Paris in fall 2025 is serving up a cultural feast so decadent you might need to pace yourself between museum cafés.
Think: a 20th-century titan of black-on-black minimalism, a centennial toast to Art Deco glamour, John Singer Sargent in all his dazzling society-portrait glory, and a Richter retrospective that could fill a lifetime.
With four blockbuster shows headlining at the city’s most iconic institutions, this is the kind of season that makes you want to book a flight just for the art.
Soulages — Another Light
One of the most significant French painters of the 20th century, Pierre Soulages lived to 102, passing away in 2022. Former President Francois Hollande named him “the world’s greatest living artist.” Known for his minimalist works, Soulages focused on using black paint on most of his paintings and drawings. A new exhibition focuses on a rare collection of 130 drawings from the 1940s to the early 2000s, with 30 works that have never been publicly displayed before. Also included in the exhibition is a 12-minute virtual reality experience narrated by one of France’s greatest actresses, Isabelle Huppert.
19, rue de Vaugirard, 75006
Running through until January 11, 2026
1925- 2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco
The architecture and design movement Art Deco, which ushered in a new modern way of living, is having its centennial celebrated in Paris. The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925 was the launchpad for the bold, clean lines of the Art Deco movement, which dominated the design world for years. The Musée des Arts Décoratifs has the most extensive collection of Art Deco furniture, objects, paintings and drawings in the world, and much of it will be on display. In the latter part of 2026, the museum will debut new Art Deco rooms.
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
107 rue de Rivoli, 75001
From October 22, 2025, to April 26, 2026
Sargent Dazzling Paris
Autumn’s most anticipated art show, “Sargent Dazzling Paris,” will absolutely dazzle the City of Light. John Singer Sargent, an American painter living in Europe in the late 20th century, rose to fame and fortune by painting unforgettable portraits of figures from society and royalty. Although Singer spent most of his career in the United Kingdom, his developmental years were spent in France where he learned his craft, connected with other artists of the time, and painted some of his early masterpieces.
Over 90 works, some never seen before in France, will be exhibited.
Tip: make sure to reserve your tickets in advance.
1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007
From September 23rd, 2025, to January 11th, 2026
Gerhard Richter
German artist Gerhard Richter was born in Dresden and fled to East Germany, where he eventually settled in Cologne, where he still resides today. He went on to become a widely recognized visual creator, exhibiting his work in some of the top international museums and galleries.
An unprecedented retrospective covers six decades of Richter’s work, with 270 works from 1962 until 2024, and includes a comprehensive collection of oil paintings, pencil and ink drawings, glass and steel sculptures, watercolors, and photographs.
8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi Bois de Boulogne, 75116
From October 17, 2025, to March 2, 2026
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