Farewell, dear friends. On Wednesday, March 12, as the Musée National d’Art Moderne began removing artworks from its display rails in preparation for the complete closure of the Centre Pompidou on September 22 for a minimum of five years of renovations, gallery owner Jérôme Poggi shared images of the pieces that would soon be packed away with his WhatsApp community. “I felt a deep sadness,” he confessed from his glass office overlooking the piazza.
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After years of viewing the back of the “refinery” on Rue Beaubourg, the dealer relocated in 2023 to 135 Rue Saint-Martin, the same building where American-Canadian artist Brion Gysin (1916-1986) resided in 1973. Gysin, a prominent figure of the Beat Generation, was captivated by the building’s tubular design by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, documenting its construction through countless photographs. These images inspired his series “The Last Museum,” which Poggi plans to showcase in May. “We will keep the spirit alive for five years; there are enough of us to maintain the neighborhood’s appeal,” the dealer expressed, optimistic that the presence of fellow gallerists would help mitigate the impact of the Centre Pompidou’s closure.
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