Abstraction in motion, Bærtling’s open form meets the contemporary. Unique exhibition in Paris.

For Olle Bærtling, art was never stationary. His paintings extend beyond the edge of the canvas, the colors activate the gaze, and the shapes point forward, toward the future.

In the new exhibition Formes ouvertes, at the Swedish Institute in Paris, Bærtling’s work meets contemporary artists in a dialogue about the possibilities of abstraction today. The title refers to Bærtling’s own term open form, a concept he developed in the 1950s.

Rather than being a traditional retrospective, the exhibition shows how Bærtling’s thinking continues to inspire. The open form arises not only in the paintings but also between the works, in the room, and in the viewer’s movement through the exhibition.

Watch the film from the exhibition here:

The exhibition Formes ouvertes runs until July 19, 2026.

Visit the exhibition website here: https://si.se/evenemang/utstallning-formes-ouvertes/