It's the star discipline of the art world, the one that never disappoints. Some may find it too classic, but we know that the classic is also the timeless, the sure thing, the chocolate cake that pleases everyone. In short, we care. Paris, its museums and galleries are full of great painting exhibitions, and that's what we're interested in today!
If you're in the mood for a nice, carefree outing, a moment of relaxation and escape in all simplicity, then painting exhibitions are the place to be! Don't let the apparent sobriety of this category fool you: you'll find some of the finest masterpieces of all time in these suggestions for outings, paintings of breathtaking complexity, beauty and technicality.
Modern, Impressionist, Classical or Baroque, Romantic or Surrealist: you'll find it all in Paris and the Ile-de-France region. Let yourself be seduced by these painters, from all centuries and all horizons, whose works are still admired today.
Are you convinced by the beauty of this art form? Then it's time to choose your next exhibition from our selection below.
Current painting exhibitions in Paris and the Ile-de-France region:
L'Esquisse, Barbizon's new cultural hotel, both café and free museum
L'Esquisse is a fusion of hotel, café and free museum. We're off to Barbizon, the famous artists' village, to take advantage of this new spot that combines large, charming rooms, a great café by the fireplace and a free museum honoring the artists who have influenced Barbizon around the world. [Read more]
Georges de la Tour: French Painter's Exhibition Extended at the Jacquemart-André Museum
Discover the works of Georges de la Tour, the French heir to Caravaggio and a master of chiaroscuro, in a comprehensive retrospective on display at the Jacquemart-André Museum from September 11, 2025, to February 22, 2026. [Read more]
Childhood in the spotlight: Greuze, the forgotten artist, reveals himself in an exhibition at the Petit Palais
The artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze was born 300 years ago: to celebrate this anniversary, and bring this unjustly forgotten painter back into the limelight, the Petit Palais is organizing a brand-new exhibition from September 16, 2025 to January 25, 2026. [Read more]
Pierre Soulages, another light: the painter's works on paper on show at the Musée du Luxembourg
Pierre Soulages' works on paper are featured in a ground-breaking exhibition entitled "Soulages, une autre lumière", not to be missed at the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris from September 17, 2025 to January 11, 2026. It's an opportunity to discover a little-known facet of the man many nicknamed the master of outrenoir. [Read more]
John Singer Sargent exhibition dazzles Paris at the Musée d'Orsay
From September 23, 2025 to January 26, 2026, the Musée d'Orsay is devoting an unprecedented exhibition to the American painter John Singer Sargent. This retrospective highlights his Parisian years through 90 works, including 66 paintings. [Read more]
The hijacked museum: a fun, free exhibition on the walls of Bercy Village
Painter Pierre-Adrien Sollier takes on art's masterpieces in a "Playmobil ®" version, with the exhibition Le musée détourné, to be discovered free of charge from September 25, 2025 to January 18, 2026 at Bercy Village. [Read more]
Les gens de Paris, 1926-1936: the historical exhibition at the Musée Carnavalet is unveiled
What if you could find your great-grandparents in the streets of Paris? The exhibition Les Gens de Paris 1926-1936 at the Musée Carnavalet delves into unpublished census records to reveal the Parisians of the interwar period. From October 8, 2025 to February 8, 2026. [Read more]
Berthe Weill, galerie d'avant-garde: the retrospective exhibition at the Musée de l'Orangerie - photos
The Musée de l'Orangerie pays tribute to Berthe Weill, the famous avant-garde Parisian art dealer, in a new exhibition on view from October 8, 2025 to January 26, 2026. [Read more]
Monet / Sécheret: a poetic face-off between two lovers of the sea at the Musée Marmottan Monet
