Johan Creten
Playing with Fire

For its second exhibition of monumental sculptures, the Orléans Museum of Fine Arts invites internationally renowned sculptor Johan Creten to take over both public spaces and the museum. The exhibition *Johan Creten. Playing with Fire, the largest ever dedicated to the Belgian artist, brings together 120 works (including eleven in public spaces) and is organized into two sections that highlight Creten’s artistic evolution by offering, for the first time, a glimpse into his creative process—beginning with the sculptures on display throughout the city, whose creation visitors can explore at the museum through drawings, preparatory studies, and variations. A multi-media artist working in everything from ceramics to bronze, Johan Creten brings together forty years of work that trace the genesis of his body of work. This captivating immersion offers an in-depth exploration of his work, revealing decades of inspiration and creation through his iconic pieces and new works. It also allows the public to delve into the heart of the artist’s work by engaging with his reflections. After a playful initial encounter in public spaces, visitors are invited to discover at the museum the lengthy process of developing forms and the underlying themes: school violence, racism, intolerance, and social crises.

The exhibition presented in 2024 continues in 2025 in downtown Orléans. Internationally renowned artist Johan Creten takes over the public space until autumn with 11 monumental bronze sculptures installed in squares, courtyards, parks and in front of the cathedral. Alongside famous works such as La Chauve-souris, already presented in Rome and Paris, the exhibition unveils brand-new castings created for the show, such as La Grande Sauterelle and La Mouche Morte, whose presence initiates an ecological discourse. This urban dialogue reveals decades of inspiration and creation.