Amid the excitement of the 2024 Olympics, five new art installations have been unveiled, punctuated by some exceptional artists. These artistic marvels, introduced weeks before the games, invite everyone to celebrate sports and embody the Olympic values throughout the season.

  1.‘Beauty And Gesture’ By Laurent Perbos

On the left bank of the Seine, Palais Bourbon has prominently positioned six sculptures on its steps crafted by French visual artist Laurent Perbos. Each sculpture, inspired by Venus de Milo, encapsulates the spirit of athletes who excel through their values and fair play. These ecologically produced female figures in acrylic resin, hold a sports object representing the Olympic and Paralympic Games: basketball, tennis, boxing, javelin, para-archery and surfing. They are associated with the colours of the rainbow, symbolising equal rights, and fighting against discrimination and femininity.

Laurent Perbos, a celebrated artist from Marseille, renowned for his innovative sculptural art, successfully merges art with the world of sports using a colourful visual language. Interestingly, this art installation is on the Olympic Flame route allowing the public to admire Perbos’ creative vision during the tours. 

‘La Beauté et le Geste’ (Beauty and Gesture) will be on view throughout the competitions, from April 2 to September 22, 2024.

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  2. The Iconic Olympic And Paralympic Poster By Ugo Gattoni

Parisian illustrator Ugo Gattoni creates a fun, colourful stadium-city featuring a hyperreal image of Paris that includes 47 Olympic and Paralympic sports, various architectural landmarks and symbols. With his unique style, he has unified both the games into a single design, depicting the iconic competition venues and Parisian life. New micro-stories with details appear at every glance, depicting a city open to the world. To complete this hand-drawn fascinating piece of art, Ugo Gattoni worked 2000 hours which is almost 6 months. 

The tradition of creating iconic posters for sporting events began in 1912 when the very first poster was presented at the Stockholm Games art competition. The Paris Organising Committee noted that this is the first time posters for both the summer games have been designed together as a diptych. “It is fantastic that this drawing will be shown in a museum alongside paintings that are hundreds of years old” Gattoni exclaims. This official game poster also has a special edition now, a nighttime depiction with an added festive touch of new reflections, light effects and fireworks. 

Visitors can take a souvenir home as both versions are available for purchase at Musée d’Orsay, FNAC, Carrefour and Paris 2024 online shop. 

  3.‘Salon’ by Alison Saar

Renowned American sculptor and installation artist Alison Saar has introduced a profound artistic dimension to the Olympic Games with her remarkable sculpture, ‘Salon’. She was selected by the International Olympic Committee and the Paris officials, from a shortlist of leading artists who were invited to submit proposals. Positioned permanently in the public garden of Champs-Élysées, the installation embodies the core Olympic principles of equality and diversity — a beautiful illustration of what happens at the Olympic Games.

Saar collaborated with skilled French craftsmen to create this masterpiece. It is a collection of various chairs in a circle surrounding the Olympic rings. Each seat represents different regions, cultures, traditions and interests. Leading the circle of chairs is a bronze woman figure perched on the large rock holding an olive bough and a gold flame representing illumination, peace, and victory. 

After the first poetry reading at the inauguration of her installation Alison expressed her joy, saying, “I am truly honoured to create this Olympic sculpture, I hope it becomes a beloved spot for Parisians and a place of friendship and interconnection across cultures and borders.”

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  4. Cycloïd Piazza By Raphaël Zarka

Centre Pompidou’s Piazza unveils a vibrant, skateable sculpture – Cycloïd Piazza, just in time for the 2024 Olympic games. Dreamed up by French sculptor and artist Raphaël Zarka in collaboration with architect Jean-Benoît Vétillard, this polychrome playground invites amateur and professional skateboarders to glide and slide through the ramps. Awashed in a dynamic palette of yellow, red, green and various ochre shades, it adduces the colours established by Le Corbusier in 1931. Numerous ledges, stairs, podiums, and passageways allow the skateboarders and visitors to walk, rest and gather around during the Olympic season.