Bibliothèque nationale de France
Paris
Tuesday, 10 am - 8 pm
Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am - 6 pm
Closed on Mondays and public holidays
Richelieu Library
5 rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
As part of the Constellation programme, unfolding throughout the renovation of the Beaubourg site, this autumn the BnF and the Centre Pompidou trace the threads of their shared history and delve into their multidisciplinary collections and archives, revisiting from a contemporary perspective the work of two major French figures: the drawings and prints of artist Louise Bourgeois, and the philosophy of Michel Foucault.
© The Easton Foundation/Adagp, Paris. Photo : Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI/Jean-Claude Planchet/Dist. GrandPalaisRmn
Coming soon
Louise Bourgeois. Extrême tension
Drawings and prints
20 October 2026 – 21 February 2027
A major figure in contemporary art, Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) constructed her body of work on the margins of the major movements that marked the 20th century – surrealism, abstract expressionism, minimalism and so on, and developed a profoundly personal language.
For the first time, this exhibition brings together two complementary holdings, notably formed through generous donations made by the artist during her lifetime, first to the BNF and later to the Centre Pompidou. Arranged chronologically, it highlights the major themes that run through her work and sheds light on the interdependence of drawing and printmaking in her practice, as well as on their close relationship with sculpture and writing.
| An exhibition BNF x Centre Pompidou
L'Inventaire Foucault
2 November 2026
Marking the centenary of the birth of French philosopher Michel Foucault (1926-1984), this evening brings together a number of his contemporary readers — intellectuals, writers and artists — to test his thought against the present. Readings, responses to archival material and performances follow one another, exploring the debates his work continues to generate and the ways in which it resonates with their own thinking and practices.
With, among others, Paul B. Preciado, Patrick Boucheron, Hélène Giannecchini, Chowra Makaremi, Michelle Perrot, Benoît Piéron and Dominique Simonnot. Readings/performances by Volmir Cordeiro and Philippe Artières, with readings by Florence Loiret-Caille.
Heir to the royal collections and custodian of legal deposit since 1537, the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) holds more than 40 million documents, supplemented since 2006 by archived files from the French web. This heritage, reflecting the world’s collective memory, is accessible to all, notably through Gallica, which provides free access to more than 10 million documents.
In 2025, its five public sites — the BNF François-Mitterrand, the BNF Richelieu, the Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, the Bibliothèque-musée de l’Opéra in Paris, and the Maison Jean-Vilar in Avignon — welcomed more than 1.9 million visitors. Through its exhibitions, events and workshops, the BNF promotes research, the transmission of knowledge and access to culture. It also works with other institutions and contributes to the preservation and wider recognition of France’s cultural heritage.
