Heads and Words: David Cohen Exhibits in Paris at the Rachel Hardouin Gallery

The Rachel Hardouin Gallery in Paris is hosting the contemporary art exhibition Les têtes et les mots by David Cohen, a physician, researcher at the CNRS, and head of department at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital. Running from March 3 to April 11, 2026, the show features paintings, sculptures, and ceramics centered on the human figure and the written word, exploring the dialogue between artistic creation, language, and art therapy. The opening reception takes place on Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m.

A doctor turns to painting faces and inscribes words into the canvas, capturing attention... In Paris, the Rachel Hardouin Gallery hosts the solo exhibition of contemporary art Heads and Words by David Cohen. Running from Tuesday, March 3rd to Saturday, April 11th, 2026, the show features an intriguing mix of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and art editions, all centered around the human form and the power of language.

Professor of medicine and head of the child and adolescent psychiatry department at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris's 13th arrondissement, David Cohen has cultivated an artistic practice alongside his medical career since childhood. A researcher at the CNRS within the Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics, he oversees over 650 art therapy sessions annually in his department. This exhibition at the Rachel Hardouin Gallery brings together works from various periods, centered around sculpted heads and compositions where words play a key role.

Between Sculpture and Painting, Writing Takes Center Stage in the Exhibition Heads and Words

The contemporary art exhibition brings together painting, sculpture, and ceramics, blending large-scale masterpieces with more intimate pieces within a single display. It kicks off with a diptych titled Water no get enemy, referencing a composition by Fela Kuti inspired by a Yoruba proverb meaning that water has no enemies. This piece sets the tone for a contemplative exploration of freedom and resilience amidst a global landscape marked by political and cultural tensions.

The carved heads, crafted from bronze, ceramic, or Iranian travertine, complement the canvases where handwritten text becomes a central visual element. Words—sometimes fragmented, sometimes bold—shape the overall composition and foster a direct dialogue with the faces depicted.

Les têtes et les mots : David Cohen expose à Paris à la galerie Rachel Hardouin — ©David Cohen

Where Sculpture Meets Literature

During his stays in Italy, particularly in Pietrasanta in the Lucca region, David Cohen developed his approach to sculpture and his focus on materials. Inside the Rachel Hardouin Gallery, the sculptures encourage viewers to explore the textures, balances, and internal tensions of each form. A series titled Heads Searching for a World... Houellebecq Fragments extends this exploration through an artistic dialogue with Michel Houellebecq, previously showcased at Galerie XXI in Paris. This collaboration blends literary snippets with visual interventions, addressing themes of contemporary solitude and the power of language.

A series of events complements the exhibition, including a discussion on art therapy with Emmanuel Carrère and a concert by the Trio Ingres. Through this contemporary art exhibition in Paris, the gallery invites visitors to explore the intersections of medical practice, scientific research, and artistic creation, offering a space for reflection on the role of words and form in shaping our understanding of the world.