It's the star discipline of the art world, the one that never disappoints. Some may find it too classic, but we know that the classic is also the timeless, the sure thing, the chocolate cake that pleases everyone. In short, we care. Paris, its museums and galleries are overflowing with beautiful painting exhibitions, and that's the subject we're interested in today!
If you're in the mood for a nice, carefree outing, a moment of relaxation and escape in all simplicity, it's to painting exhibitions that you should turn! Don't be fooled by the apparent sobriety of this category: you'll find some of the finest masterpieces of all time in these suggestions for outings, paintings of breathtaking complexity, beauty and technicality.
Modern, Impressionist, Classical or Baroque, Romantic or Surrealist: you'll find it all in Paris and the Paris region. Let yourself be seduced by these painters, from all centuries and all horizons, whose works are still admired today.
Are you convinced by the beauty of this art form? Then it's time to choose your next exhibition from our selection below.
Van Gogh, the last journeys: the exhibition at Château d'Auvers-sur-Oise - Extensions
Auvers-sur-Oise, the birthplace of Impressionism in the Île-de-France region, was home to the painter Vincent Van Gogh during the last years of his life. The château is extending its event exhibition, focusing on his last journeys, until November 2025. [Read more]
L'Esquisse, Barbizon's new cultural hotel, both café and free museum
L'Esquisse is a fusion of hotel, café and free museum. We're off to Barbizon, the famous artists' village, to take advantage of this new spot that combines large, charming rooms, a great café by the fireplace and a free museum honoring the artists who have influenced Barbizon around the world. [Read more]
Les Orientalistes: the Atelier des Lumières exhibition takes us on a journey to the Orient - photos
The mysteries of the Orient await you at the Atelier des Lumières: join Ingres, Delacroix, Vernet and many others in this groundbreaking exhibition on view from February 9, 2024 to January 22, 2025. [Read more]
Nu comme habillé, Delacroix et le vêtement: a focus on the Musée Delacroix collections
The Musée Delacroix looks at how the painter dressed - or didn't dress - his subjects, in an exhibition running from July 3, 2024 to February 3, 2025. [Read more]
Masterpieces from the Galleria Borghese: Italian exhibition extended at Musée Jacquemart-André
The Musée Jacquemart-André reopens its doors in September 2024: to mark the occasion, the museum is showing Masterpieces from the Galerie Borghèse from September 6, 2024 to February 9, 2025. [Read more]
Exhibition at Halle Saint-Pierre: discover the works of Malcolm de Chazal - our photos
Attention contemporary art lovers... From September 11, 2024 to January 19, 2025, La Halle Saint Pierre, just a stone's throw from the Sacré Cœur, will be presenting an exhibition of works by Malcolm de Chazal. This retrospective invites you to explore the poetic and pictorial universe of this Mauritian artist, with its blend of nature, spirituality and vibrant colors. [Read more]
Harriet Backer, the music of colors: the Musée d'Orsay's poetic exhibition unveiled
The Musée d'Orsay invites us to meet Harriet Backer, the famous Norwegian painter, in a gentle, poetic exhibition on view from September 24, 2024 to January 12, 2025. [Read more]
Bruno Liljefors, wild Sweden: the poetic exhibition unveiled in pictures at the Petit Palais
New Scandinavian artist honored at the Petit Palais in Paris! From October 1, 2024 to February 16, 2025, take a voyage of discovery through wild Sweden and its animals, with a brand-new exhibition devoted to Bruno Liljefors, featuring paintings, drawings and photographs. [Read more]
Heinz Berggruen, a dealer and his collection: modern art at the Musée de l'Orangerie exhibition
The Musée de l'Orangerie invites us to discover Heinz Berggruen and his rich collection of modern art, in a new exhibition on view from October 2, 2024 to January 27, 2025. [Read more]
The Gustave Caillebotte Exhibition unveiled in Paris at the Musée d'Orsay - photos
The Musée d'Orsay unveils "Gustave Caillebotte. Peindre les hommes" (Gustave Caillebotte: Painting Men), an original exhibition celebrating the 130th anniversary of the Parisian artist's death. The exhibition focuses on male figures, a favorite subject for Caillebotte, and runs from October 8, 2024 to January 19, 2025. This is a sublime exhibition by an Impressionist artist who wanted to bring the real to our eyes. [Read more]
Lê Phô, Mai-Thu, Vu Cao Dam: pioneers of modern Vietnamese art at the Musée Cernuschi, photos
Modern Vietnamese art comes to Paris with a ground-breaking exhibition devoted to three pioneers of the genre: Lê Phô (1907-2001), Mai-Thu (1906-1980) and Vu Cao Dam (1908-2000). Visit the Musée Cernuschi from October 11, 2024 to March 9, 2025 to admire the 150 works presented during this installation. [Read more]
Birth and Renaissance of Italian Drawing: the beautiful exhibition at the Fondation Custodia
