Art Meets Sport in These Must-See Shows During Paris Olympics 2024

As Paris readies up for a packed schedule of 2024 Olympics games, which start today, the city is not just buzzing with the anticipation of athletic feats. It is also alive with the rich interplay of art, history, and culture. This summer, Paris offers a gang of exhibitions that delve into the profound connections between sport and art.

From the storied halls of the Louvre to the cutting-edge displays at Gagosian, each exhibition presents a distinct narrative, inviting viewers on a journey through time, creativity, and the raw human spirit. Check out our list below and add them to your Paris 2024 Olympics calendar.

Musée Marmottan Monet: ‘En Jeu! Artists and Sport’

Through September 1

Step into the Musée Marmottan Monet for ‘En Jeu! Artists and Sport.’ This isn’t just an art exhibit; it’s a time machine to when sports in France were the pastime of the elite. From the brushstrokes of Harald Giersing and Marcel Gromaire, you’ll see football and rugby come alive as they were over a century ago. The exhibit takes you through a visual history of how women moved from the sidelines to the center stage of sports. Suzanne Lenglen’s tennis medals and Maurice Denis’s diptych are just the start.

Musée Marmottan Monet
2 Rue Louis Boilly
75016 Paris
France

Musée du Louvre: ‘Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy’

Through September 16

‘Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy’ at the Louvre is where history buffs and sports fans find common ground. This isn’t about Pierre de Coubertin, the guy who rebooted the Olympics. No, it’s about Michel Bréal, the man who dreamed up the marathon, and Émile Gilliéron, the artist who captured the first Games. Violaine Jeammet curates a journey that ends with Konstantinos Dimitriadis’s ‘Finnish Discus Thrower,’ a piece that took home gold in the 1924 arts competition.

Louvre Museum
93 Rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris
France

Gagosian: ‘The Art of the Olympics’

Through September 7

Gagosian’s ‘The Art of the Olympics’ is a love letter to sport from the art world. Imagine Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Tracey Emin hanging out, each bringing their take on sport. Andreas Gursky’s ‘Amsterdam, Arena I’ captures the chaos and beauty of a football match. Christo’s ‘Running Fence’ drawing and Marc Newson’s ‘Black Surfboard’ are on display, playing with form and function. At the Ponthieu site, Olympic posters by Rachel Whitehead and Cy Twombly bring the past Games to life.

Gagosian
9 Rue de Castiglione
75001 Paris
France

Musée d’art et histoire Paul Eluard: ‘The Mechanics of Achievement: The Body Put to the Test in Sports’

Through November 25

The Musée d’art et histoire Paul Eluard puts the athlete’s body under a microscope in ‘The Mechanics of Achievement.’ Auguste Rodin’s sculptures and René-Jacques’s 1926 photographs lay bare the raw power and vulnerability of the human form. In Seine-Saint-Denis, near the Olympic venues, this exhibition pushes you to consider the limits of human endurance.

Musée d’art et histoire Paul Eluard
22 bis Rue Gabriel Péri
93200 Saint-Denis
France

Almine Rech: ‘Sport and Beyond’

Through August 17

Almine Rech’s ‘Sport and Beyond‘ is a mind-bending trip. Jeff Koons’s ‘Gazing Balls’ series gets a sporting twist with the ‘Borghese Gladiator,’ blending ancient form with modern flair. Laurie Simmons collaborates with AI to produce silk-printed, altered images, adding a futuristic spin. Hank Willis Thomas’s work on Jesse Owens is a stark reminder of sport’s power to defy ideologies. His ‘Endless Column III,’ painted with chameleon body paint, changes perspective with every glance.

Almine Rech
64 Rue de Turenne
75003 Paris
France

Parc de la Villette: ‘Archi-Folies’

Through September 3

‘Archi-Folies’ at Parc de la Villette is an architectural playground. Twenty pavilions designed by students from various architecture schools stand alongside Bernard Tschumi’s 1980s red “follies.” Each pavilion represents a different sports federation. It’s a testament to the creativity and potential of the next generation of architects. After the Olympics, these pavilions will find new homes, continuing their dialogue with sport and design.

La Villette
211 Av. Jean Jaurès
75019 Paris
France

Palais Galliera: ‘La Mode en Mouvement #2’

Through January 5, 2025

Fashion meets sport at the Palais Galliera in ‘La Mode en Mouvement #2.’ From 18th-century tennis attire to modern swimwear, this exhibition traces the evolution of sportswear. It’s a deep dive into how fashion has adapted to the demands of sport, and how our perceptions of beauty and function have changed.

Palais Galliera
10 Av. Pierre 1er de Serbie
75116 Paris
France

Les Rencontres d’Arles: ‘Le Sport à l’épreuve’

Through September 29

Down in the south, at Les Rencontres d’Arles, ‘Le Sport à l’épreuve’ captures the symbiosis between sport and photography. Hélène Tobler’s shot from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Lothar Jeck’s 1936 high jump photo are standout moments. The exhibition, drawing from Lausanne’s Musée Olympique and Musée Photo Elysée, showcases how photography has immortalized sporting achievements.

Les Rencontres d’Arles
34 rue du docteur Fanton
13632 Arles Cedex
France

Palace of Versailles: ‘Horses and Equestrianism’

Through November 3

Palace of Versailles goes all out with ‘Horses and Equestrianism,’ showcasing 300 artworks dedicated to the noble steed. From royal mounts to war horses, the exhibition captures the essence of equestrian art. Justus Sustermans’s portrait of seven-year-old Leopoldo de’ Medici is a highlight. It’s an exploration of how artists, long before scientists, studied horse anatomy, blending art with early veterinary science.

Palace of Versailles
Place d’Armes
78000 Versailles
France