Bowie – Inspiration, Fascination, Génération: a free exhibition at the Halle des Blancs Manteaux

David Bowie would have turned 80 in 2027. To mark the occasion, a host of events have been announced in the United States and Europe. In the capital, tributes to the visionary artist are getting under way a little early with a free, one-of-a-kind group exhibition at the Blancs Manteaux. Titled “Bowie – Inspiration, Fascination, Generation,” the installation invites contemporary artists to engage freely with the legacy David Bowie left behind. Here’s more.

2027 is shaping up to be a particularly moving year for David Bowie’s many fans. On January 8, 2027, the legendary British artist would have turned 80. To mark the occasion, numerous events are planned, including exhibitions, concerts and shows. Products branded “Bowie 80” are already available on David Bowie’s official website. Several events have been announced in France, including the show “Once Upon a Time Bowie”.

Before then, fans can meet in Paris’s 4th arrondissement to discover “Bowie – Inspiration, Fascination, Generation.” Billed as a free group exhibition, the event is part of the 4art fair, a group event bringing together numerous artists in one place.

Presented in partnership with Bowie France, the exhibition will take place on Friday, December 11, Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13, 2026, at the Halle des Blancs Manteaux. The idea is to show visitors what David Bowie still inspires in artists today. The exhibition is not intended to illustrate the English singer’s career, or even to reproduce imagery that is now widely known. By presenting the work of various contemporary artists with different sensibilities and techniques, the exhibition will highlight creativity, offering a new way of looking at David Bowie.

For the occasion, nearly 20 contemporary artists were invited to revisit the singer’s world without attempting to reproduce it. They include Sandra Aime, David Law, Patrick Marqué, Jean-Philippe Servy, Géraldine Claus and Nathalie Zelman. Bringing together paintings, sculptures, photographs, collages, digital art and installations, the multidisciplinary exhibition was conceived as a "space of freedom" rather than a chronological account. Each work will tell the story of a personal encounter with Bowie’s legacy.

To see the results for yourself, head to the Halle des Blancs Manteaux on Friday, December 11, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and then on Saturday, December 12, and Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free. Note that all the artworks will be for sale, with the exception of certain pieces from existing collections.