Fondation Cartier Opens Jean Nouvel-Designed Paris Venue Featuring 600-Work Exposition

The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain has reopened in a new, architecturally significant venue at 2 Place du Palais-Royal in Paris, near the Louvre, marking a major cultural shift from its previous location on Boulevard Raspail. Designed by acclaimed architect Jean Nouvel, the new space is a reimagined 19th-century building that was once the Grands Magasins du Louvre, now transformed into a glass-fronted contemporary art museum featuring floating exhibition platforms that redefine traditional museum layouts. The inaugural exhibition, Exposition Générale, presents nearly 600 works from the foundation's 40-year collection, offering a dynamic dialogue between art, architecture, nature, and urbanity, with a focus on accessibility, flexible circulation, and thematic routes tailored for diverse audiences including families and school groups. This move significantly expands the Fondation Cartier's capacity, aiming to triple visitor numbers to over a million annually and strengthen its presence in the heart of Paris's historic cultural district alongside other major institutions. The new building integrates historical preservation with modern design, creating a fluid environment where artists and curators can experiment with exhibition formats, enhancing the visitor experience through proximity to art and a seamless architectural program. This reopening not only celebrates the foundation's four decades of exhibitions but also repositions it as a pivotal contemporary art hub in Paris, symbolizing a transformation rather than just a relocation.