French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel is preparing for his most ambitious project yet, a citywide exhibition titled "Othoniel Cosmos or the Ghosts of Love" in Avignon, France, opening June 28, 2025. The exhibition will feature some 250 works—including sculptures made of glass bricks and beads, plus paintings—displayed across ten museums and historical sites, including the Palais des Papes, Pont d’Avignon, Couvent Sainte-Claire, and the Lambert Collection. The project celebrates the 25th anniversary of Avignon being named a European Capital of Culture. Othoniel's Paris studio, a 40,000-square-foot former metal workshop in Montreuil that he shares with partner and artist Johan Creten, serves as the production hub for the works, with a team of 20 people on-site daily.
The project matters because it represents a major artistic takeover of an entire city, transforming Avignon into a curated journey of Othoniel's signature beaded and glass sculptures, which have gained international recognition for installations at venues like the Palace of Versailles. The exhibition also highlights the growing trend of artists creating large-scale, multisite shows that engage with historical and public spaces, blending contemporary art with cultural heritage. Additionally, the article offers insight into Othoniel's creative process and the role of his expanded studio and foundation in enabling ambitious projects.