Why You Should Visit the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris

Recently, I was lucky enough to see the “Being Modern: MoMa in Paris” exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation. It was my first time visiting this art museum which took eight years to construct and was the brainchild of the Canadian born architect Frank Gehry. This breathtaking building is located in the Bois de Boulogne (16th arrondissement of Paris).

It is a magnificent sight to behold. You are probably familiar with some works by this world-renowned architect, like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao or the Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A. Honestly, no matter which exhibition you come to see at the Foundation, you will be in complete awe of this architectural marvel. First of all, the building resembles a sailboat with inflated sails. Secondly, despite the sturdy materials used, like metal, wood and glass, the building has a light and airy feel to it. Currently the museum is managed as a non-profit by the Louis Vuitton brand and will pass into the hands of the city of Paris in the year 2069 (55 years after opening date).

Being Modern: MoMa in Paris exhibition

To begin with, I want to focus on this amazing exhibition which ran for four months till March 5, 2018. The collection takes you through decades of modern art. It is a mix of visual art like paintings and sculptures, as well as short videos of films and music. Additionally, the artists featured come from all over the world. Some of my favourite pieces were by Jackson Pollock, Mark Bradford and Janet Cardiff (an audio presentation).

The Architecture of the Louis Vuitton Foundation Building

Despite its magnificence, the building has been heavily criticized by the press, both for its huge cost and its unusual look. But Frank Gehry does not do normal. In fact, all his buildings have flare and remain engraved in your memory forever. It is not possible to forget one of his designs. I, for one, fell in love with this building. Take a look and decide for yourself.

Practical Information about visiting the Louis Vuitton Foundation

• Location of the museum: 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Paris.
• You need to reserve at least half a day for your visit, if not longer. First, pre-purchase your tickets here to avoid the lineup.
• As a ticket holder you have access to a 2 euro shuttle to and from the museum. This shuttle runs every 15 minutes from Place de Charles de Gaulle to the museum and back. Be aware, that sometimes the shuttle can run late. It was about 45 minutes late for us.
• There is a restaurant on the premises if you plan on having lunch or dinner there. It is called “Le Frank” and you should probably make a reservation. Its head chef is Jean-Louis Nomicos, a Michelin-starred chef and owner of Les Tablettes, a restaurant on Avenue Bugeaud in Paris.

Au revoir!

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