Francis Kurkdjian Retraces his Olfactory Journey at the Palais de Tokyo
From October 29th to November 23rd, 2025, the Palais de Tokyo is celebrating Francis Kurkdjian’s career with a unique retrospective. In collaboration with Marc Chaya, co-founder of Maison Francis Kurkdjian in 2009, Francis Kurkdjian has pushed the boundaries of olfactory expression beyond conventions and commercial imperatives. His perfumes are conceived as immaterial sculptures, like works of art in which scent is the raw material. The exhibition offers a multisensory experience, featuring heritage creations, olfactory installations and scented objects. These pieces have been reinterpreted or imagined by Francis Kurkdjian in collaboration with various artists, including Sophie Calle, Yann Toma, Cyril Teste, Christelle Boulé and Klaus Mäkelä. Among the new creations on display is “The Alchemy of the Senses”, an immersive installation inspired by the famous Baccarat Rouge 540 perfume. For those interested, in addition to the exhibition, a series of lectures and masterclasses explores perfume as an artistic medium and its influence on our perception of art and the world.
At the opening, we met Anne-Sophie Pic, Sophie Calle, Michèle Laroque, Pat Chaveesak and Stephen Jones.
Photo: Astrid Staes & Jean Picon
