Citimarks

A literary travel guide to explore timeless marks of fabulous cities.

Citimarks is a new, literary guide that takes travelers on a journey to explore the soul of a city. With the help of travel notes, memoirs and city stories published by famous writers, Citimarks opens a dialogue with the past to identify timeless trademarks: landscapes, customs and lifestyles which survived through the centuries and form the unique identity of a city. Contemporary creative talents

–such as writers, musicians, filmmakers, and chefs- draw their own city portraits and share their favorite 24-hour itineraries, beyond the reach of tourist maps.

14/05/2026

Tucked away in Paris’ 16th arrondissement, Rue Mallet-Stevens is a hidden manifesto of modernism. Named after Robert Mallet-Stevens, one of the leading French architects of the 1920s–30s, the street embodies his vision of architecture as a total work of art. Mallet-Stevens blended Cubist ideas with Art Deco elegance, favouring clean geometric volumes, white façades, terraces, and the innovative use of concrete, glass, and light as design elements.

In 1927, he was given the rare opportunity to design an entire street from scratch. The result is a cohesive ensemble of villas, all created by him for a circle of artists and patrons, making the street itself a living architectural composition.

At its heart stands the multi-family building at No. 12, where Mallet-Stevens himself lived and worked, alongside other standout residences like the Villa Dreyfus and the sculptors’ Martel house-studio. These buildings showcase his signature language: sharp lines, interlocking volumes, and a harmony between architecture, interiors, and urban space. This urban art piece offers one of the purest expressions of early modernism in Paris, a rare chance to experience an architect’s vision realized at the scale of an entire street.

Explore outstanding modernist architecture in our Paris guide on Citimarks, link in the first comment.

20/04/2026

As Paris celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Exposition internationale des Arts décoratifs, exhibitions across the city revisit the movement that gave Art Deco its name. In the interwar years, graphic artists transformed advertising posters into powerful works of modern design. Bold geometry, streamlined forms and striking typography captured the spirit of a new, modern age. Here are some of our favorite artists:

Jean Carlu (cover pic, pic 6) - Carlu’s stylized figures and dramatic contrasts distill Parisian nightlife into elegant geometric shapes. His posters embody Art Deco’s mastery of simplification and visual rhythm.

Georges Bourgeois (pic 2) - A poster as cinematic as the film itself. Fragmented geometry, sharp diagonals and industrial imagery reflect the era’s fascination with technology and the machine age.

Paul Colin (pic 3) - Colin’s vibrant posters capture the energy of Parisian jazz culture. Expressive silhouettes and bold lettering became hallmarks of Art Deco entertainment design.

A.M. Cassandre (pic 4) - One of the most iconic travel posters of the century. Cassandre uses monumental perspective, clean lines and modern typography to evoke speed, power and the romance of rail travel.

Jean Dupas (pic 5) - Dupas blends elegance and symbolism with refined line work, reflecting the decorative sophistication and luxury associated with Art Deco.

Poster for the 1925 Exposition des Arts Décoratifs (pic 7) - The exhibition that defined the movement itself. Its ornamental symmetry and stylized motifs helped establish the visual language of Art Deco.

Discover outstanding Parisian craftsmanship in our Paris guide on Citimarks, link in the first comment.

07/04/2026

Jacques-Émile Ruhlmann (1879–1933) was one of the defining figures of Art Deco, embodying the elegance and refined luxury of early-20th-century Paris.

Born into a family of decorators, he transformed his father’s workshop into one of France’s most prestigious design studios. Largely self-taught, he became known for exceptional craftsmanship and collaborations with master artisans.

Ruhlmann elevated decorative arts to fine art. His furniture is recognized for rare woods like Macassar ebony and rosewood, subtle curves, balanced geometry, and refined details in ivory, lacquer, and metal, championing artisanal perfection over mass production.

His Hôtel du Collectionneur at the 1925 Paris Decorative Arts Exhibition became a landmark of Art Deco sophistication. Iconic works include the Bureau du Collectionneur, the Chaise Longue aux Skis, and his elegant cabinets and dressing tables. The current Paris exhibition celebrating 100 years of Art Deco showcases emblematic pieces and drawings illustrating his lasting influence.

