Leandro Erlich's Illusion-Filled Retrospective Opens at Grand Palais

The Grand Palais in Paris presents a major retrospective of Argentine artist Leandro Erlich (born 1973), curated by Fabrice Bousteau, director of Beaux Arts Magazine. The exhibition, running from June 2 to September 6, 2026, features immersive architectural-scale works that engage visitors through optical illusions and participatory experiences. Highlights include Port of Reflections (2014), a mirrored installation of floating boats; Infinite Staircase (2020), a horizontal staircase creating a sense of floating; and Bâtiment (2004), where visitors lie on a building facade to see themselves suspended in a giant mirror. Erlich's work also addresses serious themes: Window and Ladder – Too Late for Help (2008) was inspired by Hurricane Katrina (2005), reflecting on memorials and trauma. A political piece from 1994 reproduces the Obelisk of Buenos Aires in metal, relocated to a working-class suburb. The exhibition includes a significant section of maquettes, which Erlich describes as preserving ephemeral installations and activating the imagination. The show contrasts with the contemplative atmosphere of simultaneous Matisse and Hilma af Klint exhibitions at the same venue.