Gerhard Richter in Paris: a major exhibition in 2025

The Fondation Louis Vuitton is preparing a major artistic event for 2025. The Paris institution is devoting an exceptional retrospective to Gerhard Richter, covering more than sixty years of creative work. From October 17, 2025 to March 2, 2026, the public will discover some 270 works in a unique itinerary.

A historic retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton

The exhibition brings together sculptures, paintings, drawings and digital experiments by Gerhard Richter, a central figure in contemporary art. The exhibition will occupy the entire space of the Fondation Louis Vuitton, just a few minutes from the heart of Paris. The event promises to be one of the highlights of the European cultural season.

The exhibition highlights the artist’s major themes, from his photo-realistic portraits of the 1960s to his most recent abstract works. The diversity of media, from glass to steel to paint, reflects the experimental approach that has marked Richter’s career. Visitors will be able to measure the constant evolution of a daring visual language.

Curators Dieter Schwarz and Nicholas Serota emphasize the innovative nature of this retrospective. Their ambition is to present a global vision that embraces all creative phases. The Fondation Louis Vuitton once again demonstrates its leading role in major international exhibitions and enhances the appeal of Parisian cultural experiences.

Emblematic works revealed to the general public

Among the pieces on show, iconic works such as “Uncle Rudi” and the “Birkenau” series will find new resonance in this unique context. They testify to Richter ‘s ability to question memory and history through art. These canvases will stand alongside watercolors, overpainted photographs and glass sculptures.

Each room is conceived as a key moment in the understanding of a constantly evolving plastic research. Visitors will be invited to move between ten galleries, each marking a key stage in the artist’s creative journey. The scenography will highlight both breaks and thematic continuities.

This variety makes the exhibition a major landmark for art lovers and specialists alike. It also illustrates the international influence of Richter, an artist whose works can be found in the world’s greatest museums. The choice of Paris confirms the capital’s reputation as a mecca for contemporary art.

Worldwide recognition for Gerhard Richter

With a career spanning over sixty years, Gerhard Richter occupies a unique place in the history of contemporary art. His to-and-fro between figuration and abstraction marks a singular approach that is constantly in search. The retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton underlines this vitality.

The presentation has received international recognition, relayed by specialist media from all over the world. Galleries and experts already regard the exhibition as a major milestone in the cultural season. It is attracting attention far beyond the art world, arousing the interest of the general public.

The Parisian agenda for autumn 2025 will be enriched by a cultural proposition with strong international appeal. Between Art Basel Paris and other institutional projects, the capital is positioning itself as a key contemporary art scene. A rare opportunity for art lovers to come across major works in the same place.

“This exceptional retrospective offers an unprecedented chronological view of six decades of creation, revealing the richness and complexity of Richter’s work.” – Dieter Schwarz

An original journey between figuration and abstraction

One of the exhibition’s major strengths lies in highlighting the tensions between the different creative periods. Richter constantly navigated between photographic realism and abstract painting, without setting himself limits. The whole reveals a vision deeply rooted in modernity.

Visitors will also have access to the artist’s technical experiments, such as glass panels and digital compositions. This research bears witness to a constant desire to push back the boundaries of mediums. The contrast between pictorial tradition and contemporary innovation will be particularly highlighted.

The Fondation Louis Vuitton’s decision to devote its entire space to this retrospective demonstrates the importance of the event. Rarely has an artist benefited from such a vast and comprehensive tribute in the French capital. This is an unprecedented opportunity to measure the scope of an artistic legacy that is still very much alive.

“Gerhard Richter transcends genres, moving from portraiture to abstraction, questioning memory and photographic reality.” – Nicholas Serota

A major cultural event in Paris in 2025

The Gerhard Richter exhibition is part of a wider drive to promote the great artists of the 20th century and beyond. After Basquiat and Hockney, the Fondation Louis Vuitton offers an immersion in the work of a world-renowned artist. This program reveals the ambition to keep the capital on a par with the great international institutions.

Visitors are expected from the four corners of the globe, boosting Paris’ tourist and artistic dynamism. This type of event also helps to establish the city’s image as a key center for contemporary art. The public will be able to approach a work of art that transcends borders, in an exceptional architectural setting.

The breadth and diversity of the works on display mark a key moment in the analysis of Richter’s oeuvre. With 270 works on display, the exhibition offers an unrivalled panorama of an artistic career in perpetual motion. Prices range from 5 to 32.