10 Exhibitions to see in 2020

Out with the old and in with the new! 2020 is here and so are some fantastic cultural events. Why not make it your New Year’s resolution to take advantage of what the art world has on offer? We promise this one isn’t hard to keep – especially with Artsper here to help! Read on for 10 of the most exciting exhibitions to see in 2020.

Picasso-Rodin at the Musée Picasso and Musée Rodin

Two of the greatest artists in art history, across two iconic cultural institutions – what more could you ask for?! This exhibition will compare Picasso and Rodin’s creative processes and artistic approaches to depicting reality, highlighting surprising similarities. Definitely not one to miss.

When? 9 February 2020 to 18 July 2021
Where? Musée Picasso, 5 Rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris; Musée Rodin, 77 rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris

Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Paris! at the Centre Pompidou

The formidable Christo and Jeanne-Claude met in Paris in 1958, and it was the location for their first monumental project Iron Curtain. This exhibition will look at their years there from 1958 to 1964 and retrace their iconic The Pont Neuf Wrapped, Project for Paris 1975-85 through all its stages. Brush up on your knowledge of the talented and daring couple who draped the world’s greatest monuments!

When? 1 July to 19 October 2020
Where? Centre Pompidou, Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris

Joaquín Sorolla, spanish lights…

The Hôtel de Caumont offers an exhibition dedicated to the Spanish artist Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923), a pioneer of the 20th-century art scene. In this exhibition, discover a happy Spain bathed in comforting light. Linked to Impressionist painters, Sorolla is recognizable for his free and spontaneous brushstrokes. The event questions the latter’s career through three main themes: the painter’s creative process, his different sources of inspiration, and finally, the evolution of his production over the years and his encounters.

When? From 10 July to 1st November 2020
Where? Hotel de Caumont 3, rue Joseph Cabassol, 13100 Aix-en-Provence

Alice Neel at the Centre Pompidou

Now for another trailblazing artist at the Centre Pompidou this year: Alice Neel. This retrospective of over 70 socio-politically engaged paintings, drawings and documents will look at how the American visual artist was deeply committed to fighting issues to do with gender, class, racial segregation and homophobia. 

When? Reported – New dates to come
Where? Centre Pompidou, Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris

The Golden Age of English Painting. From Reynolds to Turner at the Musée de Luxembourg

This exhibitions takes a close look at the explosion of British artistic talent between the 1760s and 1820. With a collection of masterpieces from classic names in history, spanning from the founding of the RA, Gainsborough and Reynolds to Turner and the turning point of the century.

When? 11 September 2019 to 16 February 2020
Where? Musée de Luxembourg, 19 rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris

Gustav Klimt, d’or et de couleurs at the Bassins de Lumières

Next up in our exhibitions to see in 2020 will truly be an experience like no other. A former submarine base built by the Germans in the Second World War has been transformed into the newest addition to Culturespace’s Atelier and Carrières des Lumières in Paris and Provence. In one of the largest multimedia installations in the world, experience a unique viewing experience of Gustav Klimt in 360°. As you walk through the watersheds, along bridges and quays, see his masterpieces reflected in the water and projected across the monumental architecture. 

When? 10 June 2020 to 3 January 2021
Where? Bassins de Lumière, Base sous-marine, Impasse Brown de Colstoun, 33 300 Bordeaux

Andy Warhol at Tate Modern

The work of the iconic American artist Andy Warhol will be shown at the Tate Modern for the first time in nearly 20 years. Included in the exhibition is his series Ladies and Gentlemen, floating Silver Clouds installation and the multimedia piece Exploding Plastic Inevitable.

When? 12 March to 15 November 2020
Where? Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG, UK

Matisse at the Centre Pompidou

The Centre Pompidou is celebrating Henri Matisse’s 150th birthday with an exhibition in his honour, which will delve into the French artist’s relationship with literature. The largest retrospective since 1970, it offers the chance to re-discover Matisse’s work through a literary lense in nine chapters of his life.

When? 21 October 2020 May to 22 February 2021
Where? Centre Pompidou, Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris

Monet, Renoir… Chagall. Voyages en Méditerranée + Yves Klein, l’infini bleu at the Atelier des Lumières

Spanning from impressionism to pointillism, fauvism and modernism, this exhibition looks at the influence and importance of the Mediterranean for masters such as Renoir, Monet, Pissarro, Matisse, Derain, Dufy and Chagall. Take a break from winter weather and be immersed in a multitude of vibrant colours, awash with seas, skies and summer sun.

What’s more, running alongside this exhibition is Yves Klein’s l’infini bleu – in case you needed some more colour! Another artist inspired by the Mediterranean sky; explore his bold world.

When? 28 February to 3 January 2021
Where? L’Atelier des Lumières, 38 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris

Soutine / De Kooning at the Orangerie

And finally, the last of our exhibitions to see in 2020: two major painters of the 21st century, Chaïm Soutine and Willem de Kooning at the Orangerie. Seeing Soutine’s paintings in the 1930s marked a turning point in de Kooning’s style, and he once said, ‘I’ve always been crazy about Soutine – all of his paintings’. Explore the relationship between their two forms of expressionism through the themes of tension between figures and shapelessness, fleshiness, landscapes and the studio.

When? 15 September 2021 to 10 January 2020
Where? Musée de l’Orangerie, Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, 75001 Paris

Now you’ve seen what 2020 has in store, why not take a look at the 10 most significant exhibitions of the last decade?