Gagosian Gallery, in collaboration with the Olympic Museum, proudly announces “The Art of the Olympics,” a two-part exhibition revolving around the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. This unique exhibition will be held at Gagosian’s galleries on rue de Castiglione and rue de Ponthieu in Paris. The exhibition features a diverse array of modern and contemporary artworks, as well as historical artist-designed posters from the Olympic Museum’s extensive collection.
The gallery at rue de Castiglione will showcase artworks across various mediums that explore cultural, iconographic, social, and emotional aspects of sport. Among the notable pieces is Andreas Gursky’s “Amsterdam, Arena I” (2000), a monumental photograph offering a panoramic aerial view of a football match, abstracting the players and field into a composition of lines and colors. Other highlights include Man Ray’s “Jeux Nocturnes” (c. 1970), which gives a soccer ball with an aura of mystery, and Duane Hanson’s lifelike polychrome bronze sculpture “Bodybuilder” (1989–90), depicting a muscular gym-goer in a moment of intense self-focus, along with pieces by artists like Jonas Wood and Christo.
On the second floor at rue de Ponthieu, visitors will find a remarkable selection of posters from the Olympic Museum’s collection. These posters, created by international artists, have historically promoted and commemorated various editions of the Olympic Games. Featured artists include David Hockney, who did the design for the 1972 Munich Games, and Robert Rauschenberg, whose “Star in Motion” (1982) served as the official poster for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The display also includes works by Cy Twombly, Rachel Whiteread, and many others.
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“The Art of the Olympics” is not only about the artistic interpretation of sports but also about the cultural significance of the Olympic Games in contemporary society. This initiative also follows a gallery tradition of engaging with key events in the city, as seen in the 2019 “An Exhibition for Notre-Dame” at rue de Ponthieu. The exhibition will be accessible to the public throughout the summer, coinciding with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the display at rue de Castiglione visible from the street 24 hours a day.
The exhibition supports a noble cause. A portion of the proceeds from sales will be donated to the Olympic Refuge Foundation, an NGO established by the International Olympic Committee in 2017. Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the foundation focuses on the protection, development, and thriving of displaced young people worldwide through the power of sport.
The Olympic Museum, located in Lausanne, is the world’s largest repository of Olympic heritage, encompassing artifacts, archives, images, books, and films. Through its international exhibitions and educational initiatives, the museum connects people with the history and culture of the Olympic Games.
