From June 26, 2025 to January 4, 2026, the Grand Palais in Paris will host an exhibition dedicated to Niki de Saint Phalle (Neuilly-sur-Mer, 1930 - San Diego, 2002) and Jean Tinguely (Freiburg, 1925 - Bern, 1991), two central figures in 20th-century contemporary art, told through the perspective of Pontus Hulten. Curated by Sophie Duplaix, chief curator of the Contemporary Collections Department at the Musée national d’art moderne - Centre Pompidou, and with set design by Laurence Fontaine, the exhibition Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely, Pontus Hulten aims to offer a comprehensive survey of the duo’s art, highlighting their creative alchemy and shared vision of artistic experimentation.
The exhibition focuses on the unbreakable bond between Saint Phalle and Tinguely, who were linked by a common approach to creation. Their art developed as an act of breaking away from established conventions, seeking free and often participatory forms of expression. The exhibition thus highlights how their work, including sculpture, mechanical installations and multidisciplinary works, represents a challenge to traditional artistic norms and an invitation to interactive and collective enjoyment.
Pontus Hulten a key figure in the contemporary museum scene and the first director of the Musée national d’art moderne at the Centre Pompidou, was a constant point of reference for the couple. The exhibition illustrates his role as mediator and promoter, able to unconditionally support the artists’ output through acquisitions of works, dedicated retrospectives, carte blanche and out-of-the-box projects. These include the gigantic Nana in the Hon - en Katedral exhibition (1966) at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm and Le Crocrodrome de Zig & Puce (1977) at the Forum of the Centre Pompidou, which testify to Hulten’s ability to enhance bold and innovative initiatives.
The retrospective was organized thanks to Centre Pompidou’s rich collections and major loans from French and international institutions, ensuring the exhibition of significant works that marked their respective artistic careers. The exhibition is structured so that visitors can follow the evolution of the two artists’ projects, interweaving their production with Hulten’s contribution. It is a historical reading that, while remaining rigorous, proposes a playful and participatory dimension of art, highlighting the link between creation, friendship and commitment. The exhibition allows us to observe how Saint Phalle and Tinguely reinterpreted the relationship between art and the public, transforming passive enjoyment into a shared experience.
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| Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely on display at the Grand Palais in Paris |
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