The Musée Marmottan Monet presents a unique tête-à-tête between Claude Monet and Jean-Baptiste Sécheret in the exhibition "Monet / Sécheret. Paysages d'eau", an artistic dialogue between Impressionism and contemporary painting, in the heart of Trouville and its changing skies. The exhibition runs from October 9, 2025 to March 15, 2026. [Read more]
L'Empire du Sommeil: when dreams are exhibited at the Musée Marmottan Monet - our photos
Calling all art-loving dreamers! From October 9, 2025 to March 1, 2026, the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris presents L'Empire du Sommeil, a groundbreaking exhibition devoted to the representation of sleep in art. From Antiquity to the 20th century, the exhibition explores the place of sleep between symbolism, science and psychoanalysis, through major works from French and international collections. [Read more]
George Condo: the retrospective exhibition at the Musée d'Art Moderne, Paris
The Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris is organizing a major retrospective of the American painter and sculptor George Condo, on view from October 10, 2025 to February 8, 2026. [Read more]
Dalí x Rubinstein, Illusions croisées: an original dialogue in the heart of Montmartre
Sponsored - Located in Montmartre, the mecca of Parisian artistic creation, Dalí Paris has been home to the largest private collection dedicated to Salvador Dalí for over thirty years. More than 300 works, brought together by collector and gallery owner Beniamino Levi, reveal the rich universe of the master of surrealism. Sculptures, engravings, oil paintings, drawings, and watercolors testify to the richness of his inspirations, from science to alchemy, through Antiquity, the Renaissance, and religion. [Read more]
Exhibition The irony of history: Philip Guston caricatures the United States at the Musée Picasso
The Musée Picasso welcomes Philip Guston, an American artist who depicts the United States of the 70s and 80s with humor and irony. The exhibition The Irony of History runs from October 14, 2025 to March 1, 2026. [Read more]
Kandinsky, The Music of Colors: the exhibition to see (and hear) at the Philharmonie de Paris - our photos
When painting takes its scales and music takes its colors, the Kandinsky exhibition invites itself to the Philharmonie de Paris! From October 15, 2025 to February 1, 2026, "Kandinsky. La musique des couleurs" reveals how the master of abstraction made painting dance to the rhythm of music. A vibrant immersion between paintings, sounds and emotions. [Read more]
Jacques-Louis David at the Louvre: the must-see exhibition on the neoclassical painter
To mark the 200th anniversary of Jacques-Louis David's death, the Musée du Louvre is staging an exceptional exhibition, Jacques-Louis David, from October 15, 2025 to January 26, 2026. A plunge into the world of the great neoclassical painter, between art, politics and modernity. [Read more]
Passion Post-Impressionniste: the exhibition to discover at the Musée Lambinet in Versailles
The Musée Lambinet in Versailles unveils the exhibition Passion post-impressionniste, bringing together nearly 50 restored works by Signac, Luce, Loiseau, and Maufra from the museum's private collection. This is an opportunity to discover these masterpieces, on display from October 15, 2025, to February 15, 2026. [Read more]
Gerhard Richter: the retrospective exhibition of the German painter at the Louis Vuitton Foundation—our photos
At the Fondation Louis Vuitton, from October 17, 2025 to March 2, 2026, Gerhard Richter makes history with an XXL retrospective exhibition spanning over 60 years of creation. From photographic blur to scraped abstractions, from vibrant oils to sculptures in glass and steel, 270 works unravel the thread of a gesture as rigorous as it is moving. [Read more]
L'École de Paris: the Marek Roefler collection at the Musée de Montmartre - our photos
The Musée de Montmartre presents "L'École de Paris", an exceptional retrospective featuring over 130 masterpieces from the Marek Roefler collection. For the first time in France, this collection highlights the emblematic artists of Montmartre between the wars, from October 17, 2025 to February 15, 2026. [Read more]
Pekka Halonen: an ode to Finland, the contemplative exhibition at the Petit Palais - our photos
