Une double exposition en plein air pour les 250 ans de l'Indépendance des Etats-Unis

From 1 July to 15 September 2026, the Place des États-Unis (Paris 16e) hosts a double outdoor art exhibition, entirely free and accessible to all: Paris-Match & Marielle Durand celebrates Franco-American friendship and 250 years of Independence!

Organised in conjunction with the US Embassy and the Mairie du 16ème arrondissement, this major cultural event celebrates 250 years of Franco-American friendship by honouring the city of Philadelphia through the drawings of artist Marielle Durand, as well as a series of photos highlighted by Paris-Match magazine.

Founded in 1682 by William Penn, a Quaker*, who chose to name it the “City of Brotherly Love” in Greek, in the hope that religious tolerance would reign there, it became a major site in American history with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776.

Lafayette's intervention largely contributed to this victory and to the sealing of Franco-American friendship. A few years later, it was also in Philadelphia that the American Constitution was drafted and signed on 17 September 1787.

, remains, wrongly, relatively unknown to the general public outside the American continent.

Beyond the Independence National Historical Park, where most of the monuments and symbols recalling this great step in the construction of the United States are located, the city offers a very dynamic popular and artistic cultural variety, between renowned museums, street art and festive events.

One year before the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of Independence, the city's tourism office (PHLCVB) invited artist Marielle Durand, via the Hopscotch Tourism agency and Carnets d’Ailleurs magazine, to bear witness in drawings and colours to the richness of this historic city.

On 16 panels, more than twenty drawings are displayed, selected from many others and dedicated to this project. All are captioned in French and English. The first version of this project and report, published in Carnets d’Ailleurs #8, received the VISIT USA MEDIA AWARDS 2026.