Top 10 Exhibitions to Experience During Paris Gallery Weekend 2026
"Hyphae 3," 2026
Ines Katamso
Galerie Droste
While there's no definitive moment that defines the charm of Paris, late spring stands out for its unique allure. This season breathes life into the city, as blooming flowers adorn parks and outdoor café terraces buzz with sociable energy. Art lovers will want to mark their calendars for the upcoming Paris Gallery Weekend, which runs from May 29 to 31. This event promises an exciting array of activities just before the summer's sweltering heat hits the streets.
Now in its 14th iteration, Paris Gallery Weekend is an initiative by the Comité Professionnel des Galeries d’Art, featuring 73 galleries across iconic neighborhoods including the Marais and Saint-Germain-des-Prés as well as more laid-back areas like Belleville and Pantin. With organized talks, performances, and exhibition walk-throughs, this event invites art enthusiasts to engage deeply with the artistic community. A number of galleries are offering artists and curators the opportunity to create special exhibitions, showcasing fresh, compelling perspectives.
This year’s highlights include the inaugural exhibition at Waddington Custot’s new location in Paris, which is set to feature works by the influential Les Nabis artists. Equally noteworthy is a heartfelt exhibition by Australian-based, American artist Amber Boardman at Brigitte Mulholland’s gallery.
Below are some of the essential exhibitions to look out for during this vibrant weekend.
“All That She Holds Inside”
Galerie Droste
Through June 13
"Alabaster Dreamin," 2024
Anna Virnich
Galerie Droste
This group exhibition showcases the work of five female artists—Anna Virnich, Nada Elkalaawy, Ines Katamso, Julie Legouez, and Karla Leyva—who navigate themes related to matrilineal heritage. Their artworks respond to the weight of ancestral memories and the unfulfilled aspirations that shape women's narratives across generations.
Particularly significant is the exploration of how grandmothers serve as quiet yet pivotal figures within family dynamics. Berlin-based artist Anna Virnich makes a striking statement with her piece Alabaster Dreamin (2024), a textile artwork that layers various fabrics to reveal a delicate, lace-like figure, hidden yet visible beneath transparent materials. This encapsulates how fabrics can carry a spectrum of emotions—from anger to vulnerability. Similarly, Ines Katamso employs textiles in Hyphae 4 (2026), layering collected soil from different places to comment on the intricate relationship between humanity and ecology.
Kishio Suga
Mendes Wood DM
Mar. 26–June 4
Japanese artist Kishio Suga is celebrated for his installations that utilize natural materials like stones and wood, marrying simplicity with substance. As a key figure within the Mono-ha movement, he refers to his installations as "situations," illustrating a fundamental interaction between media and environment rather than mere aesthetics.
Now showcasing a comprehensive exhibition at Mendes Wood DM that spans his career, Suga’s work is displayed across their Paris and New York spaces. Visitors can experience pieces ranging from the 1970s to the present. For example, his installation in the gallery’s Place des Vosges location cleverly incorporates a wall of stones arranged beside the steps of a historical staircase, demonstrating how art can alter one's perception of space.
Michel Jocaille
“Lily of the Valley”
Galerie Les filles du calvaire
Through June 20
"Lily of the Valley," 2026
Michel Jocaille
Galerie Les filles du calvaire
Marking his debut solo exhibition in Paris, Michel Jocaille draws on his textile-rich heritage from northern France to create theatrical sculptures made from wax, glass, and fabric. He incorporates traditional crafting techniques such as crochet and knitting, imbuing his work with cultural significance.
Jocaille’s exhibition, named after a flower symbolizing beauty and labor rights, challenges the often-dismissed traditions of craft by placing them in a contemporary context. One of his pieces, Muguet crochet (2026), presents crochet lilies reaching skyward from a dark, crocheted base, representing hope and resilience in the face of societal expectations. As part of the gallery's 30th-anniversary celebration, his work will also participate in a concurrent group exhibition.
Aude Herlédan and Eleanor Lakelin
“In Light and in Shadow”
1831 Art Gallery
May 29–June 30
"Sous le Soleil Exactement II," 2024
Aude Herlédan
1831 Art Gallery
"Lidded Vessel #3," 2024
Eleanor Lakelin
1831 Art Gallery
A remarkable pairing of artists, Aude Herlédan and Eleanor Lakelin come together for a collaborative exhibition at 1831 Art Gallery in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Herlédan, a French artist, expresses herself through energetic, poetic paintings marked by bold brushwork. Conversely, Lakelin sculpturally plays with wood, highlighting its intrinsic scars and natural narrative.
