Spring Art Shows in Paris

Richard Nahem, an ex-New Yorker living in Paris, leads private insider tours showing visitors the Paris most of them never see on their own (www.eyepreferparistours.com), and also writes a popular insider's blog www.eyepreferparis.com

Springtime in Paris 2010 is an art feast with three blockbuster shows at the major museums and exhibtion spaces, and one much more intimate show at a former private villa. They may well enough be a reason to spend April in Paris.

Lucian Freud at the Centre Pompidou

Lucian Freud is one of our foremost and prolific living artists. Yes, he is related to Sigmund Freud (he is his grandson) and, at age 88, is still very much a force in the art world.  Most well known for his searing portraits from Queen Elizabeth to performance artist Leigh Bowery, the exhibit shows 47 of his paintings, including many of his signature nudes. The central theme of the show is organized around Freud’s studio where behind closed doors the artist creates his masterpieces. A selection of graphics and photographs plus a series is on display. 

Exibit runs through July 19 at
Centre Pompidou
Place Pompidou, 4th arr.
Metro: Hotel de Ville or Rambuteau

 

Yves St. Laurent

Yves St. Laurent

The World of Yves St. Laurent

Without a doubt, Yves St. Laurent was the greatest fashion designer who ever lived. For over 40 years, he revolutionized fashion and changed the way the modern woman dressed forever. His partner, Pierre Berge, and his foundation have put together an important, highly anticipated retrospective of his work along with the participation of French first lady Carlo Bruni Sarkozy, who was a St. Laurent model and muse at one time. A collection of 307 haute couture and ready-to-wear creations along with rare films and photos are on display, starting with his first collection called Trapeze for Dior in 1958 which brought him instant fame. The exhibit follows the incredible worldwide success St. Laurent achieved through such iconic looks like the smoking collection the safari look, and his ethnic inspired looks from Russia, China, and India, plus dresses inspired by artists Picasso, Van Gogh, Modigliani, and Matisse

Exhibt runs through August 29 at
Petit Palais
Ave. Winston Churchill, 8th arr.
Metro: Champs Elysees- Clememceau

Click here for tickets 

 

Now on display at Grand Palais

Turner and the Masters

J.M.W. Turner is the British painter best known for his stunning landscapes, which still astonish new generations 300 years after his death. He was highly influenced by the Old Masters, like Rembrandt, and 17th century painters working in Italy (Salvatore Rosa and Nicolas Poussin) and this new exhibit shows the correlation between his works and the painters who were his inspiration. Over 100 paintings, graphic works, and engravings from major British and American collections, the Louvre, the Prado and the Tate Britain show the remarkable and prolific work of this master artist.

Exhibit runs through May 24 at
Grand Palais
3 Ave. Winston Churchill,8th arr
Metro: Champs Elysees- Clemenceau

Click here to order tickets

Chopin

To celebrate the 200th birthday of Chopin, the Musee de La Vie Romantique is mounting an homage to one of the great composers of the world. The museum is the former villa of his friend Ary Scheffer who hosted salons for important artists, writers, composers, and musicians including Chopin, George Sand (with whom Chopin had a torrid love affair with), Delacroix, and Ingres. The exhibit explores the years Chopin spent in Paris, 1831 to 1848 with literature, painting, music and a range of correspondences between Chopin’s circle of "Nouvelles Athenes" artists.

On display at:
Musee de La Vie Romantique
16 rue Chaptal, 9th arr.
Metro: St. Georges, Blanche

Click here for more.