Exhibition
Gustave Fayet
Exhibition
Gustave Fayet
Exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton
Gustave Fayet, Collector – Artist: Icons of Modern Art
Gustave Fayet, Collector – Artist
The “Icons of Modern Art” series
At the Fondation Louis Vuitton
9 October 2026 to 8 March 2027
What happens when a passionate art collector is also an artist in his own right? This autumn and winter, the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris invites you to discover the fascinating world of Gustave Fayet, a remarkable figure in the history of modern art.
As part of its “Icons of Art” series, the Fondation shines a spotlight on Fayet, who is regarded as one of the most important collectors of modern art. The exhibition brings together an impressive array of works by some of the greatest names in art, including Van Gogh, Gauguin and Degas, alongside Fayet’s own creations.
Spanning all the galleries of the Fondation, the exhibition is divided into two complementary sections: Fayet the collector and Fayet the artist. Together, they offer a unique insight into his artistic vision, his passion for collecting and his influence on the art world.
And the numbers alone are enough to spark your curiosity: 250 works from his collection, now scattered across the globe, will be brought together for the first time in a century, alongside 375 of his own works. That’s an extraordinary opportunity to explore both the treasures he collected and the art he created himself!
Let’s take a closer look at this exciting exhibition and discover what makes it such a special event for art lovers visiting Paris.
Gustave Fayet, Collector - Artist
Tickets
The details
at a glance
Exhibition:
Gustave Fayet, Collector – Artist
‘Icons of Modern Art’ series
at the Fondation Louis Vuitton
9 October 2026 to 8 March 2027
Opening hours:
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 11.00 – 20.00 h
Friday: 11.00 – 21.00 h
Saturday and Sunday: 10.00 – 20.00 h
Closed on Tuesdays
Prices:
Official website:
EUR 18 for adults aged 27 and over
EUR 10 for young adults aged between 18 and 26
EUR 5 for children aged between 3 and 17
Free for children under 2
Shuttle bus: EUR 2
Via our partner agency:
EUR 24 for everyone aged 3 and over, including the shuttle bus
Unfortunately, it’s EUR 4 more expensive. But by purchasing this, you’d be supporting the work on this site. Many thanks in advance!
Offers from our partner agency:
Gustave Fayet exhibition + Tintoretto exhibition (Jacquemart Museum): EUR 40.85
Gustave Fayet exhibition + Monet exhibition (Orangerie): EUR 35.62
Gustave Fayet exhibition + Atelier des Lumières – Renaissance Experience: EUR 41.32
Gustave Fayet exhibition + Kerry James Marshall (MAM): EUR 38.95
ICOM-Card:
ICOM members are granted free admission, but the shuttle service must be booked.
Who was
Gustave Fayet?
Gustave Fayet (1865–1925) was born into a family of winegrowers and wine merchants. But there was much more to this French family than wine: art was in their blood, too! Both his father and his uncle were passionate painters, and his father often took the young Gustave along on visits to major museums in cities across Europe. So perhaps it was no coincidence that a winegrower’s son went on to become a painter himself. You could say that art was practically in his DNA! 😉
Born into a wealthy family, Fayet also married a woman of considerable means. This gave him the financial freedom to pursue another great passion: collecting art.
After his father’s death, he took over the family vineyard and went on to improve both the estate and its wine production. But he was far from content to stay at home. He travelled extensively with his wife and gradually began building his art collection. Twenty paintings by Gauguin here, twenty by Van Gogh there, an Impressionist collection of forty works acquired elsewhere… Little by little, he assembled an impressive collection of modern art.
One of the most important chapters in his life began in 1908, when he purchased Sainte-Marie de Fontfroide Abbey. The abbey became his home, a place to welcome fellow art lovers and meet his artist friends. The Symbolist painter Odilon Redon even created works specifically for this remarkable setting, some of which can be seen in the exhibition. Fayet himself was also particularly productive during this period. His artistic ambitions extended beyond painting: he even had tapestries woven from his watercolours!
After his death, the economic crisis of the early 1920s forced his heirs to sell the family’s collections and properties. The artworks were gradually dispersed around the world, making their reunion for this 2026 exhibition all the more fascinating. What was once part of a single collection can now be admired together again, a century later.
Gustave Fayet the artist, however, gradually slipped into obscurity. While his name may not be as familiar today as those of the artists he collected, his legacy lives on. Some of the family’s vineyards still exist, and one of the estates is also home to a museum dedicated to his ceramics.
This exhibition offers a wonderful opportunity to rediscover a man who was not only a discerning collector but also a creative artist in his own right.
Fayet the Collector
Let’s start by looking at Fayet the collector. As we haven’t visited the exhibition in person yet, I can only go by the press images available. What I can see is an impressive selection of works by major Impressionist artists, including some truly significant pieces on loan from museums and private collections around the world.
Rather than exploring each artwork in detail, I’d like to introduce you to a few of the artists represented in the exhibition and highlight some of the works that caught my eye.
Paul Gauguin
As mentioned above, Fayet often acquired works by Paul Gauguin in batches, adding several pieces to his collection at once.
One particularly noteworthy painting is “Trois Tahitiens (Three Tahitians)”, dating from 1899. Fayet purchased it directly from Gauguin in 1900. The painting remained in his collection until his death and is now part of the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland.
