French gallery owner Kamel Mennour is donating 180 artworks to the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris. The donation includes pieces by 45 artists and represents both the history of his gallery and works from his personal collection.
The Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, often called MAM, stands as one of the city’s leading institutions for art from the 20th and 21st centuries. According to a statement from Mennour’s gallery, this group of works shows the variety and strength of the gallery’s exhibitions since it opened in 1999.
The museum confirmed that the donated works will become part of its permanent collection once they are approved by Paris Musées and the French government. This means the artworks will stay in the museum for the long term and be available to the public in future exhibitions.
Key Takeaways
- French art dealer Kamel Mennour is donating 180 works by 45 artists to the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris.
- The gift includes renowned names such as Anish Kapoor, Zineb Sedira, and Daniel Buren, and will be displayed in 2027.
- The donation honors Mennour’s 25-year gallery legacy and reflects a growing shift in private cultural philanthropy in France.
Donation Features Works by 45 Artists
The donation features artists who have shown regularly with Kamel Mennour’s gallery. Some of the best-known names in the donation are Alicja Kwade, Zineb Sedira, Anish Kapoor, Daniel Buren, Ugo Rondinone, Lee Ufan, Douglas Gordon, Camille Henrot, Huang Yong Ping, Tadashi Kawamata, and Philippe Parreno.
Kamel Mennour opened his first gallery in 1999 in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a neighborhood in Paris. Since then, he has opened three more spaces, all located on the Left Bank of the city. Unlike some other gallery owners, he has chosen not to open any galleries abroad, explaining that this decision was based on his desire to stay close to his family.
The list of works being donated is not final yet, and it may still change before the official approval process is complete. The artworks will be selected from both the gallery’s storage and Mennour’spersonal collection.
Museum Exhibition Scheduled for 2027 in ARC Rooms
The donation will be publicly displayed in a large exhibition scheduled for 2027. The Musée d’Art Moderne has offered a dedicated 1,700 square meter (18,300 square foot) space for the event, located on the top floor in the ARC rooms.
A full catalog will be published to accompany the exhibition. This catalog is expected to provide detailed information on the artwork and the significance of the donation. The exhibition plan was developed after Mennour and museum director Fabrice Hergott began reviewing potential works together in 2024.
Mennour said he was inspired by Michael Werner, a German-born, New York-based dealer who donated 127 artworks to the Musée d’Art Moderne in 2012. Mennour made his decision during the 25th anniversary of his gallery in autumn 2024, after considering what to do with the collection he had built over the years.
Museum Director Says Donation Will Strengthen Contemporary Collection
According to museum director Fabrice Hergott, the donation will greatly strengthen the museum’s contemporary collection. The museum has a long history of growing its collection through donations.
In 1961, the museum opened with the help of another major donation, from dealer Maurice Girardin, who gave 533 works by artists like Pablo Picasso, André Derain, and Henri Matisse. When Girardin first offered his collection in 1926, the city turned him down because the art was seen as “too modern.”
In recent years, the museum has continued to grow. Since 2007, it has received more than 800 works, including gifts from the estates of artists Josef Albers and Zao Wou Ki.
Other private donations are also starting to shape public collections in Paris. Gallery owner Emmanuel Perrotin recently gave 23 artworks to the Centre Pompidou, which is currently closed for five years of renovations. Wealthy collectors like Bernard Arnault and François Pinault have also opened their own museums in the city: the Fondation Louis Vuitton and the Bourse de Commerce, respectively.
Museum Hours, Location, and Upcoming Exhibitions
The Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris is located at 11 Avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. On Thursdays, the permanent collections stay open until 9:30 PM. Entry to the permanent collection is free and no reservation is needed. Certain rooms may be temporarily closed during visits.
Upcoming exhibitions at the museum include:
- “Matisse and Marguerite: Through Her Father’s Eyes” from 4 April to 24 August 2025
- “Oliver Beer: Reanimation Paintings – A Thousand Voices” from 4 April to 13 July 2025
- “Gabriele Münter: Painting to the Point” (dates to be announced)
For updates, tickets, or more information, the museum can be reached at +33 1 53 67 40 00, or through its official website.