From November 4, 2025, to February 22, 2026, the Petit Palais is dedicating a major retrospective to the Nordic painter Pekka Halonen. Entitled "A Hymn to Finland," this temporary exhibition showcases the work of this Finnish artist, who trained in Paris and loved to depict wild, snow-covered landscapes. Spotlight on this artistic event, designed as a sensory experience that takes us on a journey to the heart of Finland's sublime nature. [Read more]
La Fabrique de la Galerie Farnèse: the exhibition that reproduces a masterpiece at the Musée du Louvre
Plunge into the heart of the Farnese Palace and its exceptional frescoes from November 5, 2025 to February 2, 2026, with the Musée du Louvre exhibition featuring a reproduction of this masterpiece. [Read more]
China, Imprints of the Past: the exhibition between art and archaeology at the Cernuschi Museum - our photos
Follow the quest of Chinese scholars and archaeologists, through ancient inscriptions and new reproduction techniques. From November 7, 2025 to March 15, 2026, the Musée Cernuschi retraces how these prints revolutionized the literary arts and inspired modernity. [Read more]
Flavors of Timeless Tokyo: exhibition on the Japanese capital and cooking workshops in Paris
From November 10, 2025, to January 10, 2026, HIS Paris is transforming its concept store into a vibrant tribute to Tokyo. With a free exhibition by artist Mateusz Urbanowicz, culinary workshops, and objects from Japan, the event immerses the capital in the spirit of Tokyo. [Read more]
Les Peintres de la Marine: an exhibition dedicated to the maritime world at the Espace Richaud in Versailles
The Espace Richaud is celebrating 400 years of the French Navy with an exhibition dedicated to the works of the official painters of the Navy. Running from November 19, 2025, to May 3, 2026, the exhibition "Les Peintres de la Marine" invites the public to discover the maritime world from an artistic and historical perspective. [Read more]
The restored Moulins Triptych on display at the Musée du Louvre
Jean Hey's Moulins Triptych, a masterpiece of French painting, is presented at the Musée du Louvre after an unprecedented restoration from November 26, 2025 to March 4, 2026. [Read more]
Mini Me: Our snapshots from the JonOne "100% Groovy Baby" exhibition at the Goldshteyn-Saatort Gallery
The Goldshteyn-Saatort Gallery hosts Mini Me, the vibrant solo exhibition by JonOne, offering a psychedelic journey where graffiti, small-scale works, and seventies groovery collide in a striking visual explosion. The exhibition runs from December 11, 2025, to January 11, 2026 — a must-visit chance to dive into the colorful universe of the artist. [Read more]
The new History Gallery at the Château de Versailles to celebrate 400 years - photos
The History Gallery at the Château de Versailles reopens its doors to celebrate the 400th anniversary of this emblematic monument. Free of charge from September 15 to 17, 2023 for the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), then from September 21 with a ticket, discover a completely redesigned and refurbished gallery, retracing the history of the Château from its construction in 1623 by Louis XIII to the present day. More than 120 works from the Versailles collections, accompanied by a digital device, enable us to understand the creations, transformations and upheavals that have marked the Château. [Read more]
Claude Monet's Maison Impressionniste, the museum of the painter's life in Argenteuil
To discover the life of Claude Monet, there's no need to go as far as Giverny, as the Maison Impressionniste de Claude Monet in Argenteuil is home to an immersive museum about the painter. [Read more]
The Musée Gustave Moreau, the painter's timeless home and studio in Paris
The Musée Gustave Moreau is a confidential Parisian museum nestled in the 9th arrondissement, where you can visit the artist's apartment and studio, and admire his famous staircase and numerous works of the Symbolist movement. [Read more]
Thierry Lefort's California - 20 years of painting: Free retrospective exhibition
Sponsored - How about taking a trip to California without leaving Paris? From December 23, 2025, to January 7, 2026, the Beffroi de Montrouge is hosting "La Californie de Thierry Lefort," a museum-scale exhibition curated by Yoyo Maeght.
