Modern Art Museum in Paris to Acquire 180 Artworks from French Art Dealer Kamel Mennour
Mennour Donates 180 Artworks to Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris
Kamel Mennour, a prominent French gallery owner, has made a significant contribution to the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris (MAM) by donating 180 contemporary artworks. The donation, which includes works from over 45 artists, was made in June 2025 and features notable names such as Alicja Kwade and Anish Kapoor.
The scale and caliber of the included artists mark a major contribution to MAM’s contemporary art collection. This donation not only supports MAM’s mission to showcase modern and contemporary art but also reflects Mennour’s role as an influential figure in the Paris art scene.
Mennour's donation is not the first significant contribution to MAM. In 2012, Michael Werner, a New York-based German dealer, donated 127 paintings and sculptures to the same institution. Werner's donations helped expand and diversify MAM's collection, reinforcing the museum’s status as a prominent contemporary art venue in Paris.
The donated artworks reflect the richness and diversity of Kamel Mennour Gallery’s history since its creation in 1999. The collection's unique vision is highlighted in the works, which will be exhibited on the top floor of MAM in Paris in 2027. An extensive catalogue will accompany the exhibition.
The collection will officially join MAM's permanent collections once the acquisition and validation processes have been completed by Paris Museés and the French government. However, the donation list may be subject to changes before being submitted to the official commissions at the French government.
Kamel Mennour, who is 59 years old, stated that it would make sense to give something back to the museum, which has offered him and his city such great joys. The ARC rooms will host the exhibition, and the collection includes works from both the gallery’s holdings and Mennour’s personal collection.
Among the high-profile artists whose works are part of the donation are Alicja Kwade, Zineb Sedira, Anish Kapoor, Daniel Buren, Ugo Rondinone, Lee Ufan, Douglas Gordon, Camille Henrot, Huang Yong Ping, Tadashi Kawamata, and Philippe Parreno.
This practice of collaborative cultural efforts to enhance public access to modern and contemporary art through one of Paris's key art institutions strengthens ties between private collectors, commercial galleries, and public museums to foster cultural preservation and education.
The collection from Kamel Mennour Gallery, featuring artists such as Alicja Kwade, Zineb Sedira, and Anish Kapoor, will be exhibited on the top floor of MAM in Paris in 2027. The donation of 180 artworks by Mennour serves as a significant addition to MAM’s contemporary art collection. The donation supports MAM's mission to showcase modern and contemporary art, reflecting Mennour's influence in the Paris art scene.
Mennour's donation is not the first significant gift to MAM; in 2012, Michael Werner donated paintings and sculptures to the museum. The museum’s status as a prominent contemporary art venue in Paris is reinforced by these donations.
The collection, which also includes works from Douglas Gordon, Camille Henrot, Huang Yong Ping, Tadashi Kawamata, and Philippe Parreno, reflects the richness and diversity of Kamel Mennour Gallery’s history. An extensive catalogue will accompany the exhibition.
This donation is part of a broader practice of cultural collaboration between private collectors, commercial galleries, and public museums, aimed at fostering cultural preservation and education, and enhancing public access to modern and contemporary art.
Visiting this contemporary art exhibition, held at the ARC rooms in MAM, can be considered a part of the modern lifestyle, offering entertainment and intellectual stimulation for art enthusiasts and the general public.
