Orlan's Louvre Lectures Explore Body, Art, and Technology
Orlan, a French multidisciplinary artist renowned for her 1990s endeavor 'The Reincarnation of Saint Orlan,' during which she surgically transformed her face to mirror historical art figures, has been appointed as the guest lecturer for the Louvre museum's 'Artist Lessons' series in Paris. She will deliver three lectures until September 2026, focusing on the representation, idealization, alteration, and censorship of the body in art. Her second talk, titled 'Naked and Hairless,' scheduled for June 12, 2026, will critique nudes through pieces from the Louvre, such as 'Winged Victory of Samothrace' and 'Liberty Leading the People,' the latter recently censored on social media for displaying a breast. In May, her first lecture addressed the intersection of art, science, and medical technologies. Orlan also engages in 'bio-art' performances and is currently developing a humanoid robot that features her likeness and voice.
Key facts
- Orlan is the 2026 guest lecturer for the Louvre's 'Artist Lessons' series in Paris.
- Her second lecture, 'Naked and Hairless,' is on June 12, 2026.
- The lecture examines nudes using artworks from the Louvre's collection.
- Orlan's 1990s project 'The Reincarnation of Saint Orlan' involved plastic surgery to mimic Mona Lisa, Boucher's Europa, and Botticelli's Venus.
- She has horn-like cheek implants from that project.
- Her first lecture in May was 'The Museum and Art History: Stem Cells of Our New Images.'
- She created 'bio-art' performance 'Harlequin's Coat' using her own cells.
- She is developing a humanoid robot with her face and voice using AI and robotics.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Louve museum
- The New York Times
Locations
- Paris
- France