Galleries in Provence

About : Galleries in Provence

Provence has been a calming refuge from Paris for artists since the nineteenth century, building a strong artistic heritage that is showcased in galleries across the region. The Impressionist painters were among the first to draw on the Provence landscape for inspiration: Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir and Picasso all painted in the area, and the Musée Granet (Place Saint Jean de Malte) in Aix-de-Provence exhibits their work today. The gallery, named after native Provence painter François Marius Granet, also holds the region's largest permanent collection of Cézanne works.

Fondation Vincent Van Gogh

Located in a modest house in Arles, the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh (24bis Rond Point des Arènes) exhibits artists who have an affinity with the painter of 'Sunflowers'. Work by influential contemporary artists including David Hockney and Francis Bacon has appeared at the gallery, with a new artist exhibited each summer.

Fondation Vaserely

Less charming but equally fascinating is the Fondation Vaserely (1 Avenue Marcel Pagnol), housed within a Bauhaus-style building in Aix-en-Provence. The architect Victor Vaserely was the founder of optical art and this architecture-styled 1976 gallery explores the theme of 'the city of tomorrow', bringing together work by artists, architects and urban planners.