The Most Anticipated Paris Art Exhibitions for 2025
From must-see retrospectives to provocative archive exhibitions, these shows are essential viewing.
Courtesy of Gagosian
Beginning the year with an exceptional array of artistic offerings, Paris reaffirms its status as a global epicenter of art and culture. In 2025, the city presents an inspiring mix of solo exhibitions, retrospectives and new perspectives on archival materials. Here is a curated selection of the 10 most captivating exhibitions to explore this year.
“Moon Voyage”
Antiguan artist and writer Frank Walter’s hauntingly beautiful works blend abstraction and narrative. “Moon Voyage” is the first dedicated solo exhibition in Paris exploring Walter’s cosmic imagination, featuring paintings, paper works and a selection of collector’s items.
On display from January 10 to February 22 at David Zwirner Gallery
“Les étés de Poliakoff”
This exhibition highlights the late Serge Poliakoff’s vibrant use of color and form during his summer periods of creation. Known for his abstract gouache paintings, Poliakoff’s compositions show imperfect shapes interlocking with each other, the result of which is an intriguing exploration of colour and balance.
On display from January 11 to March 1 at Almine Rech Gallery
“Paires”
Bridging modernist rigor and playful experimentation, Günther Förg’s works in “Paires” are a mix of brighter pallets and grid-like marks. The exhibition is unique in showing two large originals alongside almost identical smaller replicas, produced by Förg to preserve his studio when the larger pieces were sent to galleries. The effect gives viewers an opportunity, through the change in scale, to witness the pictorial elements Förg considered most important in the works.
On display from January 16 to March 18 at Galerie Lelong & Co
“Francis Picabia: Éternel recommencement”
A revolutionary modern artist of the last century, Francis Picabia’s eclectic works spanned impressionism, dadaism, abstraction and photo-based realism, defying easy categorization. This will be the first major solo exhibition exploring Picabia’s final period of nonfigurative art before his death in 1953. Leaving behind the Nudes he became famous for, Picabia spent his final years working on more abstract forms. Within the works, minimalist series Silence and Six Points are exhibited, where Picabia explores deconstructing painting.
On display from January 18 to March 12 at Hauser & Wirth Gallery
“Moore and Malaparte: Rhythm and Form”
This intriguing pairing of sculptor Henry Moore and architect-writer Curzio Malaparte delves into the interplay of rhythm and form in their respective practices. A fascinating dialogue between two creatives, the exhibition features small-scale sculptures and drawings by Moore alongside three furniture pieces by Casa Malaparte. The presentation connects both artists’ intrigue in the natural world – a unique perspective into both Moore and Malaparte’s works.
On display from January 22 to March 27 at Gagosian Gallery, Rue de Castiglione
“Degenerate” Art: The Trial of Modern Art Under Nazism
Examining the infamous Nazi campaign against modern art, Musée Picasso will showcase works once deemed “degenerate” alongside archival materials. The show is a haunting reminder of art’s vulnerability under authoritarian regimes and its enduring power as a force for freedom and expression.
On display from February 18 to May 25 at Musée Picasso Paris
“Corps et Âmes” (Body and Soul)
This ambitious exhibition, featuring over 100 works from the Pinault Collection, explores the complex relationship between the body and art through modern and contemporary works. Featuring approximately 40 artists exploring the connection, the exhibition displays a range of mediums including sculpture, painting, photography, video and illustration.
On display from March 5 to August 25 at Bourse de Commerce
“Le Paris d’Agnès Varda, de-ci, de-là”
Renowned filmmaker and visual artist Agnès Varda’s deep connection to Paris is celebrated in this poetic exhibition, which highlights Varda’s lesser known-work through a collection of 130 prints, documents, and objects belonging to the filmmaker. Through these, Varda’s vision of the city as both muse and canvas unfolds, offering an intimate and imaginative portrait of Paris.
On display from April 9 to August 24 at Musée Carnavalet
David Hockney at Fondation Louis Vuitton
An exciting retrospective of David Hockney’s influential works will be on display at Fondation Louis Vuitton. According to Beaux-Arts Magazine, the exhibition will primarily focus on his last 25 years of his work. However, several iconic ‘60s pieces will reportedly feature. Viewers have an opportunity to also see the artist’s works inspired by Normandy, the Grand Canyon and Yorkshire.
On display from April 9 to September 1 at Fondation Louis Vuitton
“Pierre Soulages: Peintures sur Papier”
Discover the rich textures and depths of Pierre Soulages’s “paintings on paper.” This exhibition highlights the French master’s lifelong exploration of dark and light, offering a unique perspective on his abstract oeuvre.
On display from September 16 to January 11, 2026 at Musée du Luxembourg