of a documentary film, "I am Martin Parr, le photographe so British," which follows the artist and features interviews with his wife, gallerists, and fellow Magnum Photos members.

Michel Bassompierre, Celebratory Animal Sculptor, Dies at 78

Michel Bassompierre, célèbre sculpteur animalier, est décédé à 78 ans

Michel Bassompierre, the celebrated French animal sculptor known for his gentle, rounded bronze and marble bears, gorillas, elephants, and pandas, has died at age 78. He suffered a fatal head injury from a fall following a fainting spell in Nantes on April 21.

Language Games in a Haunted Present.

Ndéyé Kouagou has opened her first solo exhibition in Italy at Collezione Maramotti, presented in conjunction with the Fotografia Europea 2026 festival. The exhibition, titled 'Ghosts of the Moment', features recent works and new commissions that showcase her language-driven practice, blending text, performance, and image to explore unstable meaning and contemporary subjectivity.

An Alexander Calder Retrospective in Paris Underscores His Inventiveness

A major retrospective of Alexander Calder's work is currently on view at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, marking the 100th anniversary of the artist's arrival in the city. The exhibition, running through August 16, 2026, presents a comprehensive overview of his career, featuring sculptures, drawings, archival material, and jewelry that highlight his innovative fusion of engineering and abstraction.

Viandalism: the exhibition bridging street art and contemporary art at the Mona Bismarck

The Mona Bismarck American Center in Paris is hosting an exhibition titled 'Viandalism' from May 7-8, 2026, bringing together 40 artists from graffiti and contemporary art backgrounds. The show features installations and site-specific interventions within the 1,000 m² private mansion, aiming to create a dialogue between the artworks and the venue's unique architecture and atmosphere.

Animals Wander through Neighborhood Streets at Twilight in Nicholas Moegly’s Illustrations

Artist Nicholas Moegly creates illustrations and oil paintings depicting quiet American neighborhoods at twilight, where animals like deer and foxes wander through empty streets and yards. His work evokes a dreamy, timeless realism, drawing comparisons to photographer Todd Hido and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg.

The Cinema and Photography of Agnès Varda. Revolutionary Things on Show in Rome

Il cinema e la fotografia di Agnès Varda. Cose rivoluzionarie in mostra a Roma

A major exhibition dedicated to the work of Agnès Varda, titled "De-ci de-là, Paris-Rome," has opened at the Villa Medici – Accademia di Francia in Rome. The show explores Varda's multifaceted career as a photographer, filmmaker, and contemporary artist, tracing her journey from post-war Paris to the 1960s and her later recognition in the art world. It features her iconic black-and-white portraits, early photographic work, and cinematic elements, presented as a continuous visual sequence.

Beyond the Eiffel Tower: Photo Exhibition Reveals Paris Unseen

The Sungkok Art Museum in Seoul is hosting a photography exhibition titled 'Paris Unseen' or 'Paris, Invisible Paris'. The show features works by 51 artists, including three Koreans, and was co-curated with Alain Sayag, former head of photography at the Centre Pompidou. It aims to move beyond the city's iconic tourist imagery to present lesser-known perspectives of Paris, coinciding with the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations.

New biography of Chaïm Soutine pieces together illusive artist's life and works

A new biography of Chaïm Soutine, the early 20th-century painter, has been published. The book, written by Celeste Marcus, attempts to piece together the life of the notoriously private and illusive artist, examining his journey from a Belarusian shtetl to the studios of Montparnasse, his complex relationships, and the myths that have grown around his work and persona.

Aste a Parigi: nuovo record per Claude Monet da Sotheby’s e per Ettore Spalletti da Christie’s

Sotheby's Paris achieved a new French auction record for Claude Monet on April 16, 2026, with 'Vétheuil, effet du matin' (1901) selling for €10.2 million, far above its €6-8 million estimate. The evening sale generated €35 million total, an 84% increase over the 2025 session, also featuring strong results for Marc Chagall, Lucio Fontana, and Rembrandt Bugatti. Meanwhile, Christie's Paris celebrated the 25th anniversary of its 'Thinking Italian' section with a complete sell-out of 11 lots, including a new auction record for Ettore Spalletti's 'Mobile' (1974) at €203,200. The overall Paris modern and contemporary art week reached a record €80.9 million, up 39% year-on-year.

