Exhibition "Not All Columns Have a Heart of Stone" Palais de Tokyo, from October 21, 2026, to January 10, 2027

What to expect

Immerse yourself in the distinctive world of Céleste Richard-Zimmermann with the exhibition “Not All Columns Have a Heart of Stone”, a fascinating artistic proposition that invites visitors to look differently at monuments, materials and symbols that shape our collective memory. Presented at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, this contemporary art exhibition offers a visual and intellectual experience in which sculpture, installation and historical narratives come together to question our relationship with the past and forms of power.

Through works that are sometimes monumental in scale, the artist transforms familiar reference points and challenges what appears solid, lasting or immutable. Columns, architectural structures and fragments of monuments become subjects for reflection on the fragility of human constructions, the transformation of societies and the way symbols evolve over time. This approach offers visitors an opportunity to discover original contemporary art capable of arousing curiosity, surprise and new interpretations.

Whether you are passionate about art, enjoy cultural discoveries or are simply curious to experience something different in Paris, this exhibition invites you to take the time to observe, feel and reflect. Each work contributes to a journey that encourages a personal reading of shapes and materials, without imposing a single way of understanding what is presented.

Discover an artistic experience that challenges appearances

An artist who transforms shapes and ideas

Born in 1993 in Mulhouse and a graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, Céleste Richard-Zimmermann has developed an artistic practice combining installations, sculptures and visual narratives. Her work focuses in particular on monumental representations, traces left by history and the mechanisms that give objects their apparent authority.

In this exhibition, materials play an essential role. Stone, plaster, copper and polystyrene are used to create unexpected connections between appearance and reality. Some forms evoke ancient structures, while others seem fragile, altered or diverted from their original purpose. These contrasts invite us to question our perception: is what appears massive necessarily solid? Does what seems ancient always retain the same meaning?

The artist is also interested in details that are often overlooked, such as manufacturing marks, inscriptions and signs of wear. These elements become clues that help us imagine the history of objects and the transformations they have undergone. The result is an artistic world that combines close observation, the subversion of traditional conventions and freedom of interpretation.

Sculptures and installations that challenge the viewer

The exhibition brings together several forms of artistic expression, including sculptures, bas-reliefs, paintings and a sound creation. This diversity helps make the exhibition route dynamic and multiplies the perspectives from which its themes can be explored.

Among the works associated with the project is Grand’Ensemble (2024), a monumental creation in graphited polystyrene that draws on the conventions of architecture and imposing structures. Its considerable dimensions alter the perception of space and highlight the contrast between its monumental appearance and the nature of the material used.

Tout coule (Panta Rhei) (2023-2024), meanwhile, explores the transformation of forms through an installation composed of slabs and sculpted plant elements. This work evokes a world in motion, in which appearances change and nothing remains entirely the same.

With Martyre décorum (2021), the artist continues to explore monumental representations through a large polystyrene bas-relief. This creation contributes to a reflection on images of power, decorative settings and forms that endure across different eras.

These works make it possible to appreciate the diversity of techniques used by Céleste Richard-Zimmermann and the way she repurposes materials to renew our perspective on the objects and structures around us.

A reflection on memory, monuments and power

Beyond their aesthetic dimension, the works on display address questions relating to history and collective memory. Monuments are often designed to preserve a memory, assert authority or embody shared values. Yet their meaning can evolve, be challenged or disappear as social and political circumstances change.

By imagining, in particular, an abandoned stone quarry and a large broken column, the artist suggests a landscape in which traditional symbols lose some of their self-evidence. Architectural fragments are no longer merely witnesses to a glorious past: they become elements of a history in transformation.

This approach invites everyone to reflect on how societies choose what they wish to preserve, pass on or reinterpret. It also demonstrates that artistic creation can open a dialogue between different generations and different ways of understanding the world.

The exhibition's appeal therefore lies in its ability to combine a visual experience with deeper reflection. Visitors can appreciate the shapes, textures and volumes while discovering questions that extend beyond the realm of art.

Palais de Tokyo: an essential contemporary art venue in Paris

Located at 13 avenue du Président-Wilson, in Paris's 16th arrondissement, the Palais de Tokyo provides a particularly suitable setting for discovering this exhibition. Known for its commitment to contemporary creation, this venue welcomes artists with diverse approaches and offers cultural experiences that encourage curiosity and open-mindedness.

The building's architecture and spacious areas make it possible to display works of different sizes and create exhibition routes that invite visitors to explore the relationships between artworks and their surroundings. A visit to the exhibition can therefore form part of a day of cultural discovery in Paris, alone, with family, with friends or as part of a group.

Its location also makes it possible to enjoy a walk around the neighbourhood, close to the Seine and several of the capital's iconic sites. This outing therefore offers an opportunity to combine artistic discovery with exploring Paris.

Why book your tickets in advance?

Booking your tickets is a practical way to organise your visit and choose the date that best fits your schedule. For a temporary exhibition such as this one, planning ahead allows you to prepare your journey, coordinate participants' availability and set aside enough time to enjoy the experience.

