It’s that time of the year again! Spring is here, and for most people, this means cherry blossoms, more hours of daylight, and warmer weather. And while I do enjoy all three of those, I also love this time of year for another reason. A new season of spring exhibitions are opening in museums across Paris, and I can’t wait to experience them all. I especially can’t wait to see the five listed below, because they are all at the top of my list this year.
Pharaoh of the Two Lands
I know it seems like I’m going for the obvious choice when my top pick is at the Louvre. But I absolutely cannot wait to see this exhibition. Pharaoh of the Two Lands: The African Story of the Kings of Napata looks at the history of Nubia and the Kushite kings of the 8th and 7th centuries BCE. This is a period of history that I know relatively little about. I probably shouldn’t even admit this, but most of what I know comes from the Elton John musical Aida. Embarrassing, I know. Which is why I can’t wait to experience this exhibition and learn the actual history of this time period. And if I’m singing “The Gods Love Nubia” in my head the whole time… well, no one has to know.
Pharaoh of the Two Lands runs April 28th – July 25th at the Louvre Museum.
Women War Photographers
The Musée de la Libération de Paris – Musée du Général Leclerc – Musée Jean Moulin is showcasing the work of eight prominent women photographers who collectively covered over 75 years of warfare. I can’t imagine that this exhibition will be easy to see, especially given current events. But these photographers bear witness to the atrocities of war, something we can never afford to forget. War photography is still a very male-dominated field, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the female gaze has an impact on these kinds of photos.
Women War Photographers runs March 8th – December 31st at the Musée de la Libération de Paris – Musée du Général Leclerc – Musée Jean Moulin.
Machu Picchu et les Trésors du Pérou
This is another spring exhibition that I absolutely cannot wait to see. The Cité de l’Architecture & du Patrimoine museum is bringing together over 190 objects from all over Peru. Many of them have never left the country before, and they certainly have never been brought together like this. Machu Picchu et les Trésors du Pérou will showcase over 3,000 years of Peruvian history, and I can’t wait.
Machu Picchu et les Trésors du Pérou runs April 16th – September 4th at the Cité de l’Architecture & du Patrimoine.
Pioneers – Artists in the Paris of the Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties are referred to as Les Années Folles in French. The crazy years. And from what I’ve read, it’s a very appropriate name for a decade that defined an era. Now, the Musée du Luxembourg is presenting the works of the women artists of this time, and highlighting their contributions to important artistic movements, including Dadaism, Cubism, and Surrealism. I already have my ticket for this one.
Pioneers – Artists in the Paris of the Roaring Twenties runs March 2nd – July 10th at the Musée du Luxembourg.
Gallen-Kallela – Mythes et Nature
To be honest, I’d never heard of Akseli Gallen-Kallela until I heard about this exhibition. Nor do I know anything about art in Finland. So when I discovered that Gallen-Kallela is a Finnish national hero and one of their most famous artists, I knew I had to know more. Unknown artist to discover? The opportunity to learn more about a country’s artistic heritage? And a chance to visit the Musée Jacquemart-André again? Sign me up.
Gallen-Kallela – Mythes et Nature runs March 11th – July 25th at the Musée Jacquemart-André.
Laura Moore is a professional storyteller who loves history and the many stories that make Paris one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Join one of her signature tours to learn the story of a city.
