ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Summer Art Guide 2019: Provence's Must-See Exhibitions and Festivals

festival-fair · 2026-05-04

Arles marked the 50th anniversary of Les Rencontres de la Photographie with more than 100 exhibitions celebrating women's creativity. The festival, established by Michel Tournier, Lucien Clergue, and Jean-Maurice Rouquette, showcases renowned artists such as Weston, Clergue, Abbott, and Meiselas alongside new talents. Mohamed Bourouissa's 'FreeTrade' is set in a Monoprix supermarket, while Marjan Teeuwen's 'Destroyed House' features sculptures crafted from debris. Rachel Rose's 'Enclosure' is presented at Fondation Luma, and Mario del Curto's 'Humanité Végétale' creates a garden pathway. The Abbaye de Montmajour hosts 'Bâtir à hauteur d'hommes,' highlighting Fernand Pouillon's architectural work in Algeria. Meanwhile, the Festival d'Avignon revitalizes Avignon, and Montpellier's MO.CO, led by Nicolas Bourriaud, showcases contemporary architecture and 40 parks.

Key facts

  • Les Rencontres de la Photographie d'Arles celebrated its 50th anniversary with over 100 exhibitions.
  • The festival was founded by Michel Tournier, Lucien Clergue, and Jean-Maurice Rouquette.
  • Mohamed Bourouissa's 'FreeTrade' occupies a 1,000 sqm Monoprix supermarket.
  • Marjan Teeuwen's 'Destroyed House' features images of sculptures made from building debris.
  • Rachel Rose's holographic film 'Enclosure' is shown at Fondation Luma.
  • Avignon's Festival d'Avignon offers theater and performances across the city.
  • Montpellier opened MO.CO, a new contemporary art museum directed by Nicolas Bourriaud.
  • Montpellier's Antigone district was designed by Ricardo Bofill.

Entities

Artists

  • Michel Tournier
  • Lucien Clergue
  • Jean-Maurice Rouquette
  • Vincent van Gogh
  • Edward Weston
  • Berenice Abbott
  • Florence Henri
  • Germaine Krull
  • Martin Parr
  • Susan Meiselas
  • Mohamed Bourouissa
  • Marjan Teeuwen
  • Rachel Rose
  • Mario del Curto
  • Fernand Pouillon
  • Vik Muniz
  • Anselm Kiefer
  • Andy Warhol
  • Richard Serra
  • Sol LeWitt
  • Douglas Gordon
  • Nan Goldin
  • Jean-Michel Basquiat
  • Pablo Picasso
  • Cy Twombly
  • Sandro Botticelli
  • Nicolas Bourriaud
  • Bertrand Lavier
  • Zaha Hadid
  • Massimiliano Fuksas
  • Philippe Starck
  • Jean Nouvel
  • Ricardo Bofill
  • Claudia Zanfi

Institutions

  • Les Rencontres de la Photographie d'Arles
  • Fondation Luma
  • Abbaye de Montmajour
  • Musée de l'Arles Antique
  • Petit-Palais
  • Musée Angladon
  • Collection Lambert
  • MO.CO (Montpellier Contemporain)
  • Palais de Tokyo
  • Centre d'Art Panacée
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Arles
  • France
  • Avignon
  • Montpellier
  • Algeria
  • Provence
  • Sud de la France
  • Quartier Antigone
  • Monoprix

Sources