Art Basel’s Public Program transforms Paris into an open-air gallery

Explore monumental sculptures and historic works in iconic spaces across the city

Art Basel takes you on a journey through the arrondissements of Paris, showcasing artworks in the Public Program that transform ten of the city’s iconic sites into an open-air gallery. From monumental sculptures to garden exhibitions, this year’s works highlight the intersections of art, history, and architecture.

At Avenue Winston Churchill, just in front of the Grand Palais, Yayoi Kusama’s PUMPKIN (L) (2014) displays the artist’s signature polka dots on her recurring motif of pumpkins – symbols of resilience and comfort for the artist. Nearby, Jean Prouvé’s Maison démontable 6x9 (1944) invites reflection on post-war architecture. This temporary house, designed for displaced populations, demonstrates Prouvé’s prowess for innovative modular construction. Also present is John Chamberlain’s towering BALMYWISECRACK (2011), where crushed aluminum and bright colors coalesce in an expression of form and energy.

In Domaine national du Palais-Royal, the grandeur of the space is matched by the commanding presence of Ghada Amer’s Paravent Girls (2021–2022). These bronze sculptures challenge traditional depictions of women, empowering them as subjects and creators. In this serene garden setting, Heinz Mack’s shimmering Silver Stele (2015) refracts light, playing with the viewer’s perception as it transforms with the changing Parisian skies. Alongside Mack, César’s monumental Pouce (1965–1988) offers a playful and unexpected tribute to the human body, its oversized thumb cast in bronze as an emblem of Nouveau Réalisme. Amilcar de Castro’s minimalist Untitled (1990), a feat of metal manipulation, exemplifies his ‘one cut, one fold’ technique. Richard Long’s Gold Rush (2006) showcases an elemental arrangement of granite stones, collected from the Sierra Nevada mountains and methodically placed in a geometric formation, in tribute to the Earth’s raw materials. Thomas Schütte’s Tribute to Moondog (2024) offers a homage to the spirit of the eccentric blind musician. Roberto Sebastian Matta’s Matta’s Tribal Sculptures (1991–2009), with their bold, totemic forms, bring together Latin American heritage and European surrealism in a fusion of mythology and imagination.

At the Parvis de l’Institut de France, the mirrored mosaic branches of Niki de Saint Phalle’s L’Arbre-Serpents (1988) twist and turn. The work is a celebration of the transformative power of snakes, which she was afraid of as a child. Sprouting across the center of Place Vendôme is Carsten Höller’s surreal Giant Triple Mushroom (2024). Melding science with fantasy, this fusion of three fungi invites viewers to reflect on the mysteries of nature, consciousness, and perception. At Cour de l’Hôtel de la Marine, Takis’ kinetic sculpture Aeolian (1986) captures the invisible energy of wind, with its iron shafts and spinning orbs, linking nature and physics.

Yayoi Kusama, PUMPKIN (L) (2014) is presented by David Zwirner.
Jean Prouvé, Maison démontable 6x9 (1944) is presented by Galerie Patrick Seguin.
John Chamberlain, BALMYWISECRACK (2011) is presented by Mnuchin Gallery.
Ghada Amer, Paravent Girls (2021–2022) is presented by Tina Kim Gallery, Marianne Boesky Gallery, and Goodman Gallery.
Heinz Mack, Silver Stele (2015) is presented by Beck & Eggeling.
César, Pouce (1965–1988) is presented by Almine Rech.
Richard Long, Gold Rush (2006) is presented by Sperone Westwater.
Thomas Schütte, Tribute to Moondog (2024) is presented by Peter Freeman, Inc.
Roberto Sebastian Matta, Matta’s Tribal Sculptures (1991–2009) is presented by Galleria d’Arte Maggiore G.A.M.
Amilcar de Castro, Untitled (1990) is presented by Galeria Marilia Razuk and Almedia & Dale.
Niki de Saint Phalle, L’Arbre-Serpents (1988) is presented by Galerie Mitterrand.
Carsten Höller, Giant Triple Mushroom (2024) is presented by Gagosian.
Takis, Aeolian (1986) is presented by White Cube.

Miu Miu is the Public Program Official Partner.

More information about the Public Program during Art Basel Paris can be found on the Art Basel website.