The best art galleries in Paris are a must-visit for anyone, whether their interests lie in traditional paintings, cutting-edge sculpture, or modern photography.
The city of Paris has long been associated with the visual arts. Aside from museums like the Louvre and the d’Orsay, there is also a flourishing art culture in Paris, with many different types of art galleries to explore.
Today, we’ve rounded up a list of the best art galleries in Paris – from historical masterpieces to stunning modern installations.
Things you'll find in this article
- 13 Best Art Galleries In Paris
- 1. Atelier des Lumières
- 2. Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain
- 3. Gagosian Gallery
- 4. Kamel Mennour
- 5. Le BAL
- 6. The Louvre
- 7. Marian Goodman Gallery
- 8. Modern Art Museum of the City of Paris
- 9. Musee d’Orsay
- 10. Musée de l’Orangerie
- 11. Perrotin
- 12. Petit Palais
- 13. Galerie Thaddaeus
13 Best Art Galleries In Paris
1. Atelier des Lumières
Location: 38 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris, France
When it launched in 2018 with an exhibition of works by Austrian “Secession” artists such as Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, the Atelier des Lumières made waves as the first all-digital gallery in Paris.
Since then, it has continued to draw crowds for its strangely captivating installations, which often use both sound and ethereal moving visuals to pay homage to artists like Van Gogh, Matisse, Renoir, and Chagall.
While the worldwide health crisis of 2020 and 2021 did put a damper on the program, other exhibits in the works are anticipated to be just as successful.
2. Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain
Location: 261 Bd Raspail, 75014 Paris, France
The modern art museum Cartier founded in 1984 is also the current location of the company’s headquarters. The underground galleries, housed in a soaring glass and steel building, are just as beautifully crafted as their jewelry.
Exhibits are generally arranged around themes from nature, such as “Birds,” “Desert,” or “Trees,” and are multidisciplinary and visually arresting. It’s mostly a modern art museum, and it’s a relatively underrated spot to see work by talented contemporary artists.
Check the museum’s website to find out what special events will be held in conjunction with the exhibitions before you go.
3. Gagosian Gallery
Location: 4 Rue de Ponthieu, 75008 ;
9 Rue de Castiglione, 75001 Paris, France
Larry Gagosian is, without a doubt, the most influential art dealer alive today because of his collections and his network of 17 galleries located all over the world.
When he opened his Paris gallery in 2010, he placed it not in the city’s traditional creative district but rather on the doorstep of the global capital of luxury.
Two years later, he opened a second massive area in the Paris suburbs, adjacent to the landing strip of Le Bourget, an airport dedicated to business jets and private flights, making it even more convenient for his affluent clientele to visit.
The artists represented by Gagosian are among the most celebrated artists of the postwar and contemporary eras. Some of these are Jia Aili, Georg Baselitz, Rachel Feinstein, Urs Fischer, Damien Hirst, Titus Kaphar, Anselm Kiefer, Katharina Grosse, Jennifer Guidi, Hao Liang, and Rick Lowe.
4. Kamel Mennour
Location: 5 Rue du Pont de Lodi, 75006 Paris
The gallery, which has been located on Rue Mazarine since 1999, has quickly risen to international prominence. It has four locations in the French capital, where it represents and promotes the work of more than 40 artists through exhibitions and partnerships with museums and galleries across the world.
The gallery has been instrumental in launching the careers of numerous up-and-coming artists and performers.
Kamel Mennour’s international vibe captures the essence of Paris by welcoming both well-known and up-and-coming artists, providing engaging opportunities for discovery for everyone who visits.
Books, essays, and catalogs published by the gallery’s publishing house are also useful resources for art historians.
5. Le BAL
Location: 6 Impasse de la Défense, 75018 Paris
Le BAL is an independent arts facility in the 18th arrondissement, just off Place de Clichy. This gallery predominantly showcases video, cinema, documentary photography, and new media.
The gallery features works by artists from different walks of life, showcased in the former dance hall’s 350 square meters of exhibition space are split across two levels.
Le BAL is also a wonderful venue for offering everyone a chance to look at the world through a different lens, whether through their annual book co-publications or their non-profit, La Fabrique Du Regard, which supports disadvantaged kids.
6. The Louvre
Location: Musée du Louvre, 75001, Paris, France
When most people think of Paris, the Louvre is the first museum or gallery that springs to mind. It receives more visitors than any other museum anywhere.