Throughout April, our posts are dedicated to the legacy of Art Deco and this remarkable Paris exhibition. Stay tuned as we explore Parisian craftsmanship through outstanding artists and writers, and discover more in our Paris guide on Citimarks, link in the first comment.

22/03/2026

Paris celebrates a century of elegance with 100 ans Art déco, an exhibition marking 100 years since the 1925 Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes — the moment that gave Art Deco its name and global influence. This movement embodied modernity, craftsmanship, and luxury, shaping everything from architecture and interiors to fashion and graphic design, and redefining Paris as the capital of refined modern living.

The exhibition brings together furniture, textiles, fashion, jewelry, objets d’art, posters, and architectural elements by leading designers and workshops of the era, highlighting the dialogue between innovation, fine materials, and exceptional savoir-faire.

A standout moment is the focus on the legendary Orient Express, then a true icon of Art Deco luxury in travel. The exhibition unveils the new Orient Express project, reimagined as a rolling masterpiece by architect and artistic director Maxime d’Angeac, with the involvement of master artisans and prestigious French houses specializing in glass, metalwork, marquetry, textiles, and decorative arts — reviving the spirit of travel as an art form.

Throughout March and until the exhibition closes on April 26, our posts will be dedicated to the legacy of Art Deco and this remarkable Paris exhibition. Stay tuned as we explore Parisian craftsmanship through the work of outstanding artists and writers, and discover more in our Paris guide on Citimarks, link in the first comment.

04/03/2026

Step inside one of Paris’s most impressive art spaces ✨

Before becoming a beacon of contemporary creation, the site of the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain once formed part of the historic Grands Magasins du Louvre, a symbol of Parisian modernity and commerce in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Reimagined in 1994 by architect Jean Nouvel, the glass-and-steel building introduced a radical new vision for exhibition spaces, blurring boundaries between art, architecture, and the city. Today, its recently renovated interiors reaffirm this spirit of reinvention, transparency, and openness.

Renowned for its bold, interdisciplinary program, the Fondation Cartier champions contemporary art in all its forms: visual art, photography, design, fashion, architecture, and performance. Rather than a static collection, it presents ever-evolving exhibitions featuring major international artists and emerging voices alike, with highlights over the years including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Patti Smith, Ron Mueck, Daido Moriyama, and Sarah Sze. Each show invites visitors into a dynamic dialogue between artistic practice and the world around us.

The architecture itself is an experience: floating glass façades, layered reflections, and a garden conceived as an extension of the exhibition space create a poetic journey where inside and outside dissolve — a true landmark of contemporary Paris.

Explore the artistic world of Paris through the eyes of talented painters and writers in our Paris guide on Citimarks — link in the first comment.

13/02/2026

Step into the bold world of Lee Miller, the American photographer whose lens captured both beauty and brutal truth. Born in New York in 1907, she began as a fashion model before moving behind the camera in Paris, working with avant-garde figures like Man Ray and helping pioneer solarisation, blending Surrealism with technical experimentation.

During WWII in London, Miller became one of the few accredited female war correspondents, producing unflinching images of resilience, destruction, and liberation — from Blitz-era London to liberated camps across Europe, including her iconic photograph taken in Hitler’s bathtub after Dachau.

The Lee Miller retrospective at Tate Britain brings together around 250 vintage and modern prints, tracing her extraordinary journey from surrealist portraits and fashion photography to powerful wartime reportage and Vogue spreads. On view until February 15, 2026, the exhibition reveals a daring, poetic eye that forever reshaped visual culture.

Explore the rich history of London through the lens of talented photographers and writers in our London guide on Citimarks — link in the first comment.

02/02/2026

Dive into the heart of interwar Paris at Les Gens de Paris, 1926-1936, a fascinating exhibition at Musée Carnavalet that takes you beyond postcards and clichés. Based on the city’s first nominal censuses from 1926, 1931 and 1936 — when Paris reached nearly 2.9 million inhabitants at its demographic peak — the show paints a vivid portrait of everyday life in the City of Light between the two World Wars. You’ll discover how Parisians lived, worked, loved and moved across neighbourhoods shaped by rapid social change and cultural effervescence.

