Gilles Bloch: "The Museum needs 1.1 billion euros"

Gilles Bloch : « Le Muséum a besoin de 1,1 milliard d’euros »

Gilles Bloch, president of the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle in Paris, has issued an urgent call for €1.1 billion in funding to address the critical state of the institution's infrastructure. Ahead of its 400th anniversary in 2026, a diagnostic report reveals that 74% of the museum's 120 buildings are in poor condition, with several galleries currently closed to the public or suffering from inadequate climate control. The requested funds would cover €500 million in emergency repairs to stabilize decaying structures and a further €600 million for long-term modernization and energy efficiency upgrades.

What to see in Paris: museums to discover this summer in the capital (2026).

This article is a guide to museums open in Paris during the summer of 2026, highlighting a variety of cultural institutions that remain accessible to visitors. It mentions specific venues such as the Musée de l'Armée at Hôtel des Invalides, the Paris Museum of Modern Art (MAM), the Musée Bourdelle, and the Maison de Victor Hugo, as well as the Fragonard perfume museum's Théâtre du Parfum. The piece emphasizes that these museums offer permanent collections and temporary exhibitions spanning art, history, fashion, science, and photography.

Stockholms Auktionsverk Presents: The Modern Art Sale and The Contemporary Art Sale

Stockholms Auktionsverk is holding two live auctions, The Modern Art Sale and The Contemporary Art Sale, on May 20 and 21, 2026, at Nybrogatan 32 in Stockholm. The sales feature a curated selection of Swedish and international artists from the early 20th century to the present day, including works by Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Tony Cragg, Lena Cronqvist, and a newly discovered painting by Gösta Adrian-Nilsson. The Modern Art Sale highlights modernist masterpieces by Otte Sköld, Sigrid Hjertén, and Ragnar Sandberg, while The Contemporary Art Sale pays tribute to Ola Billgren and includes works by David LaChapelle, Cindy Sherman, and Britta Marakatt-Labba.

Michel Bassompierre (1948-2026)

French sculptor Michel Bassompierre has died at age 78. Known for his monumental bronze and marble animal sculptures—polar bears, gorillas, elephants, pandas, and horses—he depicted them in moments of rest and balance, simplifying forms in the tradition of François Pompon. Bassompierre studied at the École des beaux arts de Rouen under René Leleu, taught applied arts, and later worked with foundries including Venturi Arte in Italy. His major exhibitions include "Fragiles colosses" at the Jardin des plantes in Paris (2019) and a show at the Musée Despiau Wlérick (2021). In February 2025, the municipality of Vertou announced plans for a Michel Bassompierre museum, slated to open in 2028. He was named a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2010, received the Légion d'honneur in January 2025, and was promoted to Officier des Arts et des Lettres on April 1, 2025.

Children and Satyr: Two Artcurial Sales in Paris

Enfants et satyre : deux ventes Artcurial à Paris

Artcurial in Paris is holding two upcoming sales on March 25, featuring a diverse collection of works on paper. The sales include a drawing of a camel by Jean-Pierre Houël, a preparatory sketch of a plucked chicken by Jean-François Tourcaty, a study of a man wearing a satyr mask by Parmigianino, and a drawing by Thomas Couture depicting a scene from his painting 'Pierrot en correctionnelle.'