At least eight more works by Gauguin will be on display in the exhibition. Among them is a self-portrait that I personally haven’t come across before: “Self-Portrait with Palette”, painted in 1898 and acquired by Fayet in 1906. This work, too, remained in his possession for the rest of his life. Today, it belongs to a private collection. Photo: © Art Resource, Dist. GrandPalaisRmn / Image: Art Resource
Alongside the paintings, visitors will also be able to discover a sculpture and a bas-relief by Gauguin, offering a glimpse of another side of his artistic practice.
About the exhibition
Gustave Fayet: Collector - Artist
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh appears to have been another particular focus of Fayet’s collecting. At least four of the Dutch artist’s works will be on display in the exhibition, including some truly remarkable paintings.
One of the highlights is “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear”, painted in January 1889. Fayet acquired this important work in March 1902 and kept it in his collection for the rest of his life. After his death, it passed into a private collection. In 2026, it will be exhibited in France for the first time since 1937!
Another fascinating work is “The Cypress and the Flowering Tree”, painted in September 1889. Fayet owned this painting from 1908 until his death, and it has not been exhibited in France since 1908. Today, it is also held in a private collection.
A third highlight is “The Large Plane Trees (Road Workers at Saint-Rémy)”, painted in December 1889. This painting is travelling to Paris from the Cleveland Museum of Art. Like The Cypress and the Flowering Tree, it has not been shown in France since 1908 and remained in Fayet’s collection until his death.
You may wonder why I keep emphasising how long these paintings remained in Fayet’s possession. There is a reason! During his lifetime, he had to sell some important works from his collection to finance his ambitious plans for Sainte-Marie de Fontfroide Abbey. The paintings he managed to hold on to therefore tell us something about his personal attachment to his collection, making their reunion in this exhibition all the more special.
Other Great Artists
Alongside these two key figures, the exhibition will also feature works by other major artists, including Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Odilon Redon, Berthe Morisot and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
One painting I’d particularly like to highlight is “Place des Lices, Saint-Tropez” by Henri Matisse. Fayet owned this work for only a short time: he purchased it in 1907 and sold it at auction just a year later.
The story behind Odilon Redon’s works is especially fascinating. Fayet was a close friend and devoted admirer of the artist, and he invited Redon to create an ambitious decorative scheme for his artistic haven at Sainte-Marie de Fontfroide Abbey. This large-scale project, which remains little known to this day, transformed parts of the abbey into a remarkable artistic environment.
One of the works associated with this project is “Le Jour (Day)”, created between 1910 and 1911. Measuring an impressive 2 × 6.5 metres, it is a monumental piece! If I’ve understood the exhibition information correctly, we’ll also be able to see it in Paris. Although the work is protected as a cultural heritage asset, it can be moved — which makes its inclusion in the exhibition all the more exciting.
And, of course, the women artists of the period deserve their place in the spotlight, too. Fayet collected works by Berthe Morisot, one of the leading figures of Impressionism. We may even discover that he owned several of her paintings, but at least one will be on display in this exhibition: “La Lecture (The Reading)”, painted in 1888. The painting is travelling to Paris from the Museum of Fine Arts in St Petersburg, Florida.
It’s wonderful to see such a diverse group of artists brought together, offering a glimpse into the breadth of Fayet’s taste and the remarkable range of works that once formed part of his collection.
Fayet the Artist
Let’s now turn our attention to Fayet the artist. As I mentioned earlier, his name was completely new to me. But the more I’ve learnt about him while researching this article, the more intrigued I’ve become. It’s not just the fact that he acquired more than 750 works of art during his lifetime — I also find his own work genuinely appealing.
I’d like to highlight three pieces here, without attempting to analyse their artistic meaning. I have to admit that I know very little about these particular works, so I’ll leave the art-historical interpretation to the experts!
His watercolours were the first to catch my eye. The wonderful combinations of colour — sometimes enhanced by beautiful transitions and blends — immediately drew me in. One piece I particularly love is “Motif floral (Floral Motif)”, dating from 1912–1925. Simply beautiful!
I’m equally fascinated by his painting “Marine”, an oil on canvas. There’s something about this work that really appeals to me, and I’d love to see it in person. Unfortunately, I won’t be back in Paris until December, so you’ll have to enjoy this one on my behalf in the meantime!
Another intriguing aspect of Fayet’s artistic practice is something I hadn’t come across before: he had carpets woven using his own designs. What a fascinating way to bring his art into everyday life! The example shown here is a detail from a carpet dating from 1920.
All three works are currently held in private collections.
Sumary
I have a feeling this exhibition is going to be a real crowd-puller! I just hope that no one is put off by Gustave Fayet’s rather unfamiliar name. I hope the Fondation Louis Vuitton knows exactly how to market this exhibition to get people through the doors and give this remarkable artist the attention he deserves.
And I hope that, in my own small way, this article has helped spark your curiosity and inspired you to visit the exhibition, too!
Happy exploring!
Céline
Text copyright: © Céline Mülich, 2026
Image copyright: Press images courtesy of the Fondation Louis Vuitton. See respective captions.
Header image: Vincent van Gogh, “The Cypress and the Flowering Tree”, September 1889, oil on canvas, 52 x 65 cm, private collection, photo: © Peter Schälchli
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Versailles Trianon: Marie Antoinette & Copola
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Musée de l'Orangerie: Monet
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