Art Basel Paris 2026: the artist Kennedy Yanko navigates between strength and fragility at the Cité de l'Architecture

The City of Architecture and Heritage is also taking part in Art Basel Paris 2026, hosting an exhibition by contemporary artist Kennedy Yanko, on view from October 16, 2026, to January 3, 2027.

Paris is France’s capital of art. And in autumn, the City of Light shines brightest for contemporary art. It’s the season of the most exhibitions, fairs, and contemporary art salons. One event stands out in particular: Art Basel, the premier international gathering for contemporary art held in the city.

From October 23 to 25, 2026, this fair will set up under the glass roof of the Grand Palais, but it will also spill into the streets and museums of Paris. Indeed, a whole off-site program is turning the capital into an open-air museum during this artistic season. Visitors can thus glimpse various exhibitions and installations in Paris’s parks and gardens, on squares, along streets, or at monuments...

This year, the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine is joining the celebrations of contemporary art as well, hosting an exhibition exclusive to the Art Basel fair. The museum is presenting an unexpected program around an American contemporary artist, to be unveiled from October 16, 2026 to January 3, 2027.

The City presents Kennedy Yanko and her exhibition, titled What Brings Us Together. With her nearly abstract sculptures, the artist aims to spark a dialogue with the architecture. She creates colorful works crafted from a variety of materials. The shapes, the movements, the volumes play off the buildings in which the works are installed. Through her creations, Kennedy Yanko links the old with the new, the durable with the ephemeral, the hard with the fragile. The artist has installed several of her sculptures in the museum’s permanent collections, inviting visitors to look at these architectural treasures in a new light.

To enjoy the other Art Basel installations in Paris, follow the guide.

Art Basel 2026: the lineup of off-site exhibitions to discover in Paris
What are these monumental installations blooming across Paris? They’re the works from Art Basel Paris’s off-site program, the must-attend event in the Paris contemporary art scene. From October 20 to 25, 2026, come and marvel at these unusual installations. [Read more]