Johan Creten
Playing with Fire

For his second exhibition of monumental sculptures, the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Orléans invites internationally renowned sculptor Johan Creten to take over the public space and the museum.

The exhibition Johan Creten. Jouer avec le Feu, the largest exhibition ever devoted to the Belgian artist, brings together 120 works (including eleven in the public space) and is divided into two parts, highlighting Creten's artistic evolution by entering into his creative process for the first time, starting with the sculptures on display in the city, which visitors can discover at the museum through drawings, preparatory studies and variants. An artist working in multiple media, from ceramics to bronze, Johan Creten brings together forty years of production, writing the genesis of his work. This captivating immersion offers an in-depth exploration of his work, revealing decades of inspiration and creation through his iconic works and new pieces. It also allows the public to get to the heart of the artist's work by taking part in his reflections. After a first playful approach in the public space, they are invited to discover the long process of elaboration of the forms and the underlying themes: school violence, racism, intolerance, social emergencies.

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.