As Art Basel Paris returns this October 2025, the City of Light transforms into a global stage for art lovers, collectors, and curious wanderers alike. Running from October 24–26, the fair draws international crowds—but the real magic spills far beyond its booths. Across Paris, museums and galleries are unveiling bold, immersive exhibitions that celebrate everything from imperial portraits to avant-garde glasswork.
Why These Shows Matter Now
With Art Basel acting as the anchor, Paris institutions have curated a lineup that reflects both historical reverence and contemporary daring. Whether you’re in town for the fair or just passing through, these eight exhibitions offer a rare glimpse into artistic innovation across centuries.
1. Art Deco at 100: A Century of Glamour
The Musée des Arts Décoratifs throws a visual feast for Art Deco’s centennial. Featuring over 1,000 pieces—lacquered armchairs, haute couture gowns, jeweled objets d’art—the show even includes a full-scale cabin from a 1920s luxury train and a reconstructed embassy library. It’s less an exhibit, more a time machine to the Roaring Twenties.
2. Napoleon Reimagined by Jacques-Louis David
At the Grand Palais, Jacques-Louis David’s iconic portrayals of Napoleon Bonaparte are back in focus. From the heroic Napoleon Crossing the Alps to the grandeur of his coronation scene, these works shaped how history remembers the emperor—not as a tyrant, but as a mythic leader. The exhibit explores David’s role as both artist and political propagandist.
3. Textiles That Tell Stories
Hidden in the Marais district, a new show at Galerie Maria Wettergren spotlights contemporary textile artists who blend traditional weaving with digital techniques. Think hand-dyed silks animated by projection mapping—where craft meets code.
4. Handblown Glass Takes Center Stage
The Centre Pompidou presents a solo showcase of French glass artist Cédric Matet. His molten forms—some suspended mid-air, others resting like alien fossils—challenge perceptions of fragility and strength. Don’t miss the live-blowing demonstrations every Saturday.
5. Forgotten Female Surrealists
A groundbreaking exhibit at the Musée d’Art Moderne rescues overlooked women of the Surrealist movement—Leonora Carrington, Dorothea Tanning, and Toyen—placing their dreamlike visions alongside better-known male peers. The curation reframes Surrealism as a shared, not solitary, revolution.
6. Film as Sculpture
At Palais de Tokyo, experimental filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul transforms cinema into spatial experience. Multi-screen installations pulse with ambient soundscapes, inviting viewers to walk through narratives rather than watch them.
7. Imperial Portraits Beyond the Frame
Building on the David exhibit, the Louvre’s satellite display in the Tuileries Garden explores how power was staged through portraiture—from Louis XIV’s theatrical regalia to Marie Antoinette’s pastoral fantasies. Augmented reality stations let visitors “try on” royal crowns via smartphone.
8. Eco-Art from the Global South
At La Gaîté Lyrique, artists from Senegal, Indonesia, and Brazil present works made entirely from recycled ocean plastics. The message is urgent, but the aesthetics are undeniably poetic—proof that sustainability and beauty can coexist.
Plan Your Visit
| Exhibition | Location | Dates | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Deco Centennial | Musée des Arts Décoratifs | Through Jan 2026 | €15 |
| David & Napoleon | Grand Palais | Oct 15 – Dec 10, 2025 | €14 |
| Textiles Reborn | Galerie Maria Wettergren | Oct 10 – Nov 30, 2025 | Free |
| Glass Forms | Centre Pompidou | Oct 1 – Feb 2026 | €16 |
Final Thoughts
Art Basel Paris may be the headline, but the city’s surrounding exhibitions offer deeper, more intimate encounters with art’s past, present, and future. Whether you’re drawn to imperial grandeur or eco-conscious installations, there’s something in Paris this October that will stop you in your tracks.