The Last Living Surrealist

Der letzte lebende Surrealist

Alejandro Jodorowsky, the 97-year-old Chilean-French artist and filmmaker, is profiled in his Paris apartment as the last living Surrealist. The article reflects on his century-spanning career, from his early pantomime work with Marcel Marceau in the 1950s to his cult films like "El Topo" and "The Holy Mountain," as well as his famously unrealized adaptation of Frank Herbert's "Dune." Jodorowsky shares his philosophy that true art has a beginning but no end, offering a retrospective on a life lived at the intersection of performance, cinema, and visionary creativity.

« L’Angélus » de Millet : une notification à l’humanité hors sol ?

Beaux Arts Magazine publishes a detailed visual analysis of Jean-François Millet's painting "L'Angélus" (1857–1859), housed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The article describes the scene of two peasants pausing their potato harvest to pray at dusk, examining the composition, color, and spiritual resonance of the work. It also traces Millet's biography—from his peasant origins in the Cotentin region to his training under Langlois and Paul Delaroche, and his early career painting portraits and nudes before turning to rural subjects.

Never-Before-Seen Calder Sculpture Emerges on the Auction Block in Paris

A previously unknown sculpture by Alexander Calder, titled 'Stabile-mobile' (1974), will be auctioned by Oger – Blanchet at Hôtel Drouot in Paris on May 22. The small, kinetic work, estimated to sell for €80,000–€120,000, was a gift from the artist to an archivist at the French National Museum of Modern Art and has remained with her family for 50 years.

7 Iconic Works From Alexander Calder’s Major Paris Retrospective

The Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris is presenting a major retrospective of Alexander Calder's work, titled "Calder. Rêver en Équilibre" ("Calder. Dreaming in Balance"). The exhibition, marking the 50th anniversary of the artist's death and the centenary of his first arrival in France, features nearly 300 works, including his iconic mobiles and stabiles.

Theater in Paris: Studio Hébertot brings to life the companions of Pablo Picasso, from Fernande Olivier to Françoise Gilot

Théâtre à Paris : le Studio Hébertot fait revivre les compagnes de Pablo Picasso, de Fernande Olivier à Françoise Gilot

A theatrical production titled 'Les Amours de Pablo' is being staged at the Studio Hébertot in Paris until the end of May 2026. The play, created by the Compagnie Bille en Tête, focuses on the intimate and tumultuous relationships of Pablo Picasso, but primarily aims to give voice and substance to seven of his romantic partners, portraying them as complex individuals and artists in their own right.

Károly Ferenczy, Elusive Inventor of Hungarian Modernity at the Petit Palais

Károly Ferenczy, insaisissable inventeur de la modernité hongroise au Petit Palais

The Petit Palais in Paris is presenting a major exhibition dedicated to Károly Ferenczy, a pivotal figure in Hungarian modernism. The show features works like his 1896 painting 'Le Sermon sur la montagne,' exploring his role within the Nagybánya artists' colony and his synthesis of plein air painting with a European artistic education.

Where Thoughts Provoke and Truths Take Form.

Henry Taylor's major exhibition 'Where Thoughts Provoke' has opened at the Musée national Picasso-Paris. The show is a survey of nearly four decades of his work, featuring paintings, sculpture, and installation that focus on portraiture, observation, and the politics of looking.

Marian Goodman Gallery to ‘Pause’ Operations in Los Angeles

Marian Goodman Gallery is suspending operations at its Los Angeles location after two and a half years, following the conclusion of Tacita Dean's solo show on April 25. The gallery's partners announced a consolidation of programming to its historic homes in New York and Paris, stating they will evaluate the space's future while maintaining an LA presence through art fairs, special projects, and museum exhibitions.

For their 30th anniversary, Pokémon enter the museum: Gotta catch 'em all!

Pour leurs 30 ans, les Pokémon entrent au musée : attrapez-les tous !

The Musée en Herbe in Paris is hosting a major exhibition titled 'Admirez-les tous ! Une exposition hommage à Pokémon' to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. The show features original Game Boy consoles, early trading cards, preparatory drawings for the animated series, and insights from the French translator who named the creatures. It also highlights how Pokémon have entered the global visual heritage.

