Philip Guston exhibition at the Musée Picasso-Paris in 2025

From October 14, 2025 to March 1, 2026, the Musée national Picasso-Paris presents a major retrospective devoted to Philip Guston. The exhibition highlights the irony and satire in his works, inspired by Philip Roth’s novel *Our Gang*. More than 80 drawings and paintings place the artist at the heart of American artistic and political debate.

Philip Guston, satire and commitment

The Musée Picasso-Paris is devoting its renovated first floor and basement to this eagerly-awaited exhibition. Philip Guston, a controversial figure of the 20th century, was critical of the powers that be, linking his art to current American politics. His drawings, inspired by Philip Roth, directly attacked Donald Nixon, using caricature and a crude aesthetic.

This exhibition highlights his shift fromabstract expressionism to comic-book-inspired figuration. This break with the past, marked in the late 60s, shocked the New York art world and remains at the center of critical debate to this day. Guston’s brushstrokes illustrate the power of visual satire.

More than 80 drawings are on display, some never before seen in France. Their dark humor holds up a mirror to the abuse of authority and the rise of political violence. In Paris, this selection finds a particular resonance in a context of cultural and memorial renewal.

A work marked by controversy

As early as the 20s, Philip Guston was already using drawing to oppose the authorities, which led to expulsion and censorship. His early works on the Ku Klux Klan were even vandalized at public exhibitions. Today, this protest dimension is at the heart of his reception.

In the ’70s, his cartoons directly inspired by Our Gang offered a visual response to literary criticism. The link between Roth and Guston goes beyond art: it’s a political dialogue expressed in two voices. Here, satire becomes a weapon shared between literature and painting.

The exhibition at the Musée Picasso reflects this radical approach, by comparing drawings and paintings. The public is invited to grasp this unique blend of darkness and wry humor, which places Guston among the major artistic voices of the 70s.

The Picasso Museum and its new impetus

Recently restored, theHôtel Salé now hosts events that go beyond Picasso. The Philip Guston project is part of an overall strategy to open up to international artists. It gives the museum an active role in promoting dialogue between the arts and politics.

The exhibition benefits from a didactic museography, using the ground-floor rooms and the educational areas in the basement. The result is a clear, accessible tour for the general public and the initiated alike. Admission is priced between 12 and 16 euros.

Located in the Marais district, this presentation benefits from Paris’s tourist and cultural centrality. It illustrates a return to artists who chose protest as a means of expression. Visitors will be able to understand the radical nature of a body of work that has often been censored.

“Philip Guston, art is a weapon, using caricature and satire to denounce authority” (Musée Picasso, 2025)

With this initiative, the Musée Picasso confirms its role as an international showcase. The exhibition echoes other cultural initiatives in Paris, notably the L’Oréal Paris fashion show, which also illustrates a desire for dialogue between art, fashion and society.

Dates, figures and news

Scheduled to run from October 14, 2025 to March 1, 2026, the exhibition will take nearly five months to complete. More than 80 satirical drawings punctuate the itinerary, accompanied by critical notes that contextualize their significance. The curators have organized a focus on the Nixon period, emphasizing the political roots of these works.

With prices ranging from 12 to 16 euros, the event is accessible to the widest possible audience. The event has already been covered by the French press, from Sortir à Paris to Accartbooks. Their coverage confirms that this retrospective is an event not to be missed.

The political commitment that runs through these works is as topical as ever. The satire of power, the denunciation of racism and the black humor are perfectly in tune with the critical trends of our time. With this choice, the Parisian museum is contributing to an essential contemporary debate.

“His drawings respond to Philip Roth’s Our Gang, mocking Nixon’s policies” (Sortir à Paris, 2025)

An exhibition at the heart of cultural trends

Satirical art is enjoying a revival in major capitals. In Paris, the event resonates with the vitality of contemporary cultural offerings. Enthusiastic visitors can also round off their visit with activities related to what to do in Paris to enrich their experience.

The exhibition also illustrates the importance of the critical and intellectual dimension in art. By linking Philip Roth and Guston, the exhibition highlights the importance of transatlantic relations between literature and painting. The choice of sensitive themes such as racism and corruption retains its relevance today.

The temporary installation in the Hôtel Salé shows how a historical heritage can host a contemporary dialogue. The museum becomes an actor in collective reflections on memory and power. The exhibition thus marks a milestone in the artistic programming of Paris in 2025.

Art lovers and political observers alike will find food for thought. The event is already seen as one of the highlights of the cultural season, in the same way as other events in the luxury news category. This crossover of universes is a reminder that culture remains a major vector of influence and modernity.