By GINNY VAN ALYEA

An art experience centered on scent may seem unexpected—but that sense of discovery is part of what makes the Alliance Française de Chicago’s 2026 Symposium on the Arts of France especially compelling.

Titled Scent: The Invisible Art, this year’s three-part series considers fragrance as a creative medium—one that operates beyond the visual to shape memory, emotion, and perception. While the opening lecture took place in April, two upcoming programs continue the exploration, offering Chicago audiences an opportunity to engage with art through a more immersive, multisensory lens.

The May 13 program, A Journey into the Artistry and Passion of Fragrance, features Linda G. Levy, President of The Fragrance Foundation, who frames scent as a form of artistic expression shaped by the vision of the perfumer. Drawing on the work of influential figures such as master perfumer Carlos Benaïm and fragrance curator Frédéric Malle, Levy explores the idea of “perfumery as art”—from Benaïm’s inspiration in Van Gogh’s Starry Night to Malle’s approach of composing fragrances as one might a work of art, giving perfumers complete creative freedom.

Her talk also traces connections between disciplines, comparing the perfumer’s palette of ingredients to the materials of painters and sculptors, while highlighting collaborations that translate scent into other forms, including graphic design, portraiture, and poetry. The program further touches on synesthesia—the blending of sensory experiences—inviting audiences to consider how fragrance might be perceived as color or emotion.

The series concludes on June 10 with Senteurs et Émotions, led by renowned French perfumer Camille Goutal. Both lectures take place from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Alliance Française de Chicago and are presented in English.

For more than two decades, the Symposium on the Arts of France has been a cornerstone of the Alliance’s cultural programming, bringing internationally recognized voices to Chicago while highlighting the enduring influence of French art and thought. This year’s focus on scent expands that tradition, offering a fresh perspective on how art can be experienced—and understood.

A limited number of complimentary tickets are available for students, reflecting the Alliance’s commitment to accessibility and education.

The series is offered in person and available online.

More information and tickets are available at af-chicago.org.