Winter felt especially long this year, grey, lingering, and reluctant to let go. And even now, spring seems to show up for a hot second, then disappear. A few days of sun and suddenly I want to drop everything and run outside. My mood changes significantly. I get excited to walk everywhere, take it all in, and feel inspired. Suddenly, I become obsessed with catching the blooms before they disappear, even though I can’t really name most of the trees. Unfortunately, the thing with spring is it never stays long enough.
I caught a glimpse of cherry blossoms near Hôtel de Ville on my way to an appointment, but missed the full bloom in the parks. It all seemed to happen so fast. Or perhaps I was too deep in writing and hiding, or in one of those grey-day moods that make it harder to step outside. I always think of spring as a season of renewal, but if I’m honest, it can also feel fleeting and slightly out of reach. Which brings me to Claude Monet.
Notes on JOIE with Ajiri Aki is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This year marks the centenary of his death, and museums across France are celebrating his work throughout the year. But what I’ve always found compelling is not just the beauty he created, but the tension behind it. His iconic and beautiful garden in Giverny was a source of frustration and obsession. He chased blooms, adjusted plantings, fought the weather, and doubted himself along the way. (This kind of sounds like me with my sad little terrace garden.) It didn’t simply flourish. It was worked, reworked, and worried over. And yet, he kept going.
There’s something reassuring in that. Even in moments of doubt, or when the season doesn’t quite cooperate, the act of showing up, of continuing to look, to make, to notice, still matters.
So, weather be damned, let’s step outside. Let’s wander into museums, chase a bit of beauty, and make the most of what this season offers, however briefly.
As always, this is a personal selection curated with design lovers in mind. I’ve listed the exhibitions in order of closing date to help you decide what to prioritize.
P.S. Consider this seasonal list a small spring gift. It’s usually reserved for paid subscribers, but this time, it’s for everyone. Enjoy.
Beyond our Horizons: De Tokyo à Paris
at Galerie de 19M
29 January- 10 May 2026
More info here
Worth, aux origines de la haute couture
at Musée d’histoire urbaine et sociale de Suresnes
15 October 2025 - 21 June 2026
More info here
La Legende du Titanic
at La Villette
31 March 2026 - 30 June 2026
More info here
Une journée au XVIIIe siècle, chronique d’un hôtel particulier
At Musée des Arts Décoratifs
18 February 2026 - 5 July 2026
More info here
Monet in Giverny: Before the Waterlillies, 1883-1890
at Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny
27 March 2026- 5 July 2026
More info here
La mode du 18e siècle. Un héritage fantasmé
At Palais Galliera
14 March 2026 - 12 July 2026
More info here
Africa Fashion
at Musée Quai Branly
31 March 2026- 12 July 2026
More info here
Renoir et L’Amour
at Musée d’Orsay
Until 19 July 2026
More info here
Henri Rousseau : L’Ambition de la Peinture
at Musée de l’Orangerie
Until 20 July 2026
More info here
Matisse, 1941–1954
At Grand Palais
24 March 2026- 26 July 2026
More info here
Marilyn Monroe : 100 Ans
At La Cinematheque Francaise
8 April 2026 - 26 July 2026
More info here
Splendors du Baroque
at Musée Jacquemart-André
26 March 2026- 2 August 2026
More info here
Lee Miller
at Musée d’Art Moderne Paris
10 April 2026- 2 August 2026
More info here
Calder. Rêver en équilibre
At Fondation Louis Vuitton
15 April 2026 to 16 August 2026
More info here
Madame de Sévigné : Lettres parisiennes
At Musée Carnvalet
15 April 2026 - 24 August 2026
More info here
Clair Obscur
at Bourse de Commerce
Until 24 August 2026
More info here
Henry Taylor, Where Thoughts Provoke
at Musée Picasso
April 8, 2026 - September 6, 2026
More info here
Adya & Otto Van Rees: Au Coeur des Avant Gardes
At Musée de Montmartre
Until 13 September 2026
More info here
Kourtney Roy
at Citeco- Cite de l’Economie
Until 20 September 2026
More info here
Révéler le féminin, mode et apparence du XVIIIe siecle
At Musée Cognac Jay
25 March 2026 - 20 September 2026
More info here
Tisser, broder, sublimer, le savoir faire de la mode
At Palais Galleria
Until 18 October 2026
More info here
La Mode en Majesté, haute couture et tradition à la cour de Thailande
at Les Arts Decoratifs
13 May 2026 - 1 November 2026
More info here
Notes on JOIE with Ajiri Aki is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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