Immerse yourself in the Italian Renaissance through a selection of drawings by the greatest masters of the period, from Leonardo da Vinci to Michelangelo, at the heart of the Fondation Custodia, from October 12, 2024 to January 12, 2025. [Read more]
Discover the Oudry, Peintre de courre exhibition at the Château de Fontainebleau
From October 13, 2024 to January 27, 2025, the Château de Fontainebleau presents an exceptional exhibition on Jean-Baptiste Oudry, the famous painter of Louis XV's royal hunts. This retrospective showcases his preparatory cartoons and resulting tapestries, as well as objets d'art illustrating the king's passion for hunting. We take you on a journey of discovery through this exhibition of exceptional, restored works. [Read more]
Jackson Pollock, the early years: the retrospective exhibition unveiled at the Musée Picasso Paris
The Musée Picasso Paris is organizing a major retrospective in tribute to the American master of abstract painting, Jackson Pollock. Don't miss this exhibition running from October 15, 2024 to January 19, 2025. [Read more]
Cosmos et Vanitas: a solo exhibition by Ylva Snöfrid at the Swedish Institute, our photos
Scandinavian artist Ylva Snöfrid presents "Cosmos et Vanitas", her very first solo exhibition in Paris. On view from October 15, 2024 to February 23, 2025 at the Swedish Institute, this free installation showcases the work of this artist, known for her figurative paintings and sculptural objects, which she uses notably in the scenography of her various performances, conceived as "rituals". [Read more]
On horseback: the painting exhibition at the Musée national de la Renaissance - Château d'Ecouen
The Musée National de la Renaissance explores the art of equestrian portraiture with the exhibition "A cheval", on view from October 16, 2024 to January 27, 2025. [Read more]
Exhibition event Revoir Watteau at the Musée du Louvre, around the figure of Pierrot - our photos
Following restoration of the work, art lovers are invited to rediscover Antoine Watteau's masterpiece "Le Pierrot, dit Le Gilles" in a new exhibition at the Musée du Louvre, from October 16, 2024 to February 3, 2025. A character who has been the subject of much ink... And a lot of paint! [Read more]
Trompe-l'œil, a head-turning exhibition unveiled at the Musée Marmottan-Monet
Artists play with our senses: discover the art of trompe-l'œil, with the Musée Marmottan-Monet's playful and unusual exhibition, on view from October 17, 2024 to March 2, 2025. [Read more]
Jacques Prévert, rêveur d'images" exhibition at the Musée de Montmartre - our photos
Jacques Prévert as you've probably never seen him before! The Musée de Montmartre invites you to discover a little-known facet of the poet's life through a brand-new exhibition running from October 18, 2024 to February 16, 2025. Between collages and personal collections, come and discover the surreal world of the thousand-faceted artist! [Read more]
Darkness and light: the retrospective exhibition on the painter Ribera at the Petit Palais
The Petit Palais is organizing a retrospective exhibition in tribute to one of the greatest painters of his time: Jusepe de Ribera. Come and discover the works of this artist of contrasts, with the exhibition Darkness and Light, from November 5, 2024 to February 23, 2025. [Read more]
François Chifflart, l'insoumis: the exhibition on the master of black and white at the Maison de Victor Hugo
The Maison de Victor Hugo pays tribute to an admirer of the writer, and above all to a great master of painting. Get to know François Chifflart through an original exhibition presented from November 7, 2024 to March 23, 2025. [Read more]
Nadia Léger. A woman of the avant-garde: the retrospective exhibition at the Musée Maillol, our photos
The fascinating, little-known life of Nadia Khodossievitch-Léger is the subject of a new exhibition in Paris, entitled "Nadia Léger. Une femme d'avant-garde". Not to be missed at the Musée Maillol from November 8, 2024 to March 23, 2025, this first major retrospective, combining art and history, looks back at the incredible career of this artist, painter, magazine publisher, Resistance fighter and Communist activist. [Read more]
Guillon Lethière, born in Guadeloupe: the Musée du Louvre retrospective exhibition unveiled
The Musée du Louvre honors an unjustly forgotten painter: from November 13, 2024 to February 17, 2025, come and discover the Guillon Lethière, born in Guadeloupe exhibition. [Read more]
Modigliani/Zadkine, an interrupted friendship: the cross-over exhibition at the Musée Zadkine
The Musée Zadkine explores the relationship between two exceptional artists: discover the exhibition Modigliani/Zadkine, une amitié interrompue, from November 14, 2024 to March 30, 2025. [Read more]
Anatonirisme: the free exhibition between art and science at La Lison gallery
When anatomy and art meet... Galerie La Lison invites you to discover its new exhibition, Anatonirisme, from November 14, 2024 to January 11, 2025. More specifically, the exhibition invites you to plunge into the poetic and disturbing universe of Amaury Grisel. Through his works, the artist explores the limits of the imaginary and the organic, between chimeras and alternative realities. [Read more]
