The Pompidou Centre is one of the most iconic buildings in Paris – love it or hate it, you certainly can’t miss it! However it’s easy to miss the much more discreet building just next to it. Designed by Renzo Piano, the Atelier Brancusi is almost invisible, yet this fascinating space is another of those tiny hidden museums that is well worth a visit.

Constantin Brancusi came to Paris from Romania in 1904, and from 1915 worked in a studio in the 15th arrondissement. Considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century, he was one of the pioneers of the modernist movement, arriving in Paris at a moment when the art world here was effervescent with new ideas. His friends included the leading figures of the artistic and intellectual scene in Paris at the time: Picasso, Modigliani, Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp, Guillaume Apollinaire and Ezra Pound.

In these studios he produced most of his work, often arranging them into groups. The studio and the arrangement of the sculptures in relation to the space and to the other works surrounding them became integral to each sculpture. So much so that he often refused to sell them, if he did he would replace them with plaster casts.

In 1956 Brancusi's studio in Paris and its entire contents were bequeathed to the French state, on condition that it would be reconstructed exactly as it was on the day of his death. Renzo Piano designed the current space, where we can see not only his sculptures, but tools, sketches, furniture and his library. Here we can view his work as he wished it to be viewed, and comprehend it as he wished it to be understood.

Another of his most famous works, Le Baiser (The Kiss), can be seen in Montparnasse Cemetery, which is also where he is buried.

​📍​Atelier Brancusi, Piazza in front of the Centre Pompidou (rue Rambuteau side)

• Open daily 2-6pm, except Tuesdays and May 1. Free entrance.

Thank you!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our blog! We are a small Paris-based tour guide company that prioritises a boutique personal experience where we can share our passion for our heritage and community with every individual that joins us. If you'd like to take a tour then head over to our website for an unforgettable trip to the city of lights. Also, check out our social media @memories.france for everything you could need to know for coming to Paris, from how to use the metro to coffee shops closest to each major monument, there is something for everyone!

Siobhan & the Memories France Family

If you're looking for more tips, itineraries, and insights into Paris, check out our social media!

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook

Like what you see? Read our other blogs here!

• The Best Outdoor Museum Cafés in Paris for Summer - Gardens, Terraces and Hidden Courtyards
  Several of Paris's best museums have gardens attached — and those gardens have cafés worth knowing about. Not just as a pitstop between galleries, but as places to sit, slow down, and make the afternoon last. Here are our favourites.
• Paris Summer 2026: Events, Exhibitions and What's On — July and August
  Paris this summer: beaches on the Seine - plus swimming! - Bastille Day fireworks with 1,600 drones, the Tour de France racing up the hill in Montmartre, and four exhibitions worth rearranging your itinerary for. Here's our pick of the best things to do in Paris this summer.
• French Revolution Sites - Paris Landmarks You Can Still Visit Today
  Step back into one of history’s most dramatic chapters by exploring the places where the French Revolution unfolded. From the former prison of the Conciergerie to the vast gardens of the Tuileries, the elegant streets of Le Marais and the Palace of Versailles, many of the Revolution's most important landmarks can still be visited today. This guide takes you through the key sites, bringing their stories to life and helping you discover the people, events and hidden details that shaped modern France.
• Mysteries of the metro — your insider guide to riding like a Parisian
  The Paris métro is fast, cheap, and goes everywhere — but it has its unspoken rules. Here's the local insider guide to riding it like a Parisian, without putting a foot wrong.
• Black History Month in Paris: Jazz, Montmartre and the Legend of Bricktop
  Black History Month is the perfect moment to explore the Black artists, musicians and writers who helped shape modern Paris. From the jazz-filled streets of 1920s Montmartre to the legendary cabaret Bricktop’s, discover the story of Ada “Bricktop” Smith and the vibrant community that made the French capital a haven for creativity, freedom and nightlife.