A February exhibition of contemporary queer artists delves into the dark complexities of love.

Love manifests itself in many forms, dimensions, and intensities. For Jean Cocteau, the iconic writer, director and Renaissance man, love dramatically took shape in pre-war Paris of 1937 upon meeting a striking, unknown actor twenty-four years his junior named Jean Marais.
From the very first moment Cocteau laid eyes on Marais at the Théâtre des Ambassadeurs, he found himself deeply and utterly lost in love—a love that would not only inspire his art but also forge a bond that would redefine the rest of his life. The love story of the Jeans remains one of the most compelling queer romances of the 20th century—a testament to love’s transformative power and its ability to take on many forms, fueling both passion and creativity.
In Marais, Cocteau found not just a lover and companion but a muse—one who would come to define some of his greatest works, starring in Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast and Orpheus. Their relationship intertwined personal devotion with artistic creation, forging a bond that was both inspiring and rare. While over time, their partnership evolved and shifted from a passionate romance to a profound companionship, it remained a testament to revealing love’s ability to evolve, sustain, and consume.
Nearly 90 years later—just minutes from where the Jeans first met—Lost in Love, a queer art exhibition opening next week, explores some of these same enduring and powerful dynamics. With love as a paradoxical force—uplifting us while blinding reason—the exhibition delves into love’s extremes, from passion and desire to vulnerability and obsession.

Lost in Love brings together six dynamic artists—Sergio Bonilla, Clement Louis, Alex Desmidt, Lucas Goubert, Kazybris, and Radek Husak—whose works explore themes of intimacy, human desire, and connection. Each of the twenty pieces on display from these artists highlights the raw and diverse experiences of love, unified through personal narratives, all in evocative red tones.
Taking place February 6-18, just steps from the Louvre and the Bourse de Commerce Pinault Collection at 16 Rue du Louvre, Lost in Love reimagines the Valentine’s season through art, exploring love in its many forms and complexities.
“Valentine’s often feels exclusionary to the LGBTQ+ community,” notes Erick Ricardo Acosta, curator and founder of The Norm Queer Agency (@thenorm_art on Instagram), an organization dedicated to crafting cultural projects that celebrate LGBTQ+ representation while bridging art, design, and inclusivity to amplify queer narratives.
“While this exhibition offers a distinctly queer perspective, it invites all communities to reflect on the raw, transformative power of love. It reminds us that we all experience the shared emotions of love and regret, emphasizing that all forms of love hold equal value.”
The same transformative power of love that defined Cocteau and Marais’ bond lies at the heart of Orpheus, one of Cocteau’s most acclaimed works. In the 1950 film, Marais embodies the titular poet, a man who ventures into the underworld in search of his lost love. The role, steeped in longing and sacrifice, reflects the extremes of love Cocteau so often explored—its ability to endure and consume.
Decades later, Lost in Love delves into these same complexities, uncovering love as an intoxicating force—one that blinds reason and draws us into some of the most profound extremes that sometimes even last a lifetime.
Image credit: Sergio Bonilla, Clement Louis