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Claude Viallat's 'Retour au Bois Orcan' at Château de Bois Orcan

exhibition · 2026-07-31

Located in Noyal-sur-Vilaine, Brittany, the Château de Bois Orcan is currently featuring 'Claude Viallat. Retour au Bois Orcan', an exhibition showcasing the latest creations of 90-year-old Claude Viallat, a prominent figure in the Supports/Surfaces movement. Curated by Philippe Bouchet, the exhibition will be open until November 1st. Born in 1936 in Nîmes, Viallat employs stencils to create sponge- or bean-shaped designs across various surfaces. The display includes paintings on floating tarpaulins, sculptures crafted from recycled materials, and stained-glass windows. Viallat personally arranged the artworks and discusses his methodology in a video. Additionally, the exhibition presents sculptures by Étienne-Martin, emphasizing Viallat's innovative approach to painting without a chassis and his continuous exploration of color and space.

Key facts

  • Exhibition 'Claude Viallat. Retour au Bois Orcan' at Château de Bois Orcan, Noyal-sur-Vilaine, until November 1st.
  • Curated with art historian Philippe Bouchet.
  • Claude Viallat, born 1936, is a key figure of the Supports/Surfaces movement.
  • Viallat has used a stencil to apply a sponge/bean shape to various supports since the mid-1960s.
  • The exhibition includes recent paintings, sculptures from recycled materials, and three stained-glass windows.
  • Viallat himself hung the works and features in a video by Sylvaine Landon and Julie Quintard.
  • The show includes a dialogue with sculptures by Étienne-Martin (1913-1995).
  • Viallat is 90 years old this year.
  • The exhibition is a return to Bois Orcan, where he exhibited in the early 2000s.

Entities

Artists

  • Claude Viallat
  • Philippe Bouchet
  • Étienne-Martin
  • Sylvaine Landon
  • Julie Quintard
  • Guy Landon

Institutions

  • Château de Bois Orcan
  • Supports/Surfaces
  • Connaissance des Arts

Locations

  • Noyal-sur-Vilaine
  • Brittany
  • France
  • Nîmes

Sources