‘Copyists’ at Centre Pompidou-Metz reframes classical imitation for a new era

From June 14th, 2025, to February 2nd, 2026, the Centre Pompidou-Metz hosts Copyists, a groundbreaking exhibition exploring the art of imitation through a contemporary lens. With more than 100 international artists involved, the show reinterprets iconic works from the Louvre, offering a bold redefinition of copying—not as duplication, but as dialogue across time.

Curated by Donatien Grau and Chiara Parisi in collaboration with the Musée du Louvre, Copyists at the Centre Pompidou-Metz delves into the classical tradition of copying as an essential method of learning and transformation. In today’s digital era, where replication is instant and omnipresent, the exhibition raises timely questions about authenticity, originality, and artistic evolution.

Each participating artist selected a work from the Louvre to “copy,” resulting in a rich variety of reinterpretations. From the conceptual audacity of Jeff Koons and Thomas Hirschhorn to the meditative intimacy of Henni Alftan, the range of approaches highlights how imitation can serve as a platform for reinvention. Nathanaëlle Herbelin revisits the evocative Fayum portraits, while Miquel Barceló reimagines The Raft of the Medusa, transforming historical reference into immersive studio practice.

A standout in Copyists is Ariana Papademetropoulos, whose haunting new piece draws on Anne-Louis Girodet’s The Sleep of Endymion. In her reinterpretation, Ariana Papademetropoulos replaces the figure of Selene with moonlight itself—casting a celestial glow and linking myth with modern memory. Paired with a reference to Neil Armstrong’s lunar soundtrack, her work blurs the boundaries between science, symbolism, and surrealism. Through this ethereal lens, Ariana Papademetropoulos invites viewers into a personal cosmos shaped by longing, beauty, and transcendence.

Don’t miss our interview with Ariana Papademetropoulos, in which she discusses her creative process and shares insights on topics ranging from the resonance of universal symbols to the evolving role of AI in creative exploration.

The scenography, inspired by the refined interventions of architect Carlo Scarpa, further enhances the exhibition’s ambition to merge the past with the present. At the Centre Pompidou-Metz, Copyists turns the Louvre from a revered institution into a living archive—one where imitation becomes inspiration, and tradition sparks bold acts of creation.