We set out to discover Sax’s quirky exhibition beneath the Madeleine. The street artist opens tonight La Caverne, his new free and immersive exhibition installed in the crypt of the Church of the Madeleine, in the 8th arrondissement. After a vernissage this Thursday, the venue will be open daily until June 28, 2026, with a late opening on the 25th. About fifty works await you there, and we’ve already had a crush.
Behind Sax hides Henry Blache, a notable figure on the Paris street-art scene who cut his teeth with the street art circuit and the Colors Festival, before tracing his artistic roots again. Hailing from the Drôme provençale, he pivoted to land art, creating monumental frescoes in the great outdoors with 100% natural materials. His project Empreintes, launched in 2023, laid the first foundations.
The title already gives us a clue. The cave recalls both the karst landscapes of his homeland and the 36,000-year-old cave paintings of Chauvet Cave. Here we find his staggering bestiary, those animal portraits with raw power, hovering between abstraction and realism, blending watercolor, ink, acrylic, and spray paint.
The exhibition also reveals a more recent facet of the artist’s work: human portraits developed in recent years, expanding the overarching message. The underlying stance remains politically charged. Some pieces incorporate wood and sand gathered from nature, others plastic waste picked up outdoors, serving as powerful warnings about our impact on wildlife. This tension between wonder and worry gives the whole show a strong, coherent thread.
The kickoff is set for this Thursday evening, with an opening vernissage in the artist’s presence. Autograph sessions and live-painting will then punctuate the entire run of the exhibition, with dates announced day by day on the gallery’s Instagram account @galerieroussard.
Exhibition hours:
The exhibition unfolds at the Royal Hall, beneath the Church of the Madeleine, in the 8th arrondissement. The entrance is on the right-hand side of the monument when you face it, and access is entirely free and open to the public, with no booking required.
Regarding hours, you can visit from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both weekdays and weekends (until 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 27), with a late-night opening on June 25 until 9 p.m. The event is presented by Gallery Roussard, and you can follow the artist’s work on their Instagram account.
Note that if something catches your eye, the works are for sale: from approachable small paintings to grand canvases for enthusiasts. It’s frais in this crypt, and that’s not bad for these times.
Our take? It’s a standout discovery to explore, especially for fans of street art that contemplates nature. The show also speaks to lovers of bold, issue-driven art and to curious visitors who’ve never stepped inside this quirky venue tucked beneath one of Paris’s most iconic landmarks.
We’re happy to take kids there, drawn to these animals presented with real graphic flair. To extend the stroll, the Madeleine district and its shopfronts lead you in a few steps to Place de la Concorde, from which you can admire Seth’s new monumental work on the National Assembly’s colonnade. A neat two-for-one moment.
Also worth a look:
This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.
Dates and Opening Time
From June 18, 2026 to June 28, 2026
Location
Madeleine Church
Place de la Madeleine
75008 Paris 8
Route planner
Accessibility info
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
Official website
www.instagram.com
