The Cabins of the Molitor Hotel, Paris

Beginning in 1929, the Molitor was the most popular swimming pool in Paris. The pool was closed in 1989 and, for 20 years, the abandoned property became a hub for the Paris Graffiti community. Eventually The property, being a historical monument, was redeveloped into The Hotel Molitor. The changing rooms surrounding the indoor pool were re-purposed as a gallery for international Urban Artists. I was invited to participate in this Project in March of 2024 for its 2nd edition.

There are 78 individual cabins surrounding the pool. Each cabin was taken over by a different artist. The range of artists literally spans the globe, each continent is represented and the section of the cabins are arranged geographically.

After viewing historical images of the pool’s golden era, where swimsuit lines were unveiled and pageants took place, I created a piece that referenced that golden era. The images are arranged in a kaleidoscopic fashion to imply the reflective nature of the water and also the disorienting split screen effect of submerging and emerging from the water while swimming. Aside from the creations of the works, the project was an opportunity to get to know some of the other international artists who were working at the same time.

The cabins are open to the public and The Molitor also offers guided tours. You can find all the information you’ll need HERE.

MOLITOR : VIBRATIONS ARTISTIQUES was published to document all the works in the Cabins project and is available HERE.

If you’re in Paris, a visit to the Molitor is certainly a worthwhile way to spend an afternoon getting a very intimate look at contemporary urban art from around the globe.

Eddie Colla