This summer, the Musée Maillol will host its first fashion exhibition, marking a bold new chapter for the museum. It will open with a major undertaking: a comprehensive retrospective dedicated to Gianni Versace.
Nearly three decades after the designer’s tragic death at age 50, the exhibition will present around 450 exceptional pieces, including original garments, sketches, photographs, video works, and rare interview footage. Together, these trace the arc of Versace’s life, inspirations, and creative legacy.
Charting his journey from the family workshop in Calabria, the exhibition revisits the influences that shaped his vision — from Catholic iconography and Greek statuary to Italian opera and his enduring fascination with the Baroque.
Produced by Dreamrealizer, the Berlin-based fashion art and design curators, the exhibition remains independent from Gianni Versace Srl and the Versace family.
After showing in London, Berlin, and Málaga, the retrospective now settles in Paris, a fitting choice given the brand’s debut of its haute couture line in the city in 1989.
To set the tone, stage designer Nathalie Crinière will create a pop art-inspired scenography to frame the pieces. Following her work on the Louvre’s blockbuster fashion exhibition last year, the retrospective promises a highly immersive experience, with every detail quintessentially Versace.
Musée Maillol, Paris
June 5 – September 6, 2026
