Permanent collection
La Fondation Maeght welcomes visitors to a unique and timeless place in which art, architecture and nature exist in harmony together. Working in collaboration with Catalan architect Josep Lluís Sert, world-leading painters and sculptors created works for La Fondation that are integrated into his building, and into its natural surroundings. The complex ranges across internal and exterior spaces, from a sculpture garden, courtyards, terraces and patios, to exhibition rooms, a chapel, a library and a bookshop. La Fondation owns one of the largest collection in Europe of paintings, sculptures, drawings and graphic arts of the 20th century (Bonnard, Braque, Calder, Chagall, Giacometti, Hepworth, Kandinsky, Léger, Miró, Richier, Tal Coat, Ubac …) but also, contemporary artists such as Adami, Bergmann, Calzolari, Chillida, Christo, Del Re, Garouste, Hartung, Immendorff, Kelly, Lam, Mitchell, Monory, Takis, Tàpies.
Sculpture garden
The beautifully landscaped sculpture garden was conceived to house modern and contemporary art in all its forms. On entering, visitors encounter ceramics by Fernand Léger, a playful fountain by Pol Bury, a monumental Alexander Calder stabile and a wind sculpture by Takis. Works by Jean Arp, Eduardo Chillida, Erik Dietman, Barbara Hepworth and Joan Miró are also presented in seasonal rotation. Other works are directly integrated into the buildings, including a monumental mosaic on the outer wall created by Pierre Tal-Coat, and Marc Chagall’s mosaic Les Amoureux (The Lovers) installed on the wall of the bookshop and the pool Les Poissons (The Fish) by Georges Braque
The Saint-Bernard chapel, 1964
The chapel dedicated to St Bernard is a consecrated building, and contains a carved Spanish crucifix from the 12th century, offered by Cristobal Balenciaga. A slate relief Stations of the Cross by Raoul Ubac and a magnificent stained-glass window by Georges Braque, Oiseau Blanc (White Bird).
The Giacometti Courtyard
The courtyard features an exceptional group of plaster sculptures by Alberto Giacometti – Homme qui marche I and II (Walking Man I and II), Femme debout I and II(Standing Woman I and II) and Grande tête (Large Head), made between 1959 and 1960. The works were commissioned for the Chase Manhattan Bank plaza in New York, but when that project was abandoned, the sculptures came to the Fondation Maeght. He himself chose the location of each of the sculptures.
The Miró Labyrinth
This magical site-specific work was devised by Catalan artist Joan Miró with the help of his ceramicist friends, father and son Josep Llorens Artigas and Joan Gardy Artigas. Incorporating ceramic, Carrara marble, iron, bronze and concrete, the monumental piece brings sculpture, architecture and nature together. The Labyrinth is explored by following a white line painted on the walls, representing Ariadne’s thread from Greek legend, before visitors come face-to-face with fantastical animals from Miró’s personal mythology.
New Galleries
Through these new 500 m² galleries, inaugurated in July 2024, the Fondation Maeght invites visitors to rediscover its permanent collection, where the masterpieces of modern and contemporary art find an exceptional setting. In these luminous, refined spaces, visitors can admire iconic works by some of the greatest artists of the 20th century, including Georges Braque, pioneer of Cubism; Fernand Léger, with his vibrant compositions; and Joan Miró, master of dreamlike and poetic forms.
The journey continues with the powerful abstraction of Ellsworth Kelly, the lyrical and colorful canvases of Joan Mitchell, and the exuberant creations of Jean Paul Riopelle. Hans Hartung, with his energetic gestures and dynamic lines, is presented alongside Pierre Soulages, whose celebrated Outrenoirs reveal the profound depth of light within darkness. The pictorial experiments of Wassily Kandinsky, father of abstract art, stand beside the groundbreaking works of Jean Dubuffet, pioneer of Art Brut, and Bram Van Velde.
Additional highlights include works by Eduardo Chillida, Christo, Nicolas de Staël, Simon Hantaï, Sam Francis, and many more.
These new galleries, designed with particular attention to the dialogue between artworks, architecture, and the surrounding landscape, perpetuate the spirit of Josep Lluís Sert. They harmoniously showcase the collections while preserving the subtle balance between art, nature, and architecture that has always been at the heart of the Fondation Maeght’s vision.
Architect Silvio d’Ascia, who designed the extension, emphasizes the sensitive and respectful approach adopted for the project: “The extension of the Fondation Maeght is an ‘invisible’ project!” he affirms. “Two new galleries have been discreetly inserted beneath the two outdoor courtyards dedicated to Miró and Giacometti, within the stone base on which Sert had raised the original building. Nothing needed to be added—on the contrary, something had to be subtracted—in order to preserve the purity and harmony of this unique ensemble.”
This extension integrates seamlessly into the Fondation Maeght, offering visitors an enhanced experience of its collections.
To explore the new galleries located on Level -2, please descend via the main staircase and pass through the bibliophilia room. The new spaces are also accessible via the elevator (PRM access).
Artist’s Books
Artist’s Books at the Fondation are now on public display! A selection of works from Aimé Maeght’s library can be discovered in the newly opened spaces of the Fondation Maeght, with touchscreen tablets available for consultation. These specially designed digital presentations, created by the company Tema, allow visitors to explore each book page by page, at their own pace.
A passionate bibliophile, Aimé Maeght assembled one of the most important private libraries in France. A publisher and lithographer by profession, he always nurtured a profound love for art editions. Enthralled by paper, typography, and the book as an object, he conceived the idea of bringing together painters, writers, and poets of his time within a single medium, thus uniting words and images. He bequeathed to the Fondation his personal collection, which bears witness to this extraordinary collaboration between artists, writers, and poets who shaped the cultural life of the 20th century.
We are also pleased to present a selection from the Naggar bibliophilic collection. The Fondation Maeght welcomes this ensemble, many of whose artists also collaborated with Aimé Maeght, highlighting a shared passion for artist’s books.
With the continued support of the Ministry of Culture, Marion and Guy Naggar, and Tema, the digitization of several works is currently underway. Titles already available can be consulted on site via tablets, or, upon request (bibliotheque@fondation-maeght.com), provided in PDF format.
Miró – A toute épreuve
Picasso – Le Chant des Morts
Tal Coat – Laisses
Bonnard – Parallèlement
Bonnard – Prométhée
Bonnard – Lithographe
Matisse – Pasiphaé
Chagall – Les Sept péchés capitaux
Bonnard – Dingo
Bonnard – Daphnis et Chloé
Bonnard – Notes sur l’amour
Miró – L’Issue dérobée
Miró – Le miroir de l’homme par les bêtes
Miró – Anti-Platon
Miró – La lumière de la lame
Miró – Saccades
Miró – Adonides
Miró – Sans le soleil
Miró – Le courtisan grotesque
Miró – Parler seul
Miró – Flux de l’aimant
Miró – Il était une petite pie
Miró – Joan Miró et l’émancipation définitive de la queue du chat
Miró – Les pénalités de l’enfer
Miró – Fissures
Miró – Lapidari
Hélène Delprat – Pamphagus et Hylactor
Collection Duos – Klasen – Musée de chair
Collection Duos – De Rougemont – Eloge de la nuit
Collection Duos – Rower – Jaw law
Collection Duos – Arroyo – Garibay
Collection Duos – Martinez – Seulement
Collection Duos – Segui – Le promeneur de Cordobà
Collection Duos – Fromanger – Attitude noire
Collection Duos – Bioulès – Au fond du jardin
Collection Duos – Stämpfli – A l’horizontale
