'The spirit of the new Fondation Cartier is not that of a cathedral where one must always do more, always bigger'

Chris Dercon, in June 2025. THIBAUT VOISIN

Founded in 1984 in Jouy-en-Josas, a southwestern suburb of Paris, the Fondation Cartier took a major step in 1994 by moving into Paris, into Jean Nouvel's glass-walled building on Boulevard Raspail in the 14th arrondissement. Today, it is entering a new chapter by settling into the former Louvre des antiquaires, on Place du Palais-Royal, also redesigned by Nouvel. Just days ahead of its opening on Saturday, October 25, its director general, Chris Dercon – who served as president of the RMN-GP, the institution overseeing France's national museums and the Grand Palais from 2019 to 2023 – hopes to triple visitor numbers.

How do you see this new chapter in the history of the Fondation Cartier? Is it about continuity or a break with the past?

You have 89.4% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.