I wish you an excellent year 2025, marked by discovery and artistic wonder. This year promises to be exceptional for art lovers, with a rich and varied cultural program throughout France. From iconic figures in art history to the most innovative contemporary artists, get ready to experience unforgettable moments. Here is a selection of exhibitions not to be missed in 2025.
Seeing Cimabue again at the Louvre, Paris
‘At the Origins of Italian Painting’
From January 22 to May 12, 2025, the Louvre offers a fascinating dive into the origins of Italian painting with an exhibition dedicated to Cimabue, a pioneering figure of the 13th century. Cimabue, whose real name was Cenni di Pepo, played a central role in the transition from the rigid and stylized art of the Byzantine tradition to a more naturalistic and emotional style. Around forty exceptional works, including the famous Majesty and The Mockery of Christ, bear witness to this evolution which will mark the beginnings of the Italian Renaissance.
This journey through time also reveals how Cimabue influenced generations of artists, notably Giotto, his illustrious pupil, by paving the way for a more human and spiritual representation of the divine. A rare opportunity to discover the deep roots of Western art and to understand the genesis of a pictorial language that will transform Europe.
Suzanne Valadon: a modern vision at the Centre Pompidou, Paris
“A free and pioneering artist”
From January 15 to May 26, 2025, the Centre Pompidou celebrates Suzanne Valadon (1865-1938) with a large retrospective. First a model for renowned painters such as Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Degas, Valadon freed herself from the expectations of her time to become a full-fledged artist. Self-taught and rebellious, she tackled bold themes, such as female nudity seen by a woman, domestic scenes, and portraits imbued with realism. Her works, such as Nude against the light or The Mother and the Child, challenge conventions and explore the female condition with emotional depth.
Long overshadowed by her male peers, Valadon is today recognized as a major figure in modern art, embodying an innovative feminine vision in a male-dominated artistic world. This exhibition pays tribute to an artist going against the grain, celebrating her courage and creative freedom.
The Colors of the Gaze – Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation, Paris
‘Capturing the ephemeral’
From March 1 to June 30, 2025, discover an unknown side of Henri Cartier-Bresson's work through his color photographs. Considered one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century, Cartier-Bresson is best known for his black-and-white images, which captured decisive moments with unique precision. Yet, in the 1950s and 1960s, he also explored color photography, venturing into a different aesthetic.
From vibrant street scenes to luminous landscapes, this exhibition reveals another dimension of his vision, where color becomes a means of capturing the energy and vitality of everyday life. An exceptional opportunity to revisit the work of this master through a new lens, and to understand how he influenced modern photojournalism.
The Orientalists in the Basin of Lights, Bordeaux
‘The dreamed Orient within sight’
Starting from February 21, 2025, dive into the fascinating world of the Orientalists at the Bassin des Lumières in Bordeaux. This artistic movement, born in the 19th century in the wake of European colonial expansion, reflects a often idealized fascination with the Orient. Through the works of Ingres, Delacroix, Gérôme, and many others, this immersive exhibition revisits exotic landscapes, market scenes, and iconic figures that have marked this collective imagination. Combining monumental projections and a captivating soundtrack, the experience brings the paintings to life in a dialogue between past and present.
If Orientalism has sparked criticism and debates about the stereotypical view of the Other, it also reflects a quest for escape and a desire to understand distant cultures. A captivating visual and auditory exploration in one of the largest digital installations in the world.
‘Degenerate’ Art: A Historical Look at the Picasso Museum, Paris
"When art becomes an act of resistance"
From February 18 to May 25, 2025, the Picasso Museum offers a poignant reflection on the concept of 'degenerate art,' used by the Nazi regime in the 1930s to discredit and persecute modern artists. Organized for the first time in 1937 in Munich, the Nazi exhibition of so-called 'degenerate' works denounced creations deemed contrary to Aryan ideals while glorifying academic art.
Through the works of Picasso, Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Otto Dix, and others, this exhibition explores how these artists transformed this oppression into an act of resistance. The journey highlights the power of art in the face of oppression and the cultural issues of this dark period. A celebration of artistic freedom and resilience, essential for understanding the history of art in the 20th century.
Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles at the Grand Palais, Paris
"Between Dream and Memory"
From December 11, 2024, to March 19, 2025, the Grand Palais is honoring the Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota. Born in 1972 in Osaka, Shiota is recognized for her monumental installations made of intertwined wool threads, creating spaces that are both intimate and dreamlike. Inspired by themes such as memory, the passage of time, and the interconnection of beings, her work immerses visitors in a world halfway between dream and reality.
The exhibition also features sculptures, drawings, and videos tracing her twenty-year career, revealing the multiple facets of her art. Among her iconic works are installations such as The Key in the Hand illustrate his ability to transform simple materials into powerful symbols. A total immersion in a poetic and ethereal world, where each thread seems to weave a universal story.
A year of artistic emotions to share
2025 promises to be a year full of artistic discoveries, combining historical masterpieces and contemporary creations. These exhibitions, whether immersive or introspective, reflect the diversity and vitality of the artistic scene. So, get your calendars ready and let yourself be carried by this creative wave that promises to stir your emotions.
