ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Olafur Eliasson to Transform Versailles with Water, Ice, and Light Installations

exhibition · 2026-05-05

A significant contemporary art exhibition featuring Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson will take place at the Palace of Versailles from June 7 to October 2016. Curated by Alfred Pacquement, this exhibition follows previous works by artists including Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, and Anish Kapoor. Eliasson will create three large outdoor installations in the gardens, focusing on water in its various forms: liquid, solid, and gas. One installation will be a waterfall inspired by his 2008 project in New York and André Le Nôtre's unbuilt design. Inside the palace, Eliasson will incorporate "discrete spatial interventions" into the existing architecture. Visitors can also purchase Little Sun solar lamps and chargers at the museum shop. Catherine Pégard remarked on Eliasson's ability to transform perceptions of the palace.

Key facts

  • Olafur Eliasson exhibition at Palace of Versailles opens June 7, 2016, runs through October 2016.
  • Curated by Alfred Pacquement.
  • Three outdoor installations in the gardens focus on water in liquid, solid, and gaseous states.
  • A large waterfall references Eliasson's 2008 New York project and an unbuilt design by André Le Nôtre.
  • Indoor 'discrete spatial interventions' are integrated with the palace's architecture and decoration.
  • Little Sun solar lamps and phone chargers will be sold at the museum shop.
  • Previous Versailles contemporary art projects featured Jeff Koons, Xavier Veilhan, Takashi Murakami, Bernar Venet, Joana Vasconcelos, Lee Ufan, and Anish Kapoor.
  • Catherine Pégard is president of the Château de Versailles.

Entities

Artists

  • Olafur Eliasson
  • Jeff Koons
  • Xavier Veilhan
  • Takashi Murakami
  • Bernar Venet
  • Joana Vasconcelos
  • Lee Ufan
  • Anish Kapoor
  • André Le Nôtre
  • Valentina Tanni

Institutions

  • Palace of Versailles
  • Château de Versailles
  • Artribune
  • Politecnico di Milano
  • Naba – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti

Locations

  • Versailles
  • Paris
  • France
  • Copenhagen
  • New York
  • United States
  • Denmark

Sources