"In Light and in Shadow" embodies their exploration of each other's craft, born from a decade-long friendship. Their immersive collaboration allows the new artworks to reflect direct dialogue, creating opportunities for viewers to witness the interplay of their artistic processes.
Richard Nonas
Galerie Christophe Gaillard
Through June 20
"Untitled," 2003
Richard Nonas
Galerie Christophe Gaillard
"Untitled," n.d
Richard Nonas
Galerie Christophe Gaillard
The late American artist Richard Nonas pushed boundaries within Postminimalism with his modular sculptures, skillfully crafted from raw materials that embody philosophical depth. Before dedicating himself to art, he pursued anthropology, which profoundly influenced his creative approach, integrating narratives of human experience with spatial awareness.
At Galerie Christophe Gaillard, visitors can explore a selection of Nonas's works produced between 1983 and 2016. Among them is a striking floor-based sculpture, demonstrating his hallmark of drawing the viewer’s eye to the interactive nature of space and material.
Paula Rego
“Drawing from Life”
Galerie Lelong
Through July 11
"Life Room III," 2005
Paula Rego
Galerie Lelong
"Scarecrow III," 2006
Paula Rego
Galerie Lelong
At the Galerie Lelong, Portuguese artist Paula Rego presents a series of powerful drawings and lithographs created during a prolific period from 2005 to 2007. Following her 70th birthday, Rego shifted her focus toward printmaking, allowing for a quicker, more immediate expression than her intricate paintings.
The works embody rich, unsettling narratives drawn from folklore and personal experience, exploring themes of oppression and power dynamics. They resonate with the legacies of stories shared during her childhood in Portugal under dictatorial rule, marrying these dark histories with contemporary storytelling.
Arcangelo Sassolino
“Aux abord du séisme”
Galleria Continua
Through May 30
"La consistance du vide," 2026
Arcangelo Sassolino
Galleria Continua
Italian artist Arcangelo Sassolino tackles the fragility of materials in his new solo exhibition at Galleria Continua. The title of the exhibit, which translates to "on the edge of an earthquake," aptly reflects the precariousness of objects when subjected to forces of change.
His works, including Damnatio memoriae (2016), challenge the viewer's perception as a marble torso slowly succumbs to an industrial saw's relentless pressure. Another piece, La consistance du vide (2026), starkly visualizes the tension between weight and support as a slab of black marble precariously rests on a glass sheet, threatening to shatter at any moment.
Lee Mingwei
“Lorsque la beauté paraît”
Perrotin
Through May 30
Taiwanese-American artist Lee Mingwei invites us to rethink our understanding of beauty in his first exhibition with Perrotin in Paris. Showcasing works created between 1995 and 2005, Mingwei engages the viewer through participatory pieces that transform damage into celebration, notably in The Mending Project (2009–2026).
This initiative invites attendees to repair their garments under Mingwei's guidance, emphasizing the beauty inherent in imperfection. Additionally, his "breath drawings," created through meditative ink work, explore the connection between the internal and the external, showcasing his unique creative process.
Khalif Tahir Thompson
“Beautiful Land”
Zidoun-Bossuyt
May 29–July 18
Emerging Brooklyn artist Khalif Tahir Thompson is gaining traction with his upcoming solo exhibition titled “Beautiful Land” at Zidoun-Bossuyt. This showcase will feature new works crafted from oil, acrylic, and handmade materials, capturing the essence of Black narratives through contemporary artistic languages.
His vibrant portraits embody a fusion of historical artistic styles, drawing on inspiration from masters of the past while weaving in elements from his own heritage. Recently added to the roster of Victoria Miro, Thompson's upcoming London show reflects an artist poised for significant recognition.
Szabolcs Bozó
“Antidote”
Semiose
May 23–June 20
"Jupiter," 2026
Szabolcs Bozó
Semiose
"A Dog's Dream," 2026
Szabolcs Bozó
Semiose
Hungarian painter Szabolcs Bozó brings new energy to Semiose for his second solo exhibition there. His latest array of artwork features bold, cartoonish characters in dynamic motion, marking a shift toward more exhilarating storytelling through his brushwork.
What stands out in this series is the infusion of social and political undertones that have emerged from current global upheaval. For instance, in his piece Cold Landing (2026), Bozó juxtaposes whimsical imagery with a chaotic backdrop, hinting at a deeper narrative behind these playful surfaces. The audience is invited to delve into his distinctive perspective as he reshapes art's role amidst turbulence.