Booking is particularly useful if you are planning a family activity, an outing with friends or a day devoted to culture. It helps you organise your schedule more effectively and plan your budget before arriving.

By choosing your tickets in advance, you can also include this exhibition in a broader itinerary featuring other cultural or tourist attractions in the capital. However, it is advisable to check the available dates and applicable conditions at the time of purchase.

This exhibition deserves your attention for its original approach and the diversity of the works on display. It appeals both to people who are already familiar with contemporary art and to visitors wishing to discover new forms of expression. Its distinctive world offers an opportunity to step away from conventional cultural routes and enjoy an enriching experience.

Ticket prices and admission conditions

To prepare for your visit, several pricing categories should be taken into consideration. The general prices communicated for the Palais de Tokyo are as follows:

• Full-price ticket: €13 per person.

• Reduced-price ticket: €9 for eligible visitors, including certain students, people aged 18–25 and visitors over 60, subject to the applicable conditions.

• Free admission: in particular for visitors under 18 and certain other categories of visitors who meet the eligibility criteria.

Proof of eligibility may be requested for reduced-price tickets or free admission. Admission conditions should therefore be checked before booking.

These prices correspond to the general pricing schedule stated for the venue and are subject to change. The price actually offered at the time of purchase should be considered the reference for your order. Remember also to check any booking fees and the conditions for changes or cancellations before confirming your purchase.

Visit dates and opening hours

The exhibition is announced as running from 21 October 2026 to 10 January 2027. This limited period makes it a cultural experience worth including in your Paris itinerary during autumn or the festive season.

The usual opening hours communicated for the Palais de Tokyo are as follows:

• Monday: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Wednesday: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Thursday: 12 p.m. to midnight.

• Friday: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Saturday: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Sunday: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Tuesday: usual closing day.

Special opening hours may apply on public holidays and during the year-end festive season. It is advisable to check the available visiting time slot when booking.

To make the most of the exhibition, allow enough time to observe the works, appreciate the details of the materials and explore the various installations at your own pace. As the visit duration is not specified in the available information, adapt your schedule to your interest in the works and the other activities planned for the day.

How do you get to the Palais de Tokyo?

The Palais de Tokyo is easily accessible by public transport from various parts of Paris. To get there, you can take metro line 9 and get off at Iéna or Alma-Marceau stations. Several bus routes also serve the area, including routes 32, 42, 63, 72, 80, 82 and 92.

The RER C, with a stop at Pont de l’Alma, is another option for reaching the surrounding area. Visitors travelling by bicycle can also use the self-service bicycle stations located in the neighbourhood.

If you are travelling by car, remember to plan ahead for parking and check the available options nearby. For visitors with reduced mobility, the venue provides accessibility facilities, including wheelchairs available on loan upon request. It is still preferable to arrange any specific requirements before your visit.

A cultural outing to share

“Not All Columns Have a Heart of Stone” offers an opportunity to discover the work of a contemporary artist whose creations question appearances, materials and collective narratives. The diversity of the works makes it possible to approach the exhibition from different angles: artistic, architectural, historical or simply sensory.

For families, groups of friends and visitors passing through Paris, this exhibition can become a shared moment of discovery. Everyone can observe the works in their own way, compare impressions and develop their own interpretation of the installations.

Photography, sculpture and contemporary art enthusiasts will particularly appreciate the interplay of volumes, textures and contrasts between materials. Visitors less familiar with this artistic world, meanwhile, can enjoy an approach that stimulates observation and encourages questions without requiring any prior artistic knowledge.

Book your visit now

Do not miss the opportunity to discover “Not All Columns Have a Heart of Stone”, an exhibition that offers a fresh perspective on monuments and the symbols that run through our history. Combining monumental sculptures, original installations and reflection on collective memory, Céleste Richard-Zimmermann's exhibition promises a distinctive cultural experience in the heart of Paris.

Choose the date that suits you, check the available prices and book your tickets to plan your outing with peace of mind. Whether you want to enrich your stay in Paris, share a cultural activity or discover a contemporary artist, this exhibition invites you to take the time to look differently at what seems immutable.

Prepare your visit and book your tickets to discover a world where shapes, materials and ideas come together to tell a different story about monuments.

Customers also bought

€16.50

"Henri Cartier-Bresson" Exhibition

"Henri Cartier-Bresson" Exhibition

€17.50

Exhibition "Jenny Holzer — I Saw"

Exhibition "Jenny Holzer — I Saw"

€13

Exhibition "Heritage in Resistance – From Timbuktu to Odessa"

Exhibition "Heritage in Resistance – From Timbuktu to Odessa"

€19.50

Exhibition “Renaissance: Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo”

Exhibition “Renaissance: Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo”

€13

Exhibition "The Great Ages"

Exhibition "The Great Ages"

€14

Exhibition "Séraphine de Senlis"

Exhibition "Séraphine de Senlis"

€28

Aura Invalides

€15

Space Mission