On November 2, 2026, to conclude the celebrations marking its 15th anniversary, Serge Weinberg, president of the Paris Brain Institute; Stéphanie Debette, executive director; and Olivier Goy, patron and ambassador of the Institute, unveiled the “Fresque généreuse,” a monumental artwork installed for six months on the Institute’s façade, in the heart of the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital.
Created by artist Vahram Muratyan—best known for "Paris versus New York"—the "Fresque généreuse" brings together 3,000 portraits of donors, patients, researchers, and partners, photographed by Olivier Goy over the course of more than a year. Through this composition, the Institute pays tribute to those who have supported the Institute’s mission since its founding.
At a signal given from the ground, two RAID members rappelled down the building’s facade to reveal the first and last letters of “INVINCIBLE ESPOIR,” formed by 3,000 faces—with the portraits on a black background making up the background of the mural and those on a white background forming the letters.
A Year of Photography, from Paris to San Francisco
Behind this project lies a long-term photographic endeavor. For over a year, Olivier Goy traveled to various locations with his mobile photography studio. From the Champs-Élysées to the Paris Brain Institute, via New York, San Francisco, Geneva, and Lausanne, he photographed donors, patrons, testators, patients, researchers, doctors, individuals, and corporate representatives. Events organized with partners—at companies or cultural venues—also helped broaden participation.
All subjects were given the same instruction: to look upward, without looking directly at the camera. This gaze toward the light and the future unites the portraits, transcending differences in their backgrounds and experiences. Each face, taken individually, tells a unique story; together, they form a shared horizon.
A Photo in Exchange for a Donation
“La Fresque généreuse” is also a fundraising initiative to benefit research. The concept: linking portraits to tangible support for the Paris Brain Institute. Donors have thus contributed to funding research in exchange for being featured on the mural, while companies have been able to sponsor a letter of the message “INVINCIBLE ESPOIR,” encouraging their employees to have their photos taken and join the mural. The French mural and its future American version (in partnership with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York in 2027) have already raised 1 million euros for research.
A shared ambition: advancing neuroscience research
In December 2020, Olivier Goy learned that he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He then chose to speak publicly about his journey to raise awareness of this neurodegenerative disease, educate the general public and policymakers about the realities of disability, and support the teams seeking new treatments.
His commitment led him to become an ambassador and patron of the Brain Institute, particularly in support of research on ALS.
Generosity: The Driving Force Behind Agile Research
Since its founding in 2010, the Paris Brain Institute has relied on a funding model that combines public funding with private generosity. This complementary approach gives research teams the flexibility, responsiveness, and continuity needed to explore new hypotheses, take scientific risks, and carry out long-term projects.
Engaging donors and patrons plays a key role in this model. Since the Institute’s founding, 432,000 donors, patrons, and bequestors have made commitments. In 2025, donations, patronage, and bequests totaled 45.7 million euros, representing 53.5% of its resources.
In the lobby of the Paris Brain Institute, an exhibition offering a behind-the-scenes look at "La Fresque généreuse"
An exhibition set up in the lobby of the Paris Brain Institute offers a deeper look into *La Fresque généreuse*. It traces the history of the project, showcases Olivier Goy’s photographic work and Vahram Muratyan’s graphic design choices, and reviews the various stages of this initiative.
Practical Information
Dates: starting November 3, 2026
Days and hours of operation: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Free admission
Visit the exhibition in the lobby of the Paris Brain Institute
Partners funding the production and installation of the “Fresque généreuse”
- Stratus/Métropole
- JCDecaux
- Olivier Goy
Exhibition Sponsor
- Ora
Media Partners
- M6
- RTL
Companies that have encouraged their employees to have their photos taken for the Fresque
- LVMH
- Galeries Lafayette
- Servier
- Etam
- Groupe Erget
- Kermony Office
- Bonial
- JE Collectif
- Xavier Anthonioz
Association
- Les Invincibles
Lou Gerhig’s disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or ‘Lou Gerhig’s disease’, is a progressive and fatal neuromuscular condition involving the gradual death of motor neurons, the neurons that control walking, speech, swallowing and breathing. This loss of motor...
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