In brief
- Retrospective exhibition dedicated to Gustave Fayet from 9 October 2026 to 8 March 2027 at the Fondation Louis Vuitton.
- A major presentation bringing together 728 works and documents from 64 institutions and 71 private collections.
- Exceptional display of Vincent Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe, not loaned since 1990.
- Unprecedented presentation of 374 creations by Gustave Fayet, restored for the event.
The Fondation Louis Vuitton is spotlighting the figure of Gustave Fayet from 9 October 2026 to 8 March 2027 through the exhibition “Gustave Fayet. Collector – Creator”. This ambitious project occupies the entire building to reveal the journey of one of the major champions of modern art at the turn of the 20th century. The event brings together 728 works and documents thanks to loans from 64 international institutions and 71 private collections, whilst showcasing the artist’s personal creations in the decorative arts.
A major Impressionist and modern collection
Displayed across three levels of the Fondation, the section dedicated to the collection brings together an exceptional selection of leading works. The exhibition features 10 paintings by Vincent Van Gogh, 78 works by Paul Gauguin and 86 creations by Odilon Redon, alongside canvases signed by Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Berthe Morisot, Paul Signac, Pierre Bonnard, Édouard Vuillard and Henri Matisse.
The return of a Van Gogh masterpiece
Impressionist and modern masterpieces
One of the main highlights of the exhibition is the presentation of Vincent Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe. This masterpiece by Van Gogh has not been exhibited in France since 1937 and has not been on loan since 1990. The painting will enter into a direct dialogue with Paul Gauguin’s Self-Portrait with Palette, offering a historic confrontation between these two figures of modernity.
Three Gauguin canvases reunited for the first time
The event also marks the unprecedented gathering in France of three iconic works by Paul Gauguin that once belonged to Fayet and his inner circle. The Yellow Christ, Portrait of the Artist with the Yellow Christ and The Breton Calvary are brought together in the same space. These three major pieces illustrate the decisive role played by the collector and his Languedoc circle in the evolution of Gauguin’s oeuvre.
The mythical decor of Fontfroide Abbey
An exceptional scenography designed by Robert Carsen
Another highlight of the scenography designed by Robert Carsen involves the presentation of large panels by Odilon Redon. The works Day, Night and Silence, painted for the library of Fontfroide Abbey, are unveiled to the public. Acquired in 1908 by Gustave Fayet, this Cistercian site had been conceived by the collector as a total work of art.
Ceramic and pictorial work on the top floor
The top floor of the building is devoted to the creator’s personal work, curated by Angeline Scherf. The display features 49 ceramics, 87 watercolours on blotting paper and 10 fully restored illustrated books. As early as 1896, Fayet established a stoneware workshop in Béziers with the sculptor Louis Paul, quickly attracting the attention of the famous Parisian art dealer Siegfried Bing.
From blotting paper to haute couture rugs
From decorative arts to haute couture rugs
From 1912 onwards, the artist developed a unique technique of watercolour on blotting paper, exploiting the accidental shapes of the medium. In 1920, Fayet founded the Atelier de la Dauphine in Paris to adapt his botanical motifs into art carpets. His creations captivated the leading figures of the era, including Paul Poiret, Jacques Doucet, Jeanne Lanvin and the Maharaja of Indore.
