In March, The Musée d’Orsay in Paris unveiled the official Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 posters masterfully created by French illustrator Ugo Gattoni.
Renowned for his vibrant and detailed style, Gattoni’s work on these posters beautifully blends his artistic vision with Paris 2024’s guiding principles.
In a groundbreaking move, Paris 2024 opted for a unified design approach for both the Olympic and Paralympic posters, reflecting the spirit of equality that defines the upcoming Games. Much like the unified torch and mascots, these posters symbolise the interconnectedness and unity of the events. Displayed in a giant format at the Musée d’Orsay until March 10, these artworks are accessible to visitors from around the globe.
“It’s a new, key moment in the Paris 2024 story,” remarked Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet at the unveiling event. “We’ve tried to be different and imagine posters that look like us, beyond a mere logo.”
The Creative Journey
Ugo Gattoni, a Paris native, dedicated 2,000 hours to creating these iconic posters from September 19, 2023, to January 19, 2024. His vibrant and whimsical universe was precisely what Paris 2024 needed. “Ugo is known for his colourful, fun universe,” added Estanguet. We required that universe. It was important that these posters could live by themselves, separately – one Olympic poster and one Paralympic – but also that they could live together.”
Gattoni expressed his excitement about the project: “It’s an incredible opportunity to have my work shown to the world. It’s very important to me that a piece of art has a life in its own time, so it is absolutely fantastic that this drawing can be shown in a museum alongside paintings that are hundreds of years old.”
A Closer Look at the Paris 2024 Posters
Effervescence and Detail: The posters are a rich tapestry of micro-elements and miniature scenes, inviting viewers to immerse themselves and explore. From a distance, the global scene delivers an overarching message, but up close, new details emerge, offering a myriad of narratives. This intricate play on perspective is a hallmark of Gattoni’s work.
Reverie and Fantasy: Gattoni’s posters present a utopian, fantasy version of Paris—a circular stadium city where sport is omnipresent. This imagined Paris intertwines past and present, drawing inspiration from the Art Deco movement and bridging the 1900, 1924, and 2024 Games.
Cheerfulness and Lightness: The illustrations are cheerful, festive, and luxurious, echoing the joyful and playful spirit of the Paris 2024 Games. They promise a grand, vibrant, and inclusive popular celebration.
Symbolism and Iconography: The posters are adorned with symbols of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, including the Olympic Rings, the Three Agitos, and the Olympic Motto. They also feature signature elements of the Paris 2024 edition, such as the mascots, the arrival of the Olympic Flame in Marseille aboard the Belem, and the boats of the Ceremony on the Seine. Iconic Parisian and French symbols like the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Paris Metro are prominently displayed.
Embracing New Sports
In addition to traditional sports, the posters celebrate the four new sports added to the Paris 2024 program: breaking, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing. These additions highlight the Games’ dynamic and evolving nature.
The Paris 2024 posters are available for purchase at the Musée d’Orsay and on the Paris 2024 shop website, offering everyone a chance to own a piece of this historic artistic achievement.
By seamlessly blending art, history, and the spirit of the Games, Ugo Gattoni’s posters capture the essence of Paris 2024, promising an unforgettable celebration of sports and unity.
