Photo : Paris Musées / Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris © Mariella Simoni
Mariella Simoni
Discover the raw energy of Mariella Simoni, an artist whose canvases document a lifetime of movement across cities and creative mediums. You will love how her recent work strips back the layers to explore new textures and spatial forms in this rare collection.
Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris (Paris 16th)
About
The Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris presents an exhibition dedicated to Mariella Simoni, a key figure in contemporary art. This show highlights her transition to painting in 1982 and her ongoing experimentation with textures, colors, and volumes throughout her global travels. From her expressive canvases to her sculptural installations, the work showcases an intense creative process shaped by her connections with the Vienna art scene and her international residencies. Please note that this exhibition is free of charge and fully accessible, including to visitors with disabilities or sensory impairments.
Her transition to painting in 1982 can be seen as an extension of these questionings into the pictorial space. The material in her paintings retains this same vitality. The traces of the artist's gestures, the sedimentation of paint layers, testify to the sometimes long temporality of their conception. She moved to Vienna at that time and connected with several artists who shared her concerns, such as Herbert Brandl, Otto Zitko, close to the Junge Wilde, or Franz West. She participated in several exhibitions organized at Peter Pakesch's gallery, and was later invited to exhibit at Documenta IX, an international contemporary art event in Kassel in 1992.
An artist in motion, Mariella Simoni's work evolves throughout the cities where she stays: Athens, Paris, Ghent, New York... She occasionally turns to sculpture or installation. The variations in formats, media, dominant colors, and contrasts constantly challenge her practice, as shown by her recent productions, which manifest a greater economy in the use of materials and a different relationship with relief. The presentation of this set of works, newly acquired from the artist and Peter Pakesch, bears witness to the intensity of this artistic research.
Our take on this event
Located in the 16th arrondissement, the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris showcases a collection of works recently acquired from the artist and Peter Pakesch. The exhibition explores Mariella Simoni’s artistic journey, starting from her early period in Vienna alongside figures like Herbert Brandl and Franz West, to her more recent, minimalist productions. Visitors can observe how she masterfully handles layers of paint and the duration of the creative process.
The exhibition reflects the artist’s nomadic life, with her work evolving through her time spent in cities such as Athens, New York, and Ghent. You will encounter a variety of formats, including sculptures and installations that rethink the relationship between relief and surface. The museum welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, between October 2, 2026, and January 3, 2027.
In terms of accessibility, the venue is fully equipped to accommodate wheelchair users, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, visitors who are blind or partially sighted, and those with cognitive disabilities. Sign language services are also available to ensure an inclusive experience for all.
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