Ellsworth Kelly at Fondation Maeght this summer

Ellsworth Kelly: At the Edge of Water runs from 27 June to 15 November 2026. It brings together over one hundred works, all connected by a single idea: water, and how Kelly observed it.

Kelly is best known for his bold abstract shapes and colours. At first glance, his work does not seem linked to nature. But this exhibition shows that looking at the world, especially water, was central to how he worked.

Curated by Éric de Chassey, the exhibition follows Kelly’s way of seeing step by step. He spent time by the sea, rivers, and coastlines, including in Belle-Île, Giverny and along the Côte d’Azur. These places were important, not as subjects to copy, but as sources of visual ideas.

Kelly did not paint water directly. Instead, he focused on what he saw: light on the surface, changes in colour, and simple shapes at the edge of things. These observations became drawings and collages. Later, they turned into paintings and sculptures.

Many of the smaller works in the show make this process easy to understand. A shape cut from paper might come from a reflection. A block of colour might come from a shadow on water. These simple elements are then developed into larger, more finished works.

The exhibition also highlights Kelly’s long connection to France too. After the Second World War, he returned there and began working with the Maeght family. He remained close to Adrien Maeght throughout his life, making this exhibition at the Fondation feel especially fitting.

Rather than covering everything, At the Edge of Water focuses on one idea and explores it clearly. This makes Kelly’s work easier to understand. It shows how careful looking can lead to simple but powerful forms.

The exhibition is part of a wider “American Season” at the Fondation, with music and events linked to artists like Duke Ellington, Sun Ra and Philip Glass. Kelly’s work may look simple, but it comes from looking closely, over time. Here, that process is made visible.

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