Girls, adolescence, fashion and rebellion: the multifaceted exhibition at the Grand Palais

Artists, fashion designers, filmmakers and photographers explore the rich, expansive world of girls’ adolescence in the exhibition Girls, opening at the Grand Palais from December 9, 2026 to March 21, 2027.

What does it mean to be a girl? What does it mean to be a teenager? Across eras and depending on who you ask, the definition shifts. But is any one of these meanings truly the right one? The Grand Palais has invited a number of artists and creators to explore this mysterious, ever-changing universe... From December 9, 2026 to March 21, 2027, discover the exhibition Girls, adolescence, fashion and rebellion.

For centuries, teenage girls have been reduced to poor roles, clichés that masked the depth and richness of their inner lives. In art and Western societies, adolescents were seen as innocent, virtuous, fragile—often too sensitive, too vain... We spoke of their passions, ambitions, and talents as if they didn’t exist. Today, that image has been shattered by rebellious characters, nonconformists who are freer than ever.

The image of the adolescent remains elusive, often misunderstood. Many artists have sought to shed light on this complex, multifaceted identity, explaining the symbols and codes tied to this stage of a young woman’s life—between childhood and adulthood. A liminal world in which boundaries are broken to grow and redefine oneself.

The Grand Palais exhibition highlights a cohort of stylistes, photographes, artists, filmmakers, costumiers from France and beyond. The path touches on the themes of fashion, femininity, teenage ennui, psychology and both personal and shared identity. The exhibition closes with the images and narratives published by girls, showing how they took control of the discourse to reclaim their identity.

The exhibit opens with the history of fashion for children and adolescents in the Western world. The role of children in society and gender norms are laid bare in these outfits. The styles become a language in their own right, and their presence across art, cinema, and photography reinforces the stereotypes associated with these silhouettes and garments.

Since the 1990s, artists and feminists have reclaimed the term "girl" to forge new narratives. Drawing on their personal experiences, these artists portray girls as vulnerable and rebellious, resilient and creative... People in perpetual flux, who will gradually shape the adults they become. The artists thus imagine new images of femininity, offering more diverse, freer models.

Confronted with these images breaking free, the exhibition presents the archetypes, those symbols that define a young girl—sometimes wrongly. Dresses and ribbons, uniforms, miniskirts or makeup: all of these elements are questioned, reimagined, and redefined to challenge traditional gender norms.

What does it mean to be a girl? Come find out at the Grand Palais, in a exhibition that promises to be captivating! Set to open toward the end of 2026.