Rick Owens’ First Major Exhibition in Paris Explores His Avant-Garde Aesthetic

Avant-garde designer Rick Owens, known for his darkly poetic vision and sculptural silhouettes, will open his first large-scale retrospective in Paris on June 28, 2025. Titled Rick Owens, Temple of Love, the exhibition will take place at the Palais Galliera and will run through January 4, 2026. More than just an indoor showcase, the exhibition extends beyond the museum walls to its façade and gardens, transforming the entire site into what Owens envisions as a “temple of creation.”

Born in California in 1961, Rick Owens began his career in Los Angeles as a pattern cutter before launching his eponymous label in 1992. Drawing inspiration from underground culture and the glamour of 1930s fashion, Owens has long distinguished himself through his architectural approach to clothing design.

In his early years, with limited resources at hand, he repurposed military blankets, leather, and surplus bags to craft jackets and dresses, laying the foundation for an aesthetic that marries function with radical beauty. His preference for muted tones, especially black and grey, is legendary, with a custom shade called “dust” becoming one of his signature colors.

After relocating to Paris in 2003, Owens’s work evolved to carry even more political and social weight. His runway shows have challenged prevailing norms and questioned systems of oppression, including a presentation featuring an all-Black, all-female step-dancing troupe in place of models, and another where male models walked with exposed genitals. His recent collections, imbued with sculptural silhouettes and vibrant colors, reflect his response to a world in flux.

The exhibition will present over 100 looks alongside personal documents, rare videos, and never-before-seen installations. Artworks by Gustave Moreau, Joseph Beuys, and Steven Parrino—figures who have deeply influenced Owens—will also be on display, offering insight into the cultural and intellectual fabric of his universe.

Owens himself serves as the exhibition’s artistic director. His longtime partner and creative collaborator, Michèle Lamy, is a central presence throughout the exhibition. A highlight includes a recreation of the couple’s California bedroom, offering an intimate glimpse into their personal and artistic partnership.

One of the exhibition’s most striking elements is its outdoor component. Sculptures adorning the museum façade are wrapped in sequin-embroidered fabric, while the garden features 30 brutalist cement sculptures reminiscent of Owens’s furniture line. The landscape has been designed using vines and flora native to California, bringing his West Coast roots to the heart of Paris.

Rick Owens, Temple of Love goes beyond a traditional fashion retrospective. It is a meditative, immersive installation—a bold celebration of love, beauty, and diversity through the lens of one of fashion’s most uncompromising visionaries. With its grand scale and conceptual depth, the exhibition promises to leave a lasting impression on all who enter Owens’s world.