The Fondation Cartier is getting a facelift with a move to the Place du Palais-Royal in the vibrant heart of Paris. Situated just a stone’s throw from the Louvre, the Bourse du Commerce and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, this flagship institution has packed its bags to revealcontemporary art from a new angle.
Four decades of bold creativity
Created in 1984 by Alain Dominique Perrin, former Chairman of Cartier International, the Fondation Cartier established itself as the first corporate foundation devoted to contemporary art in France, paving the way for a new model of patronage and inspiring initiatives such as the Fondation EDF and the Fondation Louis Vuitton.
For its first ten years, it was housed outside Paris, at the Domaine du Montcel, before moving to the 14th arrondissementin 1994 , in a building that has become an essential landmark forcontemporary art enthusiasts and professionals alike.
After 40 years of existence, it was time for this institution to reinvent itself by offering a more spacious, modular venue adapted to new forms of creation.
The Fondation Cartier reinvents itself in a building designed by Jean Nouvel
Located on the Place du Palais-Royal, the new building combines the charm of Haussmann stone with the modernity of glass and steel, and promises to astonish and amaze visitors from the moment they arrive.
Jean Nouvel, the renowned French architect behind the project, also imagined five modular platforms up to 11 metres high, enabling the space to be reconfigured according to exhibition needs and creating varied, immersive itineraries.
With its 6,500m² of exhibition space, the Fondation Cartier will be able to accommodate a greater number of works and offer a livelier, more interactive experience, where each visit becomes unique. The building also houses a bookshop and an educational center, making it a lively place full of encounters and discoveries for all lovers of contemporary art.
To mark its reopening, the Fondation Cartier is opening its doors free of charge on October 25 and 26. Don’t forget to book your admission to take full advantage of this new venue for contemporary creation!