Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely, Pontus Hultén

The ‘Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely, Pontus Hultén’ exhibition at the Grand Palais is a must-see for modern and contemporary art enthusiasts.

This exhibition, which will run from 6 June 2025 to 4 January 2026 in the Champs-Elysées Galleries, highlights the iconic works of Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely, as well as the influence that Pontus Hultén, the first director of the Pompidou Centre, had on them.

Tribute to a legendary couple from the world of contemporary art

Through their bold and innovative creations, Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002) and Jean Tinguely (1925-1991) left their mark on the history of art and on the first decades of the Pompidou Centre. Their artworks, including Le Crocrodrome de Zig & Puce (1977), displayed in the Forum of the building, or the Stravinsky Fountain (1983) just outside, as well as Niki’s famous Nanas and Jean’s monumental sculptures, such as “Le Cyclop” in Milly Forest, which Niki completed after her partner’s death, are the vibrant witnesses of the couple’s creativity and convention-flouting artistic vision.

The exhibition offers an immersion through their most memorable works, inviting visitors to plunge into this legendary couple’s colourful and dynamic world carried by the vision of an outstanding museum director.

Pontus Hultén, a pioneer of modern art

Pontus Hultén (1924-2006) a Swedish art historian and the first director of the Pompidou Centre, played a vital role in the acknowledgement and distribution of the works of Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely. His faultless support enabled these artists to gain international exposure and leave a long-lasting mark on the world of art.

An unprecedented exhibition in the heart of Paris

This outstanding exhibition set up in the Champs-Elysées Galleries of the Grand Palais marks the beginning of a collaboration between the Pompidou Centre and GrandPalaisRMN during the ‘Beaubourg’ site’s closure for renovation, benefiting from the prestigious setting to highlight key moments in the career of this couple united by an indestructible artistic bond.

Visitors will have an opportunity to admire Jean Tinguely’s animated machines and Niki de Saint Phalle’s colourful sculptures, as well as archive films and exclusive documentation. This exhibition promises to be both historical and entertaining, while helping us to understand the impact these artists had on contemporary art.

A landmark exhibition that nobody should miss in 2025!
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