The Best Exhibitions To See In Paris This Weekend

November 04, 2022By Karen Napoly

Article written by Jen Cassamajor.

You didn’t have any plans for this weekend ? Well now you do !

Paris has so much to offer when it comes to art and culture that it can sometimes be hard to choose. Well, no worries, we’ve made it easier for you by listing our favorites picks for this weekend :

“The 80s, Fashion, design and graphic design in France” at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs

« L’Officiel de la couture et de la mode », February 1979

What do Jean-Paul Gaultier, Philippe Starck and Naomi Campbell have in common ? They’re all icons from the best era EVER : the 80s ! That’s the decade the Musée des Arts Décoratifs has chosen as the subject of its newest exhibition : The 80s, Fashion, design and graphic design in France. Throughout over 700 artworks including furniture, fashion designs, photographs and album covers, go back to those years which have revolutionized not only fashion but also design, graphic design or even music and are still a never ending source of inspiration to creators today.

The 80s, Fashion, design and graphic design in France from October 13th, 2022 through April 16th, 2023 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.

“Frida Kahlo, beyond appearances” at Palais Galliera

Frida Kahlo by Toni Frissell, Vogue US 1937. © Toni Frissell, Vogue © Condé Nast

Of course we had to mention the Palais Galliera aka the city’s museum of fashion. But the exhibition we want to tell you about is about much more than fashion. For its reopening after the summer, the museum dedicates an exhibition to one of our favorite icons of all time : Frida Kahlo. Bringing together more than 200 objects (clothes, cosmetics, letters…) from la Casa Azul - the house where the artist grew up - the exhibition aims to welcome us in her intimacy to help us understand how she created an identity for herself and used her own appearance as a tool to convey messages, often political.

Frida Kahlo, beyond appearances from September 15th, 2022 through March 5th, 2023 at the Palais Galliera.

“A Downwards evolution” at the 3537

© Léa Colombo

The 3537 never disappoints. Concerts, artists residencies, exhibitions, pop-up stores… There’s always something to do at this unique place located at the heart of the Marais which describes itself with those words : “Space management, community exchanges, cultural conversations dedicated to creation and progress.” What’s to see there this weekend ? “A downwards evolution”, an exhibition by the South-African photographer, director and artist Lea Colombo. The artist invites us to reset or way of thinking and seeing the world through her colorful and diverse works.

A Downards Evolution by Lea Colombo from October 20th through November 6th, 2022 at the 3537.

“Gold by Yves Saint Laurent” at the Musée Yves Saint Laurent

Who doesn’t love a little dose of shine and sparkle ? Celebrating the 60 years of Yves Saint Laurent’s first collection and its 5th birthday since its opening, the Yves Saint Laurent museum features an exhibition focused on the color gold in the designer’s work. Haute couture, ready-to-wear, jewellery, accessories… Discover how he used it in every aspects of his collections without ever stopping to surprise his contemporaries. This exhibition reminds us in a beautiful way how fashion can be an expression of art and creativity.

Gold by Yves Saint Laurent, from October 14th, 2022 through May 14th, 2023 at the Musée Yves Saint Laurent.

“Les Militantes” at the Guerlain Champs-Elysées boutique

Dalila Dalléas Bouzar, Ma demeure #8, 2019

It might come as a surprise but this year actually marks the 15th contemporary art exhibition taking place in Guerlain’s flagship, avenue des Champs-Elysées. Entitled “Les militantes”, this intimate exhibition celebrates 21 women whose works of art intend to reflect an engagement. Louise Bourgeois, Nancy Spero, Thu-Van Tran, Kiki Smith… There’s only a few days left to discover these inspiring women.

Les Militantes from October 19th through November 14th, 2022 at the Guerlain Champs-Elysées boutique.

“Habibi, the revolutions of love” at the Institut du monde arabe

Alireza SHojaian, Sous le ciel de Shiraz, Arthur, 2022, 80 x 60 cm, toile, peinture acrylique et crayon de couleur sur bois. © D.R.

With its latest exhibition, the Institut du monde arabe gives place to representations of the LGBTQIA+ community in the arabic world. By exposing many recent works, it invites the public to see these identities through the lens of contemporary artists. Photography, paintings, videos, literature… How are they represented ? What questions do these works raise when it comes to societies and how they act towards them ? An important exhibition you don’t want to miss.

Habibi, the revolutions of love from September 27th, 2022 through February 19th, 2023 at the Institut du monde arabe.

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