Pop Forever: Tom Wesselmann Retrospective at Fondation Louis Vuitton

The Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris presents 'Pop Forever. Tom Wesselmann &…', a major exhibition running until February 24, 2025. The show features 150 works by Wesselmann, from his first collages in 1959 to his Sunset Nudes of 2004, alongside 70 works by 35 other artists including Jeff Koons, Ai Weiwei, Yayoi Kusama, Derrick Adams, and Mickalene Thomas. Curated by Suzanne Pagé, the exhibition highlights Wesselmann's connections to Dada, Surrealism, and historical painting, as well as his influence on contemporary artists. The show coincides with Art Basel Paris in October 2024, where Wesselmann's works were prominently displayed, including a large painting Smoker #27 (1980) valued at $4.75 million at Almine Rech's booth. Despite his significance, Wesselmann's auction record remains $10.7 million, set at Sotheby's New York in 2008, far below peers like Warhol and Johns. The exhibition underscores the growing dominance of private institutions like Fondation Louis Vuitton over public museums in staging blockbuster shows, leveraging billionaire collectors François Pinault and Bernard Arnault's vast holdings.