It was a travesty when the Louvres des Antiquaires market in Paris closed its doors. But as they say, when one door closes, another opens for Cartier. In this case, it’s the Cartier Foundation. Paris officially has a new museum for contemporary art that’s earned its way onto your circuit.
Founded in 1984 by Alain Dominique Perrin (then president of Cartier International), the foundation has maintained strict separation between its artistic mission and Maison Cartier’s commercial operations. It’s a distinction that matters, especially in an era when luxury brands are increasingly using art as marketing.
The Move That Changes Everything
After three decades in Jean Nouvel’s glass-and-steel pavilion on Boulevard Raspail, the Cartier Foundation has decamped to grander yet unexpectedly classic quarters. The new Cartier Foundation is set in a 19th-century Haussmannian landmark. The building first opened in 1855 for Paris’s first Exposition Universelle — before Impressionism was even a thing. From there, it became the Grand Hôtel du Louvre and later the Grands Magasins du Louvre. Most recently, it was the Louvres des Antiquaires market.
The Cartier Foundation officially opened on October 25, 2025, marking its 40th anniversary. Its new location positions it squarely in the city’s cultural golden triangle. It is flanked by the Louvre, the Bourse de Commerce, and the arcades of Rue de Rivoli. Location, as they say in real estate and contemporary art, is everything.
Nouvel’s Architectural Coup
Jean Nouvel designed the foundation’s previous home, and apparently, can’t quit this relationship. We would say it’s a good thing, as he’s conjured something extraordinary from the historic bones of the building. The building has five monumental steel platforms, each weighing 250 tons and spanning 1,200 square meters. They’re more than just pretty faces though, as the platforms rise and descend on cable-and-pulley systems, engineered by specialists in bridge construction and theatrical machinery. Ceiling heights can reach 11 meters. How they were able to create this space from the old antiques market is a marvel in itself.
The Inaugural Exhibition: 40 Years in 600 Works
The opening exhibition, “Exposition Générale,” pays homage to its previous department store roots. Nearly 600 works by more than 100 artists chart four decades of the foundation’s works, curated into a scenography designed by Formafantasma. You’ll find everyone from David Lynch and Claudia Andujar to Sarah Sze, Cai Guo-Qiang, Junya Ishigami, James Turrell, and Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
What This Means for Paris
With the Fondation Louis Vuitton and François Pinault’s Bourse de Commerce opening in 2021, Paris is firmly a destination now for contemporary art. The Fondation Cartier’s new location completes this triumvirate. Surprisingly, the museum is less about billionaire branding and more about artistic experimentation.
FAQs
Q: Where is the Cartier Foundation located?
A: The Cartier Foundation is located at 2 Place du Palais-Royal in Paris, France.
Q: What are the hours of operation of the Cartier Foundation?
A: The hours of operation of the Cartier Foundation are as follows:
Tuesday–Sunday, 11 AM–8 PM (until 10 PM Tuesdays)
Q: Is there a price of admission to enter the Cartier Foundation?
A: The price for General Admission to the Cartier Foundation is around 12 Euro.
