Art Capital 2026 concludes at Grand Palais
The Art Capital 2026 exhibition has concluded at the Grand Palais in Paris. The event highlighted international participation, including the Little Artists Art Studio from Singapore, which was recognized for its role in youth art education. The event reinforces Paris's status as a center for global cultural exchange.
- Art Capital is a federation of four distinct and historic Salons: the Salon des Artistes Français, the Société des Artistes Indépendants, the Salon du Dessin et de la Peinture à l’eau, and Comparaisons. The event typically gathers more than 2,000 artists, attracting around 40,000 visitors under the glass roof of the Grand Palais. - [The Salon des Artistes](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQG9lK9VHhX9MU16BuYvkWMk8qCprnnERdUKKYu6TQCbgtFS3gKJAO3d4aFQyvDp1U-Wd5gh6fIHomglAw36Y-fKQ7LRoJm2x2zEIxRsi7XSSRgyHCrDb0QkrSqRWNPp4jhh6owla36kYOBb-zHRxLgOqF3pbG33XaAmvl3g-nBR0RnDhCTWXWyDwLYUOCIPuJVyiWGmvmJAy3AIkagNqYaiNhAOqyJglOZ7Cn1liNFpxjGV-ehNXMpY--xyw5xT6e7DKYHHHdsXPBMIFdBlCjEfEMG14VI7Yowp5jAy-RkK0MvJpb3jkoU5AioUJg==) Français, which held its 236th edition this year, is the direct successor to the original Paris Salon established under Louis XIV. Its legacy includes legendary exhibitors such as Delacroix, Manet, Rodin, and Camille Claudel. - In contrast, the Société des Artistes Indépendants was founded in 1884 with the motto "without jury, without reward" to challenge the academic establishment. It served as the launchpad for the avant-garde, premiering works by artists like Georges Seurat, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, and Vincent van Gogh. - The 2026 edition highlighted contemporary African art with a special exhibition titled "l'Envol" (The Flight) within the Salon des Indépendants, featuring artists from the African continent and diaspora, including four from Congo. Azerbaijani artist Nigar Narimanbeyova also presented work for the fifth consecutive year. - The venue, the Grand Palais, was originally constructed for the 1900 Universal Exposition and features the largest glass roof in Europe. Beyond fine art, it has a long history of hosting prestigious events including the Chanel fashion shows, the Paris Air Show, and the Saut Hermès equestrian competition. - The exhibition's five official disciplines are painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, and engraving. The Salon des Artistes Français is the only salon within Art Capital to present an architecture section. - Following Art Capital, the Grand Palais's programming includes a major exhibition on the final works of Henri Matisse, focusing on his cut-out gouaches from 1941-1954, scheduled to run from March to July 2026.
