For many creatives, getting the chance to exhibit at a major art show, especially one held in one of the world’s art capitals, is a big deal. So, when Solenn Heussaff was approached to have one of her works shown at Paris Art Week 2026, it was a quick and easy yes for the actress and visual artist.
The achievement is even more special for her as she’s among 15 Filipino artists whose work is displayed at Paris Art Week under Manille A’ Paris: Contemporary Dialogues, which is organized by DF Art Agency and Galerie D’Antoine, in collaboration with FOCUS Asia Contemporary Art. It’s an honor she doesn’t take lightly, and she sees it as not just a win for herself, but for Philippine art.
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Why Solenn Heussaff Said Yes to Paris Art Week
Heussaff didn’t even have a piece ready when she agreed to join Paris Art Week. With an opportunity like this, she knew it wasn’t something she’d pass up. “I’m always grateful for opportunities that allow me to share my work beyond the Philippines and connect with different audiences,” she tells MEGA Asia. The moment also hits close to home given her heritage as half French and having spent time studying in France’s capital. “Paris is a city that taught me so much, not just about art, but about life, independence, and finding my own way. So being able to return and share my work there feels like a full-circle moment.”
As one of just 15 local artists whose works were flown to Paris for the exhibit, Heussaff is in rare company, a fact she is immensely proud of. “I’m also incredibly happy to be exhibiting alongside such talented artists, some of whom I’ve admired for years. The Philippines has so much creative talent, and I’m grateful that more doors are opening for Filipino artists to share their stories and perspectives with the rest of the world.”
Paris holds a special place in Heussaff’s heart, so as she began working on her artwork, it almost felt natural that she turned to her connection to the city, particularly its storied architecture, for inspiration. “I already had this idea of how I wanted it to exist within a beautiful, traditional Haussmannian space,” she shares about the piece. “Having spent my summers growing up in France and later studying in Paris, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for Parisian architecture. I wanted to create something that would feel at home in that setting while bringing a little bit of my own world into it.”
The result is Tangled Sanctuary, a diptych measuring 5 x 4 ft per panel, created using acrylic, ink, and oil pastels on canvas. Rather than depicting a literal garden, Heussaff went abstract with her interpretation of a lush, overgrown landscape that puts the focus on feeling over being explicit with its intentions. “I wanted it to feel like a place you remember, or even just a feeling you recognize.”
“The story behind it is that we often look for peace in perfectly quiet, orderly places. But life is rarely that way. There’s always movement, uncertainty, and a little chaos. I wanted to explore the idea that sanctuary doesn’t necessarily mean escaping all of that. Sometimes, it’s about finding stillness right in the middle of it,” she adds.
Over the past few years, Heussaff has made a name for herself in the local art scene with her strength in using nature as her muse, intertwined with introspective themes that lie underneath the canvas. Tangled Sanctuary is her latest expression of that artistic vision where emotion is the key driver of her work. “I want people to feel something before they even try to understand what they’re looking at.”
Solenn Heussaff and Her Ever-Evolving Art
While Heussaff couldn’t be there in person to showcase her piece and meet with attendees and other artists, the painting just being there is already a moment worth celebrating. “For me, it’s really about the exchange,” she expresses. “I love seeing how people from different backgrounds connect with art, especially when they bring their own interpretations and experiences to a piece. I’m curious to see how a Parisian audience responds to my work.”
More importantly for Heussaff, her participation is one of a Filipino artist helping put local art and talent on the map. “We have such a rich culture and so many stories worth telling. If being part of this exhibition helps spark more curiosity about Philippine art, then that’s already something meaningful to take home.”
With her work now officially being included in a Paris Art Week exhibit, Heussaff adds another achievement to her growing artistic career, one that feels more meaningful given how the city has become somewhat of a second home to her during her formative years. “Coming back now, at a different stage in my life, with a body of work that reflects who I am today, feels quite special.”
But as much as Heussaff is celebrating the achievement, she knows there’s still more waiting for her. She’s been painting in one form or another for more than a decade now, yet she still sees herself as a student of the craft. “I think every opportunity to exhibit is another step in my journey as an artist,” Heussaff expresses. “I’ve never really looked at art as something you eventually master. It’s a constant process of learning, experimenting, making mistakes, and discovering new things about yourself along the way.”
From an OG it-girl to an established actress, Solenn Heussaff has worn many hats since she began her career two decades ago. But visual art was, is, and will remain a personal endeavor to her, which makes her Paris Art Week inclusion resonate on a deeper level. As she puts it, “Being able to share that side of myself on an international platform is both exciting and humbling. More than anything, it reminds me that there’s still so much to explore, and I feel like I’m only just getting started.”
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Featured Image: Courtesy of Solenn Heussaff, Photo by Jerick Sanchez
Photos: SOLENN HEUSSAFF (via Instagram)