According to the numbers, the museum saw over 10 million guests in 2018. Millions of visitors flock to Paris each year, and the Louvre is a major draw.
There are around 35,000 artworks and artifacts, organized into eight distinct sections. But not all museums and galleries are open every day of the week. Before planning your trip, make sure to visit the official website.
Related Read: The Louvre – All Things You Need To Know
7. Marian Goodman Gallery
Location: 66 Rue du Temple, 75003 Paris, France
Marian Goodman is a doyenne of American art and one of the few women to head a major international gallery.
In 1977, Goodman founded her first gallery in New York, showcasing the work of several European artists for the first time in the United States.
She has been representing artists of extraordinary conceptual and visual merit, including Nan Golding, Christian Boltanski, William Kentridge, Steve McQueen, Annette Messager, and many others, since she established a permanent gallery in Paris in 1999.
8. Modern Art Museum of the City of Paris
Location: 11 Av. du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris, France
A great alternative for individuals curious about modern art, the museum’s collection is showcased in both permanent and rotating displays.
Over 15,000 intriguing works by famous painters including Picasso, Juan Gris, Amedeo Modigliani, Pierre Bonnard, and Marc Chagall await visitors.
Abstract art, neo-realism, and pop art are just a few of the 20th-century styles on show once inside the gallery’s doors. This museum, like the National Museum of Modern Art, provides free access to its exhibition halls.
9. Musee d’Orsay
Location: 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, France
The d’Orsay Museum is arguably the most well-known Paris art museum outside of the Louvre because of its stunning architecture and well-balanced collection.
Past shows have featured works by artists such as Gaudi, Degas, Matisse, Cezanne, Edvard Munch, and many more.
They have displayed paintings by such masters as Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait (1889), Claude Monet’s Poppies (1873), and Degas’s La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans (1880).
Located in a restored 19th-century train station with a beautiful summer terrace overlooking the Seine, the architecture of the structure is impressive and should be admired in its own right.
10. Musée de l’Orangerie
Location: Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris, France
Claude Monet’s Water Lilies are on show in its entirety at the Musée de l’Orangerie, which is conveniently placed close to the Tuilleries.
The Water Lilies, displayed in a breathtaking oval room that provides a panopticon perspective, may be the museum’s biggest draw for first-time visitors, but the cultural programming held there regularly is what keeps people coming back for more.
Musee de l’Orangerie is a true museum for those who appreciate paintings, as it houses a wide range of works by illustrious artists from the School of Paris and beyond.
11. Perrotin
Location: 76 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris, France
Emmanuel Perrotin opened the Perrotin Gallery for Contemporary Art in Paris in 1990. It is housed in a 17th-century townhouse that was once a private hotel in the fashionable Marais neighborhood.
The gallery features three floors, with the lowest one devoted to video art and installations. There’s a lot of life and inspiration there, making it a great place to take in some art. The gallery has collaborated with 33 other artists in addition to the 61 they represent.
Each year, Perrotin hosts fifty shows of contemporary art and takes part in twenty art fairs where it displays its work alongside that of other contemporary art galleries from around the world.
12. Petit Palais
Location: Av. Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris, France
The “Petit Palais” art museum in Paris is often regarded as the best art museum in the French capital. There are ancient masterpieces and lost treasures waiting to be uncovered in this exotic location.
The city’s true art enthusiasts and creatives naturally congregate here to be inspired. Foreign visitors to Paris meanwhile, often go to the Louvre and d’Orsay Museums, rather than the national museum.
Still, those interested in seeing as much art as possible in the capital without breaking the bank can visit The Petit Palais throughout the afternoon.
13. Galerie Thaddaeus
Location: 69 Av. du Général Leclerc, 93500 Pantin, France
Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac’s flagship location is in Salzburg, Austria, but their galleries in Paris, London, and other Asian cities also contribute to their international renown. The paintings by famous artists on display in each gallery are enthralling, but the Paris gallery has a special charm.
Artworks by renowned names including Andy Warhol, Tom Sachs, Elaine Sturtevant, Antony Gormley, Erwin Wurm, Sylvie Fleury, Tony Cragg, and many more are on display for guests to enjoy.
Plus, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac is situated in a prime position, allowing visitors quick and simple access to the remainder of the city’s attractions.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.