This exceptional retrospective traces twenty years of painting between Paris and Los Angeles. An artistic journey not to be missed. Admission is free upon reservation, with a gift for each visitor (links below). [Read more]
Elegant women of the Belle Époque: a candlelit tour of the exhibition at the Eugène Carrière Museum (93)
The Eugène Carrière Museum offers you another way to discover the dresses and paintings in the exhibition "Elégantes de la Belle Epoque" on December 5, 2025, and January 31, 2026. [Read more]
Facing the sky, Paul Huet in his time: the reopening exhibition of the Musée de la Vie Romantique
Immerse yourself in the skies of painter Paul Huet with the exhibition Face au ciel (Facing the Sky), on display from February 14 to August 31, 2026. This exhibition is organized to mark the reopening of the Musée de la Vie Romantique. [Read more]
Leonora Carrington, retrospective exhibition of a surrealist artist at the Musée du Luxembourg
The Musée du Luxembourg is honoring the artist Leonora Carrington, a painter and sculptor who defied convention. The exhibition is open from February 18 to July 19, 2026. [Read more]
Salomé. Henner and Moreau Confront the Myth: An Exhibition of Paintings at the Jean-Jacques Henner Museum
The Jean-Jacques Henner Museum showcases a dialogue between two painters with its exhibition "Salomé. Henner and Moreau Confront the Myth," open from February 18 to June 22, 2026. [Read more]
Renoir and love: the retrospective exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris
When love becomes light, Renoir turns it into art. With the exhibition "Renoir et l'amour" (March 17 - July 19, 2026), the Musée d'Orsay brings together his major masterpieces for a retrospective as modern as it is tender, in collaboration with the National Gallery in London and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. [Read more]
Matisse, 1941-1954: the exhibition on the painter's last years at the Grand Palais
The Grand Palais and the Centre Pompidou are showcasing a new exhibition exploring Matisse’s final years of life and artistic innovation. This compelling showcase is open at the Grand Palais from March 24 to July 26, 2026. [Read more]
Henri Rousseau, the ambition of painting: an exhibition on the Douanier at the Musée de l'Orangerie
The Musée de l'Orangerie is honoring Henri Rousseau, the famous naïve painter, with the exhibition "Henri Rousseau, l'ambition de la peinture" (Henri Rousseau, the ambition of painting), which can be seen from March 25 to July 20, 2026. [Read more]
Women in Reflection: Appearances and Imaginaries – Exploring Self-Image at the Cognacq-Jay Museum
The Cognacq-Jay Museum delves into the myriad portrayals of women in the 18th century with a captivating exhibition: "Women in the Mirror, Appearances and Imaginaries". The show runs from March 25 to September 20, 2026. [Read more]
The splendors of Baroque: The Jacquemart-André Museum's Spring Exhibition
The Jacquemart-André Museum is taking visitors on a journey through Hispanic Baroque art, from March 26 to August 2, 2026. Don't miss the exhibition "Splendors of the Baroque." [Read more]
Henry Taylor at the Picasso Museum in Paris: a major exhibition celebrating contemporary American painting
The Picasso-Paris Museum hosts a major exhibition dedicated to Henry Taylor, a key figure in contemporary American painting, exploring themes of portraiture, collective memory, and Picasso’s influence. Open from April 7 to September 6, 2026, the exhibition features a journey curated in collaboration with the artist himself. [Read more]
Giovanni Segantini at the Musée Marmottan Monet: an exhibition between symbolism and alpine landscapes
The Musée Marmottan Monet is dedicating a unique exhibition to Giovanni Segantini, a major figure in Symbolism and Divisionism, through more than 60 works revealing the spiritual power of Alpine landscapes, from April 29 to August 16, 2026. [Read more]
Leonardo Cremonini exhibition at the Espace Richaud and the Musée Lambinet in Versailles
The Espace Richaud and the Musée Lambinet in Versailles are hosting an immersive exhibition dedicated to Leonardo Cremonini, master of poetic realism, narrative silence, and pictorial tension, from May 27 to October 5, 2026. [Read more]
The Warhol Line: An Exhibition Showcasing Andy Warhol’s Forgotten Works at the Luxembourg Museum
The Luxembourg Museum delves into Andy Warhol's sketches in a groundbreaking exhibition running from September 16, 2026, to January 10, 2027. [Read more]
And there you have it: an exquisite selection for all painting enthusiasts. Now all you have to do is choose your next destination. Don't forget to come back to this guide: it's regularly updated with our latest articles.
