Fresh off the heels of his visceral SS26 show at Palais de Tokyo — where smoke, water, industrial soundscapes, and monastic silhouettes collided on a burning-hot runway — Rick Owens has unveiled something even more personal: Temple of Love, his first full-scale retrospective in the city he’s called home for over two decades.
Taking over the Palais Galliera, Owens transforms the fashion museum into a brutalist sanctuary. From the façade, where classical statues are shrouded in sequined drapery, to the garden dotted with thirty hulking cement sculptures, the energy is ritualistic. The entire space feels like walking through the ruins of a future cult — one that worships creativity, gender fluidity, and power in all its beautifully twisted forms.
Inside, over 100 looks map the arc of his career — from raw, early LA pieces made from military surplus and repurposed leather, to the architectural drama of his more recent work. It’s a living archive, breathing with personal mementos, rare footage, and collaborative art pieces that anchor Owens not just in fashion, but in a larger artistic lineage. Think Gustave Moreau, Joseph Beuys, Steven Parrino — all name-dropped, all deeply felt.
The most moving parts? The presence of Michèle Lamy. Muse, partner, and high priestess of Owens’ world, her spirit lingers in a recreated version of their LA bedroom — incense, textures, and all.
Coming just days after Owens shook Fashion Week with another scorched-earth performance, Temple of Love acts as a mirror — a softer, more meditative counterpoint to his stagecraft. But make no mistake: this is still Owens. Still dark. Still radical. Still romantic in a way that feels carved out of stone and lit by candlelight.
If his recent show was the sermon, this is the sanctuary. Temple of Love is on now through April 1st 2026. Head here for tickets.
