Ernest Pignon-Ernest: 60 Years of Ephemeral Street Art at Musée Ziem
The Musée Ziem in Martigues presents a major retrospective of Ernest Pignon-Ernest, featuring 200 works spanning 60 years. The exhibition runs from May 23 to November 15, 2026. Pignon-Ernest is known for his unauthorized, ephemeral street collages that degrade over time. The show highlights his interventions in Martigues in 1982-1984, including the Arbrorigènes series and a rare permanent wall of his drawings inside the museum. As guest curator, he selected 50 works from the museum's graphic collection to dialogue with his own. His first street action dates to 1966, protesting the nuclear strike force on the Plateau d'Albion. The exhibition includes works from Algeria (1962) to Haiti (2019).
Key facts
- Exhibition at Musée Ziem, Martigues, from May 23 to November 15, 2026.
- 200 works covering 60 years of Pignon-Ernest's career.
- First street action in 1966 against nuclear weapons on Plateau d'Albion.
- 1982-1984 interventions in Martigues included the Arbrorigènes series.
- A permanent wall of the artist's drawings remains in the museum.
- Pignon-Ernest acted as guest curator, selecting 50 works from the museum's collection.
- Works include images from Algeria (1962) to Haiti (2019).
- His method involves readings, surveys, and site-specific chalk and charcoal drawings.
Entities
Artists
- Ernest Pignon-Ernest
- Joëlle Pijaudier
- Philippe Halsman
- Oppenheimer
- Rimbaud
- Pasolini
Institutions
- Musée Ziem
Locations
- Martigues
- France
- Algeria
- Paris
- Charleville
- Soweto
- Cape Town
- Haiti
- Avignon
- Italy
- Plateau d'Albion
- Palestine
- Hiroshima