Ariana Papademetropoulos: Glass Slipper Exhibition in Paris
PARIS — In the heart of the Marais district, Ariana Papademetropoulos has transformed Thaddaeus Ropac’s gallery into a realm where domestic interiors dissolve into surreal psychological landscapes. Her exhibition Glass Slipper, on view through April 11, marks the California-based painter’s debut solo presentation in France and centers on an ambitious immersive installation that blurs the boundaries between observer and observed.
At the core of the show stands Water Based Treatment (2026), a nine-foot-wide fish tank installation containing 150 freshwater “kissing fish.” Visitors are invited to lie on a mattress inside a transparent chamber submerged within the aquarium, donning headphones to experience a private ambient soundtrack composed by Nicolas Godin of the French duo Air. The sound draws from 1970s therapy tapes, creating an intimate sensory experience as fish glide around the enclosure.
Papademetropoulos, known for her hyper-realistic paintings that fuse everyday objects with volatile natural scenes, pairs the installation with large-scale works depicting dresses in dry-cleaning bags and floating chairs amid dramatic landscapes. “The aquarium is inspired by Korean spas in Los Angeles,” she explained in a recent interview. “It’s about transformation and healing. Inside, you’re both the observer and the observed—like Snow White in her glass casket.”
The exhibition weaves themes of mythology, femininity, and perception, positioning the viewer in a liminal space where water, glass, and constant motion filter reality. Critics have praised the work for its whimsical yet profound invitation to surrender control, turning passive viewing into active participation.
Glass Slipper continues Papademetropoulos’s exploration of parallel realms, offering a timely meditation on vulnerability and wonder in an increasingly disconnected world. The show is free and open to the public at Thaddaeus Ropac Paris Marais.
