Venus of Arles Returns to Arles After 375 Years in Landmark Exhibition

After 375 years, the Venus of Arles returns to its birthplace for the exhibition 'Le Passage de Vénus' at the Musée départemental Arles antique, running from April 24 to October 31, 2026. The Roman statue, a 1st-century BCE copy of a Praxiteles original, was discovered in 1651 in the ancient theater of Arles, gifted to Louis XIV, restored by François Girardon (who added arms and a pomme), displayed at Versailles, and moved to the Louvre in 1798. Curated by Ludovic Laugier (Louvre), Romy Wyche (Arles museum), and Jean de Loisy, the show unfolds in eight sequences, juxtaposing ancient sculptures with works by 16 modern and contemporary artists including Niki de Saint Phalle, Annette Messager, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Wim Delvoye, Man Ray, Chantal Akerman, Andy Warhol, Guerrilla Girls, ORLAN, Douglas Gordon, Laure Prouvost, and Simone Leigh. Highlights include Bianca Bondi's installation evoking Cypriot cults, and a participatory space 'Moi, la Vénus d'Arles' with AI interactives. The exhibition explores Venus as a figure of freedom, emancipation, and desire, critiquing patriarchal constructs and colonial narratives.