cosima von bonin’s plush animals arrive at paris’ petit palais
Paris’ Petit Palais has acquired some unusual residents for Art Basel Paris 2026. A velvet St. Bernard has joined the figures in its historic sculpture gallery, while leather octopuses and mohair whales occupy the same grand setting. The animals belong to Dollys & Beaux, an installation by Cologne-based artist Cosima von Bonin, whose oversized fabric creatures, created first for LOEWE, bring a peculiar sense of humor to the museum’s collection of classical sculpture.
The gathering includes a bulldog and a pair of scallops, along with hermit crabs that extend the artist’s strange little animal kingdom. Some have been dressed in silk scarves, while others sport tartan textiles added especially for their appearance in Paris. Their soft, exaggerated bodies seem perfectly comfortable sharing the gallery with their more solemn neighbors. It’s an amusing encounter between materials, with floppy fabric creatures taking their place among figures traditionally carved to endure.
from LOEWE’s runway to the petit palais
The animals have already enjoyed a rather fashionable debut. Earlier this year, Cosima von Bonin was invited by Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, creative directors of LOEWE, to create sculptures for the house‘s Fall/Winter 2026 show. At the Château de Vincennes in March, her plush creatures occupied seats alongside the runway, perched on oversized white shoeboxes as models passed along a bright yellow catwalk. Their presence extended into the collection itself, with the artist‘s imagery appearing across garments and accessories.
For Art Basel Paris, the same cast has been given a new setting and a few changes of costume. The silk scarves and tartan additions are a playful continuation of the fashion collaboration, although the creatures now find themselves surrounded by the permanent collection of a fine arts museum. Their placement among historic works gives them a different kind of presence. Without a runway to watch, the animals become part of the gathering themselves.
a soft interruption among the classics
Animals have appeared throughout von Bonin’s practice, particularly marine creatures and dogs that she renders in fabric with distinctly human attitudes. Working with found objects and familiar imagery from popular culture, the artist uses humor to examine social relationships and the conventions surrounding them. Her sculptures have a way of appearing both endearing and faintly ridiculous, with oversized features and relaxed postures that give each creature its own personality.
The Petit Palais offers an especially entertaining setting for this work. Visitors can move among the textile figures while the museum’s existing sculptures remain in place, creating unexpected encounters across the gallery. There is something funny about a plush whale occupying a room built for the formal display of art, particularly when its companions have arrived wearing silk accessories. The installation is presented by Petzel, Gaga, and Galerie Neu as part of Art Basel Paris’ public program, and is open with free admission from October 20th to 25th, 2026.
project info:
name: Dollys & Beaux (2026)
artist: Cosima von Bonin
location: Petit Palais
event: Art Basel Paris 2026
dates: October 20th — 25th, 2026
original commission: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for LOEWE Fall/Winter 2026
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