Matisse and Alex Katz in Nice: An Exhibition Worth Planning a Trip Around
From 28 October 2026 to 18 January 2027, the Musée Matisse in Nice presents “Henri Matisse – Alex Katz. Le silence de la peinture”. The exhibition brings the work of Henri Matisse into dialogue with that of Alex Katz, one of the major figures of contemporary American painting, and offers a new way to experience the museum’s collection.
For an autumn or winter trip to the French Riviera, the exhibition is a good reason to devote a separate day to Cimiez, one of Nice’s most important cultural districts.
A dialogue between Matisse and Alex Katz
The exhibition is not conceived as a temporary display confined to a single gallery. Instead, it creates a new route through the entire Musée Matisse. Works by Alex Katz are placed in dialogue with those of Matisse, offering a contemporary perspective on the permanent collection. The project was developed with Katz himself.
The exhibition spans more than seventy years of his career, from Nude, created in 1951, to Lilies 13 from 2025. Visitors will encounter paintings, drawings, cut-outs and prints from the artist’s studio.
The connection between the two artists is deliberate. The Musée Matisse’s educational programme presents the autumn exhibition as an opportunity to explore Matisse’s influence on one of the significant figures of American painting.
The aim, however, is not to compare the two artists literally. Instead, the exhibition shows how questions of colour, figure, line, simplified form and composition continue to evolve in painting across generations.
When and how to visit
The exhibition opens on 28 October 2026 and runs until 18 January 2027.
During the exhibition period, the Musée Matisse is open:
- Monday — 10:00–17:00;
- Wednesday–Sunday — 10:00–17:00;
- Tuesday — closed.
Last admission is at 16:30. The full exhibition ticket is listed at €12. Groups of 10 or more benefit from a rate of €9 per person, with advance reservation of a time slot required.
The museum is located at 164 avenue des Arènes de Cimiez, Nice.
Before travelling, it is advisable to check opening hours, holiday closures and ticketing conditions again on the official Musée Matisse website.
Why it is worth planning more than the museum alone
A visit to the Musée Matisse can easily become a complete cultural day in Cimiez.
Immediately beside the museum is the Jardin des Arènes de Cimiez, a large public park planted with mature olive trees. The Musée d’Archéologie de Nice-Cimiez is also nearby, allowing several cultural sites to be combined without additional travel.
Another worthwhile stop is the Jardin du Monastère de Cimiez, a public garden beside the monastery with views over the eastern part of Nice. Until 31 October it remains open daily until 20:00; from 1 November it moves to its winter schedule and closes at 18:00.
Cimiez is also home to the historic cemetery where Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy are buried.
This makes it easy to combine the exhibition with a walk through the historic district before continuing the day in central Nice or by the sea.
An exhibition as a reason to visit Nice in autumn or winter
Opening at the end of October and continuing for almost three months, the exhibition can be incorporated into either a short autumn break or a winter stay on the Côte d’Azur.
The format itself is particularly appealing: visitors are not simply seeing a temporary Alex Katz exhibition, but effectively rediscovering the Musée Matisse collection through a different visual perspective. This also makes the project relevant for those who have visited the museum before.
For visitors spending several days in Nice, Cimiez works well for the first half of the day, followed by the city centre or the seafront. It is a relaxed way to combine a cultural programme with the slower rhythm of the French Riviera outside the summer season.
ServiceAzur can assist with selecting villas or apartments for seasonal rental in Nice and other parts of the Côte d’Azur according to the length and programme of the stay. Availability, pricing and conditions for individual properties should always be confirmed for the selected dates.
“Henri Matisse – Alex Katz. Le silence de la peinture” is a good example of an exhibition around which an entire day in Nice can be planned: contemporary art becomes a reason to discover both the museum and the historic district of Cimiez.
