Marlene Dumas has become the first contemporary woman artist to join the Louvre's permanent collection. Nine site-specific paintings by the South African-born artist were unveiled at the Paris museum last Thursday, now on permanent display in the Porte des Lions atrium. The series, titled Liaisons, depicts faces that draw on the "horrors" of the world today, as described by the artist. Dumas collaborated with Donatien Grau, the Louvre's head of contemporary programmes, and was selected by director Laurence des Cars, who called her the "obvious choice" for the commission.
This acquisition marks a historic milestone for the Louvre, which has long been dominated by historical and male artists, and signals the museum's commitment to expanding its contemporary art programme. By integrating Dumas's work into its permanent collection, the Louvre acknowledges the importance of living women artists in shaping art history. The move follows other recent contemporary additions, including a temporary installation by Luc Tuymans and the museum's first video work by Mohamed Bourouissa, reflecting a broader institutional shift toward modern and diverse artistic voices.