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]
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]
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]
Exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay: Northern Light – Scandinavian and Dutch Drawings
The Musée d'Orsay unveils "Northern Lights," an exhibition of 19th-century Scandinavian and Dutch drawings running from February 10 to May 10, 2026. Symbolist landscapes and intimate scenes showcase the unique sensibility of the Nordic artistic tradition. [Read more]
Facing the sky, Paul Huet in his era: a poetic exhibition at the Musée de la Vie Romantique, photos
Immer yourself in the skies painted by Paul Huet with the exhibition Facing the Sky, running from February 14 to August 30, 2026. This showcase also marks the grand reopening of the Museum of Romantic Life. [Read more]
Leonora Carrington: A Dreamlike Exhibition Showcasing a Surrealist Artist at the Luxembourg Museum, Photos
The Luxembourg Museum highlights the work of Leonora Carrington, a painter and sculptor who challenges conventions in the art world. The exhibition runs from February 18th to July 19th, 2026. [Read more]
Salomé Exhibition: Henner and Moreau Confront the Myth — An Artistic Dialogue at the Jean-Jacques Henner Museum
The Jean-Jacques Henner Museum brings together two painters in a captivating dialogue with its latest exhibition, "Salomé. Henner and Moreau Confront the Myth," running from February 18 to June 22, 2026. [Read more]
Open Forms: An Abstract Art Exhibition at the Swedish Institute in Paris
Sponsored - In the heart of the Marais district, the Swedish Institute hosts Open Forms, an exhibition dedicated to geometric abstract art and the works of Olle Bærtling. Running from February 20 to July 19, 2026, in Paris. [Read more]
Goldshteyn-Saatort Gallery in Paris: A Collective Exhibition Celebrating Japan – Our Photos
One Day in Japan, the collective exhibition at the Goldshteyn-Saatort Gallery in Paris, runs from March 14 to April 14, 2026. This showcase brings together Japanese and international artists, presenting exclusive works created specifically for the occasion. [Read more]
Renoir and Love: A Landmark Retrospective at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris – Reviews and Photos
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]
Adya & Otto van Rees: The Exhibition Showcasing Two Little-Known Artists at the Montmartre Museum
The Montmartre Museum is hosting a comprehensive retrospective dedicated to the duo Adya and Otto van Rees, two influential figures of European avant-garde whose work remains relatively underrecognized. The exhibition runs from March 20 to September 13, 2026. [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]
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]
Revealing femininity, fashion, and appearance in the 18th century: the exhibition on 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]
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]
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 Paris: A Contemporary American Painting Exhibition
The Picasso Museum in Paris is hosting an exhibition dedicated to Henry Taylor, the acclaimed American contemporary painter, featuring a collection of portraits and works that explore collective memory and references to Picasso. Running from April 8th to September 6th, 2026, the exhibition is carefully curated in collaboration with the artist himself and is accessible to visitors at the Parisian museum. [Read more]
Martin Schongauer, the timeless master: an exhibition showcasing the astonishing work of a remarkable painter at the Louvre Museum
Discover Martin Schongauer, a remarkable German painter from the Middle Ages. The Louvre Museum is hosting a retrospective exhibition dedicated to this "Beautiful Immortal," running from April 8 to July 20, 2026. [Read more]
Brion Gysin, the Last Museum: A Retrospective Exhibition at the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris
The City of Paris's Museum of Modern Art is hosting the first-ever retrospective exhibition of artist Brion Gysin. Open to the public from April 10 to July 12, 2026. [Read more]
Hungarian Modernity: A Retrospective Exhibition Celebrating a Hidden Gem of Painting at the Petit Palais
The Petit Palais highlights an artist still little known in France, yet a major figure in his own country. Discover Károly Ferenczy and his Hungarian modernity from April 14 to September 6, 2026. [Read more]
Van Gogh as Influencer: An Exhibition Celebrating the Artist’s Legacy at Château d'Auvers-sur-Oise
From April 18, 2026, to January 3, 2027, the Château d'Auvers-sur-Oise will host an exhibition dedicated to delving into the sources of inspiration and the lasting legacy of Vincent van Gogh's work, highlighting his enduring influence. [Read more]
Exhibition of Giovanni Segantini at the Marmottan Monet Museum in Paris: Symbolism and Alpine Landscapes
In Paris, the Marmottan Monet Museum is hosting a major exhibition dedicated to Giovanni Segantini, a painter associated with Symbolism and Divisionism. The show features over 60 works inspired by the Alpine landscapes and runs from April 29 to August 16, 2026. [Read more]
Hilma af Klint at the Grand Palais: a groundbreaking exhibition celebrating the pioneer of abstract art
The Grand Palais is hosting a groundbreaking exhibition dedicated to Hilma af Klint, the visionary Swedish artist, in partnership with the Centre Pompidou, from May 6 to August 30, 2026. This exhibit offers France’s first opportunity to experience her mystical and pioneering works firsthand — pieces that have long remained in the shadows of art history. [Read more]
The Navy and the Painters: A Major Exhibition Exploring Art and Authority at the Museum of the Navy
The Museum of the Navy highlights the painters who helped shape the history of the French fleet, with a historical exhibition opening from May 13 to August 2, 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]
Exhibition "Cézanne and Us" at the Grand Palais: Dive into the Legacy of the Father of Modern Art
The Grand Palais is hosting a major exhibition dedicated to Paul Cézanne, titled Cézanne and Us, running from September 23, 2026, to January 17, 2027. This outside-the-venue exhibit has been developed in partnership with the Musée d'Orsay. [Read more]
Monet and Time at the Orangerie Museum: An Exhibition Exploring the Moment, the Duration, and the Water Lilies
At the Orangerie Museum, the exhibition "Monet and Time" delves into how Claude Monet captured moments, the passage of time, and the evolving landscape through his series and the Water Lilies cycle, running from September 30, 2026, to March 29, 2027. [Read more]
Mary Cassatt: Embracing Independence — The Major Impressionist Exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay
Bold and contemporary, Mary Cassatt asserts her distinctive style and her freedom within Impressionism. From October 6, 2026, to January 31, 2027, the Musée d’Orsay celebrates her hundredth birthday with the exhibition "Mary Cassatt: The Choice of Independence," showcasing nearly 80 rare works. [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.
