Exhibitions to see in Paris in May
May promises to be packed with exciting exhibitions in Paris. Between divine sculptures, iconic rock, humanist photography and scientific exploration, this month’s exhibitions will take you on a journey without leaving the capital.
Angkor in majesty at the Musée Guimet
Head for ancient Cambodia with the exhibition “Bronzes royaux d’Angkor, un art du divin”, on view from April 30 to September 8, 2025 at the Musée Guimet. This major exhibition features almost 200 Khmer works, mainly from the collections of the National Museum of Cambodia, in an exceptional partnership with its Ministry of Culture.
The masterpiece? A reclining statue of Vishnu found in 1936, a monumental vestige of the Western Mebon. The chronologically structured tour explores the evolution of sacred metallurgy from the 9th century to the present day. It highlights the duality between Hinduism and Buddhism in Khmer art, and the central role of royal power in the commissioning of bronzes.
Some of the pieces presented are freshly exhumed, making the experience both archaeological and spiritual. Bronze, an alloy of copper, tin and lead, here becomes a symbol of power and faith, a transcendental medium magnificently on display.
David Bowie, the icon revisited at MR8
Radical change of universe with “David Bowie, Mr Jones’ Long Hair”, on view at Galerie MR8 from March 22 to June 22, 2025. This unprecedented photo exhibition plunges into Bowie’s intimacy through more than 70 rare shots, some of them never seen before, by Michel Haddi, Denis O’Regan and Philippe Auliac.
Conceived as a poetic narrative, this exhibition is enriched by texts by David Lawrence, told through the fictional voice of Terry Burns, Bowie’s half-brother. This narrative device offers a sensitive and psychological reading of the Bowie myth, between music, cinema, theater and literature.
Cult tracks played during the exhibition, a never-before-seen short film, portraits of his icons (Warhol, Lennon, Dali…): the gallery becomes a veritable temple of sound and vision, far removed from the conventional retrospective. Please note: admission is €18, but the immersive experience is worth every penny for fans. One of our favorite exhibitions.
Robert Doisneau at the height of manhood at the Musée Maillol
Until October 12, 2025, the Musée Maillol celebrates Robert Doisneau with “Instants donnés”, a river retrospective of over 400 photographs spanning fifty years of creative work. From the Parisian suburbs to the editorial offices of Vogue, this exhibition embraces the work of a photographer often wrongly perceived as purely sentimental.
Here, his vision is more complex, sometimes political, often critical, always poetic. We discover his staging of everyday life, his taste for the margins, and his discreet commitment. Behind the apparent lightness, a deeper Doisneau emerges, exploring social contrasts with tender irony.
The chronologically structured tour reveals the artist’s aesthetic and ethical mutations. A must-see for anyone interested in working-class Paris, social history or photographic art.
A bare planet at the Natural History Museum
Finally, set course for the planet’s extremes with “Déserts”, a major immersive exhibition at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, on view until November 30, 2025. Through over 200 specimens, large-format images and multimedia devices, the museum reveals the biodiversity and unsuspected richness of the world’s desert zones.
From the Sahara to the icy poles, via salt and rock deserts, we explore species adaptation strategies, human presence in extreme conditions, and the consequences of climate disruption on these fragile environments.
The exhibition stands out for its spectacular scenography, immersive video projections and educational scope, adapted to young audiences without sacrificing scientific depth. All this in the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, an already mythical venue. Among the most interesting exhibitions to do with children.
Also read: Carolina Herrera opens an ultra-glamorous ephemeral coffee shop in Paris’ Marais district
