François Morellet

On the occasion of the centenary of François Morellet's birth, the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine, in partnership with the Centre Pompidou and the CNAP, presents a unique exhibition revealing how the artist transformed architectural space into a playground for contemporary art.

Monumental work integrated into architecture Since the early 1970s, François Morellet created nearly 140 monumental works, which he called his “disintegrations”. Far from blending into the background, his interventions engage in a dialogue with space, disrupting perspectives, playing with light, and challenging the rationality of lines. His approach, both rigorous and humorous, invites the viewer on a playful journey at the heart of architecture, transforming the visit into a true sensory and intellectual experience.

A dialogue between art, heritage, and the public The exhibition highlights Morellet's influence on how contemporary art can inhabit and transform public and architectural space. His works, present on facades, in gardens, train stations, and squares, bear witness to a lively dialogue between geometric abstraction and the urban environment. By bringing together architectural heritage with contemporary creation, the exhibition allows for a rediscovery of space from a fresh and stimulating perspective.

National tribute This exhibition is part of a vast national programme, coordinated by the Centre Pompidou in collaboration with Studio Morellet and Galerie Mennour. It is accompanied by unprecedented hangings, rediscoveries of works in public spaces, meetings, conferences, and an international symposium. The objective: to re-examine the legacy of François Morellet, his place in art history, and the lasting influence of his work on contemporary artists.