From professions and family structures to the rhythms of urban life and the rich diversity of neighbourhoods, the exhibition weaves census data with photos, documents and stories of both anonymous residents and famous figures like La Goulue, Charles Aznavour, Fernandel or Édith Piaf. Best of all: thanks to newly digitised census records, visitors can explore searchable databases and even look up names and addresses of Parisians of the interwar years — a chance to trace your own family’s footsteps through history.

On display through February 8, 2026 — don’t miss this unique window onto Paris’s vibrant past. Explore the rich history of Paris through the eyes of talented writers in our Paris guide on Citimarks — link in the first comment.

18/01/2026

Discover the world of George Condo — the American painter, draftsman & sculptor born in 1957 in Concord, New Hampshire whose evocative figures and bold reworkings of art history have made him one of today’s most imaginative voices in contemporary painting. 🖼️✨ Known for his distinctive approach to “psychological cubism,” Condo blends influences from Old Masters like Picasso, Goya and Rembrandt with modern culture, surreal distortion and emotional depth to explore the human psyche.

From his early days working in Andy Warhol’s silkscreen studio to his years in Paris and New York, Condo has drawn on a rich visual and cultural heritage — mixing tradition with cartoon, graffiti and literary inspiration — to create a unique visual language.

At the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, a major retrospective - on display through February 8, 2026 - brings together 80 paintings, 110 drawings and 20 sculptures that trace over four decades of his practice, from reinterpretations of art history to figurative portraits and abstract explorations.

Exhibition highlights include Condo’s celebrated Antipodal Reunion, emblematic of his psychological cubism, a selection of his haunting Faces series, and large-scale figurative compositions where classical portraiture collides with distortion, humor and unease.

Dive into the energy, irony and emotional complexity of Condo’s work — a must-see for lovers of contemporary art in Paris! 🎨🇫🇷

Explore the artistic world of Paris through the eyes of painters and writers in our Paris guide on Citimarks — link in the first comment.

30/12/2025

Painter, revolutionary agitator, portraitist of emperors — Jacques-Louis David (1748–1825) was all of these. A leader of Neoclassicism, he reshaped European art with bold, moralizing works like Oath of the Horatii and The Death of Socrates, grounding antiquity in the turmoil of his own age.

During the Revolution, David didn’t just paint history — he helped make it. As a deputy in the National Convention and a devoted supporter of radical change, he broke with the old art establishment, honored revolutionary martyrs in works like The Death of Marat, and gave politics a powerful visual language.

With Napoleon came reinvention: as First Painter to the Emperor, David crafted iconic images such as Napoleon Crossing the Alps and The Intervention of the Sabine Women, blending classical rigor with imperial spectacle. Across monarchy, revolution, empire, and exile, his brush captured a nation in transformation.

Now at the Louvre: “Jacques-Louis David”, a major retrospective, open until 26 January 2026. Nearly 100 works — from early studies to revolutionary canvases, neoclassical masterworks, imperial commissions, and pieces from exile — trace the life of an artist at the center of history.

Step into the refined world of 19th-century Paris through the eyes of painters and writers in our Paris guide on Citimarks — link in the first comment.

17/12/2025

Kerry James Marshall is an American artist, born in 1955 in Birmingham, Alabama, who grew up in Los Angeles and now works in Chicago. He is renowned for his large-scale paintings, sculptures and mixed media works that centre Black lives — everyday moments, histories, identities — in ways that Western art historically has denied them.

His work draws on both the grand traditions of Western painting — portraits, history painting, genre scenes — and African-American cultural realities, merging art-historical references, pop culture, and vernacular forms (from comics to murals).

🎨 Marshall’s distinctive style often uses deep, uncompromising black pigment for skin, dramatic composition, and richly patterned, symbolic settings — a bold statement: to make Black bodies visible, dignified, central.

Running through January 18, the Royal Academy of Arts’ “Kerry James Marshall: The Histories” offers Europe’s most comprehensive look at his work — a striking demonstration of art’s ability to rewrite stories, open space, and restore visibility to lives long pushed aside.

Explore our favourite museums and galleries in a dedicated Guide to London, at Citimarks.com, link in the first comment.

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