Two icons from the Paris Olympics continue to attract my attention in 2026: The Vasque in the Tuileries Gardens (until September 14, 2026) and Zeus, the horse that galloped above the Seine. Coincidently, the Atelier blam was involved in both concepts. The courtyard of the Musée des Arts & Métiers (MUAM) is the “stable” for the artwork, named Zeus. In the courtyard, it gallops as a ballet dancer in a mesmerizing motion every 20 minutes. To find out about Zeus’s inner workings, the choir of the former Saint-Martin-des-Champs is a journey through the creation of this technical work of art. Both the exhibition “Zeus, Masterpiece of Craftsmanship,” and Zeus in the courtyard run until January 10, 2027.
Made and Missed Opportunities
My first encounter with Zeus was with millions of others at the opening of the Paris Olympics 2024 as it galloped above the Seine. I was excited to be at Hôtel de Ville in 2024 for Zeus’s exclusive presentation and meet the leader of the design company, Atelier blam, Aurélien Meyer of ; Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Thomas Jolly.
With an invitation for Zeus’s Versailles opening in October 2026, I had to miss seeing Zeus again due to travel. Then Zeus galloped at Mont Saint-Michel; I did not make that opening either.
Then, Zeus came to MUAM to gallop in the courtyard and be part of a temporary exhibition inside until March 2026; I reacquainted myself with Zeus (and the museum) in January. Little did I know a nine-month extended exhibition date was in the works.
A Pleasant Surprise: Zeus Still on View
Exiting from the number eleven metro at the Arts & Métiers stop, I was pleasantly surprised to see Zeus still galloping. As I passed through the gate, taking photos and videos was irresistible for me and other visitors.
Originally, the exhibition and the mechanical horse were scheduled for a short stay (December, 2025 to the end of March, 2026). Depending on which webpage you happen upon, the MUAM website shows a closing date of March 2026. Another page shows January 10, 2027.
If you are in the area of the Musée des Arts & Métiers, take advantage. And be sure to go through the museum for its collection of “the oldest industrial and techologoical collection in the world”.
Technical Progress of Innovations and Inventions
“Since 1794, its collections have been enriched by numerous acquisitions—valuable testaments to the evolution of scientific knowledge and technical progress. Today, the museum houses an exceptional collection of some 80,000 objects and displays nearly 2,500 pieces, reflecting the diverse facets of the history of science and technology.” – MUAM
