Breathing Through Art: A Mindful Journey Across Paris Galleries

Eija-Liisa Ahtila’s exhibition On Breathing...

In a city where beauty spills from every corner, Paris offers more than aesthetic pleasure—it offers emotional refuge. For those seeking solace, introspection, or simply a moment to breathe, the contemporary art scene this season is quietly echoing the language of mindfulness and poetic resistance.

Discover our handpicked list of inspiring art galleries, upcoming events, and captivating openings.

The Art of Breathing and Being

At Marian Goodman, Eija-Liisa Ahtila’s exhibition On Breathing invites visitors into a sensory meditation. Her work, often rooted in ecological awareness and human perception, transforms breath into a metaphor for presence. It’s not just an exhibition—it’s a pause.

Similarly, Galerie Allen presents Laëtitia Badaut Haussmann’s Le cœur et les poumons, a visceral exploration of the body’s emotional architecture. The heart and lungs—symbols of life and feeling—become sculptural meditations on vulnerability and resilience.

Softness, Silence, and Healing

At Dominique Fiat, Safâa Erruas’ Soft Matters uses delicate materials—gauze, thread, paper—to evoke fragility and healing. Her minimalist compositions speak volumes in whispers, echoing the quiet power of art therapy.

Meanwhile, Crèvecoeur showcases Emma Reyes’ Naturaleza muerta resucitando (“Still Life Resurrecting”), a poetic resurrection of memory and identity. Her narrative-driven work, rooted in personal trauma and transformation, is a testament to art’s therapeutic potential.

Becoming Through Expression

In Galerie Anne Barrault, Ibrahim Meïté Sikely’s Je deviendrais ce que j’aurais dû être (“I will become what I should have been”) is a deeply personal declaration. His pieces explore identity, longing, and the emotional labor of becoming—core themes in expressive therapy.

At Galerie du Jour agnès b., Merveille Kelekele Kelekele welcomes us into his instability. Bienvenue dans mon instabilité is raw, unapologetic, and emotionally charged—a mirror to the inner chaos many suppress. It’s not just art; it’s catharsis.

Nature, Silence, and the Sublime

Marco Godinho’s The Reminder of the Winds at Galerie Alberta Pane is a poetic meditation on impermanence. Wind, as a symbol of change and continuity, becomes a gentle guide through the landscape of mindfulness.

And at Semiose, Laurent Proux’s The Nature Poem offers a lyrical escape into organic forms and quiet contemplation. It’s a visual haiku—simple, profound, and grounding.

Upcoming Openings Related to Mindful Expression

Emotional Healing & Softness

- Thu 18 Sep – Dominique Fiat

Safâa Erruas. Soft Matters

A poetic and tactile exploration of vulnerability and healing through delicate materials—deeply aligned with therapeutic art.

- Thu 18 Sep – Galerie Arnaud Lefebvre

Myrel Chernick & Katy Martin

Known for introspective and feminist themes, their work often explores identity and emotional nuance.

- Sat 18 Oct – Bremond Capela

Louise Vo Tan. Soft Power

The title suggests a gentle but impactful approach—likely to explore emotional strength and subtle influence.

- Thu 6 Nov – BACKSLASH

France Bizot. Natures molles

“Soft natures” evokes organic, meditative forms—ideal for mindfulness-focused viewers.

Breath, Nature & Contemplation

- Thu 9 Oct – H Gallery

Alexandra Hedison. Uncertain Exposures

Hedison’s photographic work often explores stillness and ambiguity—perfect for mindful reflection.

- Thu 20 Nov – H Gallery

Lucile Piketty. Deuxième exposition personnelle

Her work often features dreamlike, nature-infused imagery that invites quiet contemplation.

- Thu 6 Nov – Maria Lund

Nicolai Howalt. F.U.N.G.I.

Nature as metaphor—fungi as a symbol of transformation and interconnectedness.

Identity, Transformation & Inner Worlds

- Tue 16 Sep – Galerie Anne de Villepoix

Group Show including Barthélémy Toguo & Armando Mariño

Both artists explore identity, displacement, and emotional depth—rich terrain for therapeutic engagement.

- Mon 20 Oct – Mendes Wood DM

Precious Okoyomon. it's important to have ur fangs out at the end of the world

A poetic and raw exploration of survival, identity, and emotional resilience.

- Thu 13 Nov – Dominique Fiat

Rut Blees Luxemburg & John Goto. Les Villes Invisibles

Inspired by Calvino’s “Invisible Cities,” this show likely explores imagined emotional landscapes.

- Sat 6 Dec – Galerie Les Filles du Calvaire

Être collectif, de la convivialité par nature

A group show centered on collective being and natural conviviality—perfect for mindfulness and community healing.

Whether you're an art lover, a seeker of peace, or simply curious, this season’s gallery offerings in Paris remind us that art isn’t just seen—it’s felt. And sometimes, it heals.

A Mindful Route Through Paris

For those wishing to turn this into a walking meditation, begin in Le Marais, where many of these exhibitions are clustered. Pause between galleries. Breathe. Reflect. Let the art speak not just to your eyes, but to your inner world.

Pair these cafés with your gallery itinerary to create a day of slow beauty. Begin in Le Marais, wander through poetic exhibitions, and let each café become a chapter in your personal story. Bring a notebook. Bring silence. Let art conquer your soul.

Parisian Whispers: Poetic Cafés Where Art Conquers the Soul

In Paris, cafés are more than places to sip espresso—they are sanctuaries of thought, havens for dreamers, and quiet stages where art and emotion unfold. Whether you're fresh from a gallery visit or simply seeking a space to journal, sketch, or breathe, these poetic cafés offer the perfect pause.

The Caféothèque of Paris

52 Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004  

A cozy haven near Le Marais, this café blends artisanal brews with rotating art displays. Ideal for decompressing after gallery-hopping, with beans sourced from around the globe and a warm, intimate vibe.

Terres de Café

Le Marais & Saint-Honoré  

Minimalist, serene, and deeply rooted in ethical sourcing, Terres de Café is a temple for mindful sipping. Its quiet ambiance and earthy tones make it ideal for reflecting on a morning spent with Safâa Erruas’s soft sculptures or Emma Reyes’s resurrected still lifes.

Café d’Auteur

Rue Mazarine, Saint-Germain  

A literary café with a soul. Nestled in the poetic heart of Paris, this space invites journaling, sketching, and silent reverie. It pairs beautifully with exhibitions like On Breathing by Eija-Liisa Ahtila or Le cœur et les poumons by Laëtitia Badaut Haussmann.

Aux Arts Etc...

Quai de Montebello  

A café-gallery hybrid where the espresso is as rich as the visual dialogue. With Notre-Dame nearby and rotating art on the walls, it’s a natural extension of your gallery route—perfect after a visit to Galerie Anne de Villepoix or Dominique Fiat.

Barista Gallery

Rue Quincampoix, 4th arrondissement  

This hidden gem doubles as a gallery space, offering a quiet corner for contemplation. It’s where you let the colors of Clara Rivault or Bianca Argimon settle into your thoughts, one sip at a time.

Café Kitsuné Palais Royal

Galerie de Montpensier  

Tucked inside the gardens of Palais Royal, this Japanese-inspired café is a breath of fresh air. Ideal for grounding yourself after the emotional intensity of a show like Fake it until you lose it or Soft Power.

I.O Café

Rue Dupetit-Thouars, Haut Marais  

A calm, design-forward space that feels like a visual exhale. It’s a perfect stop after visiting Galerie Allen or Galerie Polaris, where introspection and aesthetic clarity meet.