What to Do in May?

It’s May which means public holiday galore and hot news from the art world. Here at Artsper, we’ve curated the very best art events and exhibitions taking place this month, so take those extra days off to discover the most fascinating exhibitions going on near you!

Prehistory, a Modern Enigma at the Centre Pompidou

Picasso, Miro, Giacometti, Penone, Ernst, Klein, Cezanne, Dubuffet and Louise Bourgeois; just a few artists that “dreamt” about the mystery of prehistoric times. A truly original exhibition, the Centre Pompidou highlights the relationship between this period and modern art. Although an unexpected pairing, it does promise a fascinating journey through time and art.

When? From 8th May to 16th September 2019

Where? Centre Pompidou, Place Georges Pompidou – 75004 Paris

Versailles- Visible/Invisible at the Palace of Versailles

For its twelfth exhibition, the beautiful surroundings of the estate of Trianon will host 5 of the greatest photographers: Dove Allouche, Nan Goldin, Martin Parr, Eric Poitevin and Viviane Sassen. They will reveal their works created specifically to compliment this intimate setting, unifying modern design and the magical heritage of Versailles.

When? From 14th May to 20th October 2019

Where? Palace of Versailles, Place d’armes – 78000 Versailles

FestiWall at the Canal de l’Ourcq & Canal Saint-Denis

If you like street art then this is the place to be! FestiWall was put together by DAM, Galerie d’Art Urbain, The Wall 51 and the 19th arrondissement Town Hall. It is the first festival in Paris dedicated to street art and urban culture. The event will take place between the banks of Canal de l’Ourcq and Canal Saint-Denis; bringing together twenty emerging and established urban artists. You will discover large scale drawings.

When? 18th-19th May 2019

Where? Canal de l’Ourcq and Canal Saint-Denis – 75019 Paris

Raoul Dufy in Le Havre

Born in du Havre in 1877, Raoul Dufy (along with fellow artists Eugène Boudin and Claude Monet), maintained a profound attachment to the city. Paying homage the great artist, the MuMa will feature around 90 artworks not only from their own collection, but also from major public collections worldwide. The exhibition will display an extraordinary set of works by the artist, allowing viewers to understand and discover Dufy’s evolution into the extraordinary painter we know today. Beach paintings or boat paining, summer time is coming at Le Havre!

When? From 18th May to 3rd November 2019

Where? Musée d’art moderne André Malraux MuMa, 2 boulevard Clemenceau – 76600 Le Havre

The Devil in the Body. When Op Art Electrifies Cinema at MAMAC in Nice

This major exhibition offers a unique insight into the dialogue between optical and kinetic works and cinema. Visitors will see be able to see how cinematographic language was reinvented by artist experiments in the 1960s. The exhibition will also demonstrate how advertisers, retailers and fashion took over the Op Art movement.

When? From 17th May to 29th September 2019

Where? Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC), Place Yves Klein – 06300 Nice

Jean Dubuffet at MuCEM

Painter, writer and inventor of Original Art, Jean Dubuffet was a major figure in the 20th century art scene. In this unique exhibition, visitors will discover how he utilised painting, writing and Original Art in his works.

Where? MuCEM, 1 Esplanade J4 – Marseille 2ème

When? From 24th April to 2nd September 2019

The Thannhauser Collection at the Hôtel de Caumont in Aix en Provence

Around fifty works from the Justin K. Thannhauser collection (donated to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in New York in 1963) will be presented in a travelling exhibition in Europe, that first began in the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum. Viewers will be able to see paintings and sculptures by the masters of Impressionism and post-Impressionism, including Manet, Picasso, Degas, Gauguin, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Braque and Matisse such as mountain paintings or artworks with flowers.

When? From 1st May to 29th September 2019

Where? Hôtel Caumont, 3 rue Joseph Cabassol – 13100 Aix-en-Provence

Biennale Arte 2019: 58th Edition of the International Art Exhibition

It’s one of the biggest annual events in contemporary art, and this month marks the beginning of the 58th edition of the Venice Biennale. Its title, May You Live In Interesting Times, is a phrase that is mistakenly cited as an ancient Chinese curse that causes crisis and uncertainty. The expression is supposed to be used ironically, implying instead that these “uninteresting times” are of peace and tranquillity. Ralph Rugoff, director of the Hayward Gallery in London curated the exhibition, while the French Pavilion has been curated by French artist, Laure Prouvost and curator and writer, Martha Kirszenbaum. Prouvost collaborated with Kirszenbaum to bring viewers their Deep See Blue Surrounding You / Vois Ce Bleu Profond Te Fondre project. This incredible event will grace Venice for 6 months, so grab your straw hat and jump in a gondola; we’re rowing on down to La Serenissima!

Where? Venice Biennale, Giardini Sestiere Castello – 30122 Venice 

When? From 11th May to 24th November 2019

Manet and Modern Beauty at The Art Institute of Chicago

This exhibition is dedicated exclusively to Edouard Manet, and will demonstrate is the transformation of the artist’s style and subjects during his final years. Showcasing more than 70 paintings and drawings, this collection explores the works influenced by women and fashionable femininity. Viewers will see how Manet embraced female beauty through a number of portraits of actresses, models, bourgeois women and even his wife, Suzanne Manet.

Where? Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave – Chicago IL 60603

When? From 26th May to 8th September 2019

Camp: Notes on Fashion at The MET

The long-waited The Costume Institute’s Sping 2019 exhibition, will explore 250 objects dating from the 17th to 21st century. Susan Sontag’s essay “Notes on ‘Camp’” provides the foundation to the exhibition, and according to curator Andrew Bolton, it will explore how “the elements of irony, humor, parody, pastiche, artifice, theatricality, and exaggeration are expressed in fashion.” You can catch this flamboyant exhibition at the mystical MET Gala on the first Monday of May.

Where? The Met Fifth Avenue, 1000 5th Ave – New York NY 10028

When? From 9th May to 8th September 2019