Editor’s Note
In a surprising blend of pop culture and high art, a giant inflatable Kermit the Frog will be a star attraction at Art Basel Paris this October. The installation arrives as the city’s art scene seeks to move past the recent high-profile theft at the Louvre.
The contemporary art fair “Art Basel Paris” will feature Kermit the Frog from “The Muppet Show” as a star exhibit in the form of a giant inflatable sculpture. The fair is scheduled to take place from October 24 to 26 in the French capital, which was recently shaken by the theft case at the Louvre.
More than 200 international galleries from about 40 countries will participate in this fourth edition of the fair, organized by the Swiss brand Art Basel, a leader in the global art fair sector. The event will be held under the glass dome of the Grand Palais in Paris.
The fair opens less than a week after the Louvre, the world’s most famous and visited museum, suffered an invaluable art theft. Meanwhile, a vast number of artworks will be on display at this fair.
On October 23, workers were installing the American artist Alex Da Corte’s inflatable “Kermit the Frog” at Place Vendôme. The organizers stated to AFP:
They added that they would work “closely with the authorities” and deploy “a full set of security and protective measures.”
The 20-meter-tall inflatable installation “Kermit the Frog, Even” by American artist Alex Da Corte has been standing at Place Vendôme for several days. This square is the heart of Paris’s high-end jewelry district. Da Corte is known for his immersive installations and video works.
This famous frog is being exhibited as part of the fair’s annual free public art program, continuing a tradition from previous years—such as German artist Carsten Höller’s giant mushroom (2024) and Swiss artist Urs Fischer’s giant wave (2023).
However, this time “Kermit’s head is deflated,” which was intentionally done by the artist.
Fair director Clément Delépine explained to AFP that this is “a way of paying homage to the American public television channel PBS—this channel first aired ‘The Muppet Show’ in the 1970s and now faces severe budget cuts.” Delépine is about to leave his post to become the director of the “Lafayette Anticipations” contemporary art foundation. This foundation belongs to the French “Galeries Lafayette” group and is dedicated to supporting contemporary art creation.
During the same period, large-scale sculpture works by several international contemporary artists will also be exhibited around the Grand Palais, including British artist Thomas Houseago, Chinese artist Wang Keping, German artist Stefan Rinck, and Japanese artist Leiko Ikemura. This public program also extends to several museums in Paris.
(Editor: Fa Yu)