American Friends Musées d’Orsay et de l’Orangerie

01/14/2025

Yesterday morning, AFMO returned to the Fondation Louis Vuitton for a private guided tour of the latest exhibition, “Pop Forever. Tom Wesselmann and More…”, before the opening hours.

As one of the most iconic figures of American pop art, this retrospective pays homage to the revolutionary wave of American art that emerged throughout the 1960s, mainly explores how Wesselmann challenged traditional artistic norms by embracing everyday objects, commercial imagery, and bold visual styles. From vibrant still lifes to unique depictions of the human form, the works on display exemplify the dynamic energy and optimism of postwar American culture, forever changing the landscape of the art world.

For more upcoming AFMO visits and events, please visit our website, linked in bio.

01/07/2025

Yesterday morning, AFMO kicked off the 2025 season with a special final visit to “Caillebotte. Painting men” before the exhibition closes on January 19th.

To honor the 130th’s anniversary of the artist’s death, this retrospective revisits themes that underline the radical modernity of his works. As a keen observer of the social and urban transformations of his time, Caillebotte’s paintings question the social order in a soon to be changing world.

With an exciting itinerary ahead, please visit our website to learn more about AFMO’s upcoming events. We look forward to welcoming you soon.

01/06/2025

Happy New Year from all of us at AFMO!

This month, we are delighted to offer a couple of special visits to kick off 2025. Among the highlights is an exclusive opportunity to explore the “Caillebotte. Painting Men” one last time before it closes.

To learn more about our upcoming events on both sides of the Atlantic this year, please visit our website, linked in bio. Stay tuned for more details and we look forward to seeing you soon.

12/10/2024

Yesterday morning, AFMO organized an exclusive patron pass tour of the exhibition “Harriet Backer (1845-1932). The music of colors” at .

Harriet Backer, a prominent Norwegian painter of the late 19th century, is celebrated for her rich, luminous use of color and her unique style that blends interior scenes with open-air painting. She drew inspiration from both the realist movement and the innovations of Impressionism, focusing on intimate depictions of domestic life and rural settings.

On display from September 24, 2024, to January 12, 2025, the Musée d’Orsay’s exhibition marks the first comprehensive presentation of Backer’s work in France, highlighting her contributions to Norwegian art and her connections with the Parisian avant-garde.

To support AFMO Year-end Appeal and to learn more about upcoming events and visits, please visit our website, linked in bio.

12/04/2024

On Tuesday morning, AFMO and Guillaume Fabius, curator of , welcomed our members for the exhibition “Heinz Berggruen, a dealer and his collection”.

From the early 20th century until his death in 2007, the German dealer-collector was a fixture in the Parisian art market. Buoyed by a robust network of artists, poets, dealers, historians, critics, and collectors, he amassed an impressive collection of masterpieces which he donated to the German state shortly before his death. This collection includes works by Picasso, Klee, Matisse, and Giacometti, which form the core of the Musée de l’Orangerie’s autumn exhibition. This vibrant exhibition showcases these artists through monographs and thematic displays, which reflect Berggruen’s personal affinities and choices.

For more information on upcoming AFMO activities and if you wish to support our 2024 Year-end Appeal, please visit our website, linked in bio.

12/01/2024

As we approaches the end of 2024, AFMO is ending an eventful season filled with remarkable moments. This year, AFMO’s year-end appeal campaign will support the newly bilingual “Holidays at the Orsay” (Les vacances à Orsay) program for budding artists and art amateurs, to be held during school holidays from Fall 2024 to Summer 2025. For more information, please visit our website, linked in bio.

2024 Holiday Season🎄🎉
The AFMO offices will be closed from December 21, 2024 to January 5, 2025.

If you are planning to travel to Paris and wish to join AFMO or renew your membership (and enjoy skip-the-line access to both museums and their exhibitions), please anticipate so the cards can be printed, mailed and delivered in due times.

Please remember to check the museums’ websites for opening hours: both Orsay and Orangerie museums will close early on December 24 and December 31. They will be closed on Christmas Day

11/26/2024

This November, AFMO had the privilege of hosting a series of events for our patrons. In Paris, we had the privilege od hosting two guided visits to the 2024 editions of and , both hosted at the newly reopened .

At the Musée d’Orsay, we explored the captivating exhibitions of Harriet Backer and Gustave Caillebotte. A moment of reflection followed as we paid our respects at the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Cemetery, honoring the legacy of the American volunteers who served during WWI. In New York, welcomed our members, offering a perfect cultural prelude to the holiday season.

For more informations on upcoming AFMO tours and activities, or to support our 2024 Year-end Appeal, please visit our website. linked in bio.

11/04/2024

After an eventful gala weekend, AFMO members and patrons enjoyed exclusive visits to two remarkable exhibitions at Musée d’Orsay: “Caillebotte. Painting men”and “Harriet Backer. The music of colors”.

Gustave Caillebotte’s modern explorations of masculinity contrast beautifully with Harriet Backer’s intimate, luminous interiors, forming a unique dialogue that celebrates Impressionism’s far-reaching influence and innovation.

For more information about AFMO, please visit our website and other social medias, linked in bio.

11/01/2024

After a successful gala weekend, AFMO is delighted to announce an exciting lineup of exclusive tours and visits scheduled for November. Members and patrons will have the opportunity to engage with museums, galleries, and art fairs.

Stay tuned for more details, and don’t miss the chance to be part of these enriching cultural experiences with AFMO. For more info, visit our website and other social medias, linked in bio.

10/24/2024

As part of our annual celebration of French-American friendship, HE Denise Campbell Bauer welcomed us back to the US Ambassador’s residence for an exclusive cocktail event prepared by the students of

Merci to our sponsors for their continuous supports.

📸 , Francois-Xavier Watine

10/22/2024

From October 17th-20th, AFMO guests arrived from different corners of the world in celebration of and .

This year, the AFMO annual benefit weekend began with a welcome cocktail held at . The guests not only enjoyed an elegant reception, but also a private viewing of the newly opened “Heinz Berggruen. A Dealer and his Collection” exhibition.

We are very grateful for their continued supports.

10/02/2024

AFMO members are invited to a selection of events and private tours this October, including the AFMO annual benefit weekend.

For more information, please visit our website (link in bio).

09/19/2024

07/29/2024

Museum with a view. Celebrating Olympic friendship in style.

07/12/2024

2024, The Impressionist Season. Gustave Caillebotte (1848-1894). «Les Soleils, Jardin du Petit Gennevilliers»

Gustave Caillebotte, an important figure in the Impressionist movement, often drew inspiration from his surroundings, and his garden at Petit Gennevilliers was a frequent subject. This particular work captures the lush, natural beauty of the garden with meticulous detail, showcasing Caillebotte’s skill in rendering light and texture. The composition includes a house and other buildings in the background, adding a sense of depth and domestic tranquility to the scene.

Emile Zola’s notion that « the work of art is a corner of nature seen through a temperament » resonates deeply with Caillebotte’s approach. The painting renders a scene that goes beyond mere representation to express the personality and emotions of its creator.

For Caillebotte, the role of an artist, like that of the gardener, is as much to magnify as to subject nature to his well, paralleling the horticultural passions of his friend Claude Monet. Both artists shared an enthusiasm for gardening, which significantly influenced their artistic outputs, infusing their canvases with the colors and forms cultivated in their gardens.

From October 8th, 2024 to January 19th, 2025, Musée d’Orsay will present the exhibition « Caillebotte. Peindre les hommes”.

Credit: 2024, The Impressionist Season. Gustave Caillebotte (1848-1894). «Les Soleils, Jardin du Petit Gennevilliers». © Musée d’Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt