The Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art has unveiled its new headquarters in central Paris, located just steps away from the world-famous Louvre Museum. The private art foundation has opened its doors with a major inaugural exhibition titled "General Exhibition," featuring 600 artworks that represent four decades of contemporary art collection.
The new venue occupies a vast building that previously housed the Louvre des Antiquaires, a historic structure with a rich past. The building originally served as a grand hotel starting in 1855, then became the Grand Magasin du musée in 1880, which historically organized biannual "General Exhibitions" - a title that the Cartier Foundation has revived for its opening show.
The Cartier Foundation was established in 1984 by Alain Dominique Perrin, who was then president of Cartier, a subsidiary of the Swiss luxury group Richemont. According to Perrin, the foundation was created following a suggestion from renowned sculptor César. The foundation initially set up operations in Jouy-en-Josas before relocating ten years later to Boulevard Raspail in Paris, where it occupied a building designed by acclaimed architect Jean Nouvel.
The foundation's move to this prime location near the Louvre positions it among Paris's most prestigious cultural institutions. The area along the Seine River is home to numerous world-class museums including the Louvre, Petit Palais, Grand Palais, Orangerie, Jeu de Paume, Musée d'Orsay, and Quai Branly Museum. Notably, the French Ministry of Culture is also located in close proximity to both the Louvre and the new Cartier Foundation headquarters.
The impressive scale and strategic location of the new facility has drawn comparisons to an "aircraft carrier" of contemporary art, highlighting the significant role that private foundations now play in the modern and contemporary art landscape. The 600 works featured in the inaugural exhibition showcase the foundation's commitment to collecting and presenting cutting-edge contemporary art over the past four decades.
This relocation represents a major expansion for the Cartier Foundation, allowing it to significantly increase its exhibition space and public programming. The new venue is expected to become a major destination for contemporary art enthusiasts visiting Paris, adding another important cultural institution to the city's already impressive array of museums and galleries.
