Discover the monumental universe of an artist who transformed textiles into a sculptural language... The Musée Bourdelle in Paris presents the first major exhibition in France devoted to Magdalena Abakanowicz, a major figure on the 20th-century Polish scene, from November 20, 2025 to April 12, 2026.
Entitled La trame de l'existence, this retrospective brings together over 80 works - monumental sculptures, textiles, drawings and photographs - to retrace the career of a creator marked by war and the censorship of the Communist regime. Conceived in collaboration with the Marta Magdalena Abakanowicz Kosmowska and Jan KosmowskiFoundation, the exhibition takes over the 600 m² of thePortzamparc wing, renovated for the occasion, to offer both a biographical and political look at a work that resonates with contemporary issues.
In the Musée Bourdelle's Portzamparc wing, completely renovated for the occasion, visitors will discover a chrono-thematic tour of over 80 ensembles: sculptural installations, textile works, drawings and photographs. Born in 1930, Magdalena Abakanowicz was marked by the war and the censorship of the Polish Communist regime, and has forged a singular body of work in which fabric becomes a metaphor for the human body, traversed by history and its upheavals. Each piece expresses a tension between fragility and monumentality, while exploring timeless themes that resonate with the present.
The exhibition's subtitle, la trame de l'existence, echoes the very terms used by the artist to define her practice: textiles as elemental organisms, fabrics of flesh and destiny. In the vast spaces of the museum, visitors move between imposing, almost totemic sculptures that question the human condition, the collective and memory. The dialogue with the raw architecture of the concrete walls reinforces the impact of the works, offering a space for confrontation and reflection.
Sculptor and textile art pioneer Magdalena Abakanowicz has exhibited in the United States, Japan and Europe, most recently at the Tate Modern in London and the Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts in Lausanne. This new Paris exhibition, the fruit of three years' work, brings together prestigious loans from Warsaw, Lausanne, Lodz, London, Wrocław and Paris. It sheds light on a body of work in which political struggles, ecological questioning and feminist reflections are intertwined, while placing the artist among the great sculptors of the twentieth century.
The viewer is invited to explore the multiple dimensions of his work: the repetition of forms, the monumentality, but also the dark poetry that emerges. Each room becomes a space of experience, where we perceive the raw force of the material and the depth of an artistic thought shaped by the violence of history.
This exhibition is aimed at those seeking an immersive and reflective experience, where art dialogues with history and contemporary concerns. Fans of monumental sculpture and textile art, as well as those interested in the relationship between art and politics, will find fertile ground here. It's ideal for an outing with culture-loving friends, a romantic rendezvous around a singular discovery, or a family exploration with teenagers sensitive to visual installations and historical narratives.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a light-hearted, fun and fast-paced visit, this proposal will probably not meet your expectations. The experience requires time, curiosity and the desire to confront works that are sometimes disturbing, but always powerful.
A visit to the Musée Bourdelle is much more than an exhibition: it's a journey where textiles become flesh, sculpture becomes memory, and each installation questions our relationship with the world. Also supported by thePolish Institute and theAdam Mickiewicz Institute, this retrospective offers a unique opportunity to discover an essential figure in contemporary creation.
If you're passionate about the intersections of art, politics and society, or if you'd like to explore a singular and radical artistic vision, this plunge into the fabric of existence will open the doors to a universe that's both intimate and universal.
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Dates and Opening Time
From November 20, 2025 to April 12, 2026
Location
Bourdelle Museum
16/18, rue Antoine Bourdelle
75015 Paris 15
Prices
Tarif réduit: €10
Plein tarif: €12
Official website
www.bourdelle.paris.fr
More information
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.