Elles, les élèves de Jean-Jacques Henner: the Jean-Jacques Henner Museum's exhibition for women
The Musée Jean-Jacques Henner focuses on women artists, with the exhibition "Elles, les élèves de Jean-Jacques Henner", on view from November 28, 2024 to April 28, 2025. [Read more]
Sylvie Vartan and her Bulgaria: the new exhibition at the Bulgarian Cultural Institute
The Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Paris presents the exhibition SYLVIE VARTAN ET SA BULGARIE, focusing on the great artist's link with her native country. [Read more]
S'éclairer sans fin, Edi Dubien's poetic exhibition at the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
Humans and animals come together in the poetic works and drawings of Edi Dubien, on show at the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature from December 10, 2024 to May 4, 2025. [Read more]
The new History Gallery at the Château de Versailles to celebrate 400 years - photos
The History Gallery at the Château de Versailles reopens its doors to celebrate the 400th anniversary of this emblematic monument. Free of charge from September 15 to 17, 2023 for the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), then from September 21 with a ticket, discover a completely redesigned and refurbished gallery, retracing the history of the Château from its construction in 1623 by Louis XIII to the present day. More than 120 works from the Versailles collections, accompanied by a digital device, enable us to understand the creations, transformations and upheavals that have marked the Château. [Read more]
Claude Monet's Maison Impressionniste, the museum of the painter's life in Argenteuil
To discover the life of Claude Monet, there's no need to go as far as Giverny, as the Maison Impressionniste de Claude Monet in Argenteuil is home to an immersive museum about the painter. [Read more]
The Musée Gustave Moreau, the painter's timeless home and studio in Paris
The Musée Gustave Moreau is a confidential Parisian museum nestled in the 9th arrondissement, where you can visit the artist's apartment and studio, and admire his famous staircase and numerous works of the Symbolist movement. [Read more]
Épiphanies: the free, spellbinding painting exhibition at the Collège des Bernardins
Painter Augustin Frison-Roche exhibits his colorful canvases, inspired by mystical epiphanies and visions, from January 9 to February 26, 2025, at the Collège des Bernardins. [Read more]
Suzanne Valadon: the major retrospective exhibition at the Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou pays tribute to the painter Suzanne Valadon with a major exhibition from January 15 to May 26, 2025. [Read more]
Guillaume Bresson at the Château de Versailles: the exhibition where contemporary art meets history
The Château de Versailles welcomes Guillaume Bresson and his works where history and contemporary art meet. An exhibition to discover from January 21 to May 25 2025. [Read more]
Revisiting Cimabue: medieval Italian painting on show at the Musée du Louvre
The Musée du Louvre pays tribute to the revolutionary master of 13th-century Italian painting: Cimabue. An exhibition to discover from January 22 to May 12 2025. [Read more]
Degenerate Art" exhibition: the history of modern art under Nazism at the Musée Picasso
The Musée Picasso is devoting an exhibition to so-called "degenerate" art, entitled "Degenerate art: the trial of modern art under Nazism", from February 18 to May 15, 2025. A fascinating and sombre plunge into art history, exploring the Nazi regime's persecution of the avant-garde. [Read more]
Andrea Appiani, Napoleon's first painter in Italy: the exhibition at the Château de Bois-Préau
The Châteaux de Malmaison and Bois-Préau present "Andrea Appiani, Napoleon's first painter in Italy", an exhibition of paintings on view from March 16 to July 28, 2025. [Read more]
Artemisia Gentileschi: a tribute to the Italian painter at the Musée Jacquemart-André
The Musée Jacquemart-André invites us to (re)discover the works of the famous painter Artemisia Gentileschi, through a retrospective exhibition presented from March 19 to August 3, 2025. [Read more]
Christian Krohg, People of the North: an exhibition dedicated to the Scandinavian painter at the Musée d'Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay in Paris honors the works of Christian Krohg! From March 25 to July 27, 2025, the famous Parisian museum is devoting a major retrospective to this Norwegian painter, virtually unknown in France, with the exhibition "Christian Krohg. The People of the North". [Read more]
Sculpture in Paris at the time of Camille Claudel: the exhibition in 2025
The Musée Camille Claudel in Nogent-sur-Seine is to devote a new exhibition to Parisian women sculptors from the late 19th to the early 20th century. On view from September 13, 2025 to January 4, 2026. [Read more]
And there you have it: an exquisite selection for all painting enthusiasts. All you have to do now is choose your next destination. Don't forget to come back to this guide: it's regularly updated with our latest articles.
