September 15, 2026
Musée d’Orsay opens a Bartholdi exhibition on the making of LibertyThe Musée d’Orsay has opened Auguste Bartholdi: Liberty Enlightening the World, an exhibition devoted to the French sculptor and the making of his most famous monument. The presentation runs from 15 September 2026 to 31 January 2027 in Paris and is accompanied by an immersive virtual-reality experience.
A monument built across borders
Bartholdi conceived the colossal figure as a gift from France to the United States. Initially connected to the centenary of American independence in 1876, the project required years of fundraising, engineering and public advocacy before the completed statue was inaugurated in New York Harbor in 1886.
The exhibition follows that extended process rather than treating the monument as an instantly formed icon. Models, images and archival material reveal how sculpture, architecture, metalwork and political symbolism had to be coordinated on an unprecedented scale. They also show how a work created through nineteenth-century diplomacy acquired meanings that have continued to change.
From studio object to global image
Seen through Bartholdi’s working process, the Statue of Liberty becomes both an artwork and a media project. Smaller versions, printed images, public events and competing narratives helped turn the monument into a recognizable symbol before and after its installation.
The exhibition is presented at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Visitors should consult the museum’s official page for current opening hours, ticket information and access to the virtual-reality component. | 
