Georges Mathieu at the Monnaie de Paris: A unique retrospective

La Monnaie de Paris, an iconic institution of culture and art in Paris, will host a unique exhibition dedicated to the artist Georges Mathieu, in association with the Centre Pompidou. This retrospective entitled “Gesture, Speed, Movement” will take place from April 11 to September 7, 2025 and promises to immerse visitors in the dynamic and innovative world of one of the great masters of lyrical abstraction. It will be an opportunity to discover Georges Mathieu’s lasting impact on contemporary art, his influence on numismatics, and his unique collaborations with La Monnaie de Paris.

An immersive exhibition exploring the work of Georges Mathieu The exhibition will be structured into several sections that will retrace the major stages of Georges Mathieu's career. Monumental works, preparatory drawings, documentary films, and previously unseen archives will allow visitors to grasp the richness and diversity of his oeuvre. Visitors will be able to discover the intensity of his artistic style, marked by speed, energy, and spontaneous gestures. The works presented will trace the evolution of his approach, from his early commitments to abstraction to his most recent experiments.

The exhibition will also highlight the artist's importance in the contemporary art world, while highlighting his visionary approach to the creative process. The artist was known for his ability to combine painting and performance, an aspect he particularly explored during the 1950s, participating in events where painting became a living act, a "gesture" made on the canvas in a limited time.

The Master of Lyrical Abstraction, Georges Mathieu

An artist at the service of modernity and lyrical abstraction Georges Mathieu is one of the emblematic figures of Lyrical Abstraction, along with the American Jackson Pollock, a movement that emerged in the 1940s in reaction to geometric abstraction and figurative art. This form of abstraction is based above all on the expression of emotions and gestures. Through his works, the artist seeks to translate the intensity of his sensations and emotions into an explosion of colors and shapes. His work is distinguished by an evident dynamism, a continuous movement that resembles a true performance. His paintings are not simple visual representations; they are evidence of an action, a gesture that transcends the surface of the painting.

Mathieu was particularly influenced by the philosophy of the moment, seeking to create a dialogue between his creative gesture and the idea of ​​movement and speed. This approach marked a break with the more rigid styles of his predecessors, bringing a new lease of life to post-war painting. The artist often asserted that painting should not simply be contemplated, but experienced. Through his public performances, he introduced the idea that art should be a total and immersive experience, capable of capturing the immediacy of life.

Live performance by Georges Mathieu and Vangelis in 1971. As seen in the video, the artist often painted directly using the raw paint tube.

A Fruitful Collaboration with the Monnaie de Paris The Monnaie de Paris has a long-standing relationship with Georges Mathieu. In 1971, the artist presented his series of "Medals and Paintings" in the institution's exhibitions, creating a fascinating bridge between the art of engraving and lyrical abstraction. This bold blend of visual art and numismatics helped redefine the way we understand classical media and opened up new perspectives on the iconography of coins.

Beyond the purely artistic aspect, the Monnaie de Paris allowed Mathieu to actively participate in expanding the role of the medal in modern art. His work on engraving and goldsmithing demonstrated that the medal could be an object of art in its own right, and not simply a representation of a historical figure or event. This work profoundly influenced the design of modern coins. The exhibition "Gesture, Speed, Movement" will feature several of Mathieu's medals, including the 10-franc coin issued in 1974, whose bold aesthetic demonstrates the influence of the abstract movement on numismatics. This iconic coin, like his other creations, demonstrates the richness of Mathieu's art and its impact on mediums often perceived as more utilitarian.

The 10 Franc coin created by Georges Mathieu and minted in 1974

Georges Mathieu and the Dialogue with Street Art One of the most fascinating aspects of this retrospective is the exploration of the dialogue between Georges Mathieu's work and urban art. Alongside the main retrospective, the Monnaie de Paris is presenting an exhibition entitled "Graffiti x Georges Mathieu: Gesture, Speed, Movement." This exhibition will illustrate Georges Mathieu's influence on contemporary graffiti and street art practices. Indeed, his gestural and dynamic approach to painting had a significant influence on artists of the graffiti movement of the 1980s and beyond.

By bringing together works by Mathieu and those of contemporary graffiti artists, this exhibition highlights the invisible connections between these two forms of expression. Mathieu's rapid and energetic gestures resonate with the improvisation of street artists, who, like him, use speed and spontaneity to create vibrant and ephemeral works. This connection between lyrical abstraction and street art highlights how Mathieu's work has transcended the ages and continued to inspire artists of various generations.

Georges Mathieu, Fidélité Humiliée, 1988

Georges Mathieu's Biography Georges Mathieu was born on January 27, 1921, in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. Early on, he distinguished himself in the artistic world by adopting an innovative approach to painting. From the very beginning, he turned away from traditional techniques to explore freer forms, breaking with the conventions of the time.

He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and frequented post-war intellectual and artistic circles. In 1947, he became one of the founding figures of the Lyrical Abstraction movement, alongside artists such as Hans Hartung and Jean-Paul Riopelle. This movement was inspired by emotion and gesture, and sought to free art from any figurative constraints. His early paintings are marked by a frenetic gesture, characteristic of the artist's work, in which the imprint of the brush and the body became an integral part of the work.

Beyond his painting, Mathieu also engaged in other forms of artistic expression, such as sculpture, engraving, and medal design. He was notably appointed official artist of the Monnaie de Paris, where he left a lasting mark by renewing the approach to medal design. His international career led him to exhibit in prestigious galleries and museums around the world, and he became a leading figure in the world of abstract art. Georges Mathieu passed away on June 10, 2012, leaving behind a considerable legacy in both the fields of painting and numismatics.

Georges Mathieu, Lumière Plaintive (1994)

Practical Information -Dates: From April 11 to September 7, 2025 -Location: Monnaie de Paris, 11 quai de Conti, 75006 Paris -Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (late opening on Wednesdays until 9 p.m.) -Prices: General admission: €12, reduced rate: €8, free for those under 26 The exhibition "Gesture, Speed, Movement" is a unique opportunity to rediscover the work of Georges Mathieu in a new light. It promises to be a landmark event in the Parisian artistic calendar, a journey into the world of lyrical abstraction, and an immersion in the work of an artist who transformed his gesture into an art form in its own right.