Young artists take over Slidell's city gallery

Student artists from across St. Tammany Parish participated in the 35th annual Salad Days Juried Exhibition of Student Art at the George Dunbar Gallery in Slidell. The event featured an opening reception and awards ceremony, with 80 artists submitting 174 works, of which roughly 30% were selected for display. Artist and arts advocate Joshua Wichterich served as the juror for the competitive show.

Stained Glass Objects by Pia Hinz Reflect the Contrast Between Strength and Fragility

Artist Pia Hinz creates sculptures of tools and objects from construction and farming sites using stained glass, transforming items like hammers, screws, and tractor doors into fragile, light-filled artworks. Her work, developed during a 2024 residency at La Menuiserie 2, subverts the utilitarian nature of these forms, exploring the interplay between strength and vulnerability, and questioning the use value and narrative potential of everyday objects.

What Works of Art Sank Aboard the Titanic?

Quelles sont les œuvres d’art englouties à bord du Titanic ?

The RMS Titanic, which sank in 1912, was carrying over 300 paintings, drawings, prints, and art objects according to its cargo manifest. The most famous artwork lost was the 1814 neoclassical painting 'La Circassienne au bain' by French artist Merry-Joseph Blondel, owned by Swedish businessman Mauritz Håkan Björnström-Steffansson, which was insured for $100,000. Also lost was the legendary 'Grand Omar,' a jewel-encrusted luxury edition of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, created by the London bindery Sangorski & Sutcliffe.

The Italian art market is gaining momentum

Italy's contemporary art market is experiencing a surge in activity, marked by the arrival of international galleries like Thaddaeus Ropac in Milan and Hauser & Wirth's planned opening in Sicily. This coincides with major art events such as Paris Internationale launching in Milan alongside the local Miart fair.

'To Paint Is To Love Again' at Crèvecoeur, Paris–Cascades, France on 9 Apr–27 May 2026

The group exhibition 'To Paint Is To Love Again' at Crèvecoeur gallery in Paris explores the theme of artistic freedom, play, and a childlike approach to creation. The article examines this through the lens of Henry Miller's writings on painting, the influence of Jean Dubuffet's Art Brut, and the practices of contemporary artists Whitney Clafin, Sadie Benning, and Françoise Lapeyre, who incorporate found objects, toys, and a 'Sunday painter' ethos into their work.

Exhibition | Julien Carreyn, 'Exposition personnelle' at Crèvecoeur, Paris–Beaune, France

French artist Julien Carreyn is preparing his sixth solo exhibition, titled 'Exposition personnelle,' at the Crèvecoeur gallery in Paris. The show will feature a selection of small black-and-white photographs centered on themes of holidays and family, a possible miniature painting, a long, non-linear text, and a series of Polaroids depicting jewelry, installed across the gallery's spaces at 5 and 7 rue de Beaune.

Monet auction drives Sotheby’s Paris sale to 35 million euros

Sotheby's Paris sale on April 16, 2026, achieved a total of 35 million euros, an 84% increase over the previous year's equivalent auction. The event was dominated by two rediscovered Claude Monet paintings, with 'Vétheuil, effet du matin' setting a new auction record for the artist in France at 10.2 million euros. Strong results were also posted for works by Marc Chagall, Lucio Fontana, and Gerhard Richter, with 62.5% of lots selling above their high estimates.

Exhibition | Fahrelnissa Zeid, 'Immersion' at Dirimart, London, United Kingdom

Dirimart London has opened 'Immersion,' the first UK gallery exhibition this century dedicated to Turkish-Arab modernist Fahrelnissa Zeid. Curated by Adila Laïdi-Hanieh, the show focuses on her most innovative decades from the 1940s to 1960s, featuring works from Istanbul, London, Paris, and Ischia, with several pieces on public view for the first time.

Exhibition | Claudia Keep, 'Waggle Dance' at Marguo, Paris, France

American artist Claudia Keep presents a new solo exhibition, 'Waggle Dance,' at the Marguo gallery in Paris. The exhibition features a poignant body of paintings that depict bees, flowers, and insects at a larger-than-life scale, conceived as records of an ever-changing world and imbued with an awareness of fragile ecological timelines.