The Best Exhibitions in Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence is a culturally rich city. This historic town, known for its architectural heritage and cobbled streets, is a gem of the South of France and a favourite destination for art lovers, thanks to its numerous museums and exhibitions.

Whether you are an art enthusiast or simply in search of culture, do not miss the best exhibitions in Aix-en-Provence. Great names in art history, emerging talents or contemporary installations: the town offers a rich and varied programme all year round.

Hôtel de Caumont

The Hôtel de Caumont, a listed Historic Monument, is a major venue in Aix's cultural life, in the heart of the Mazarin district. It is one of the finest private mansions in Aix-en-Provence. From the courtyard of honour to the gardens and the historic salons, the visit evokes the refined atmosphere of the 18th century and hosts major temporary exhibitions dedicated to great names in art history, from the 14th century to the present day.

For its winter exhibitions, the Hôtel de Caumont notably celebrates Yves Klein, one of the most celebrated French artists of the second half of the 20th century. Since his untimely death in 1962, at the age of 34, recognition of his work has never ceased to grow. The luminous, deep blue he patented, « International Klein Blue » (IKB), is known well beyond the circle of art enthusiasts.

Produced in collaboration with the Yves Klein Archives, the « Yves Klein Intime » exhibition presents, in Cézanne's home town, around sixty works by the Nice-born artist and traces his family origins, circle of friends, workplace and relationships with his models, highlighting his private reflections on spirituality and humour.

Cézanne's Studio

Paul Cézanne, the Impressionist painter who made Provence and the surroundings of Aix-en-Provence his favourite source of inspiration, purchased a plot of land on the Lauves hill in 1901 to establish his studio there. Bordered by the Canal du Verdon and planted with olive and fig trees, this plot offers an unprecedented panoramic view over Mont Sainte-Victoire. The artist's most famous paintings were painted from this vantage point.

Now owned by the Aix Tourist Office, the Musée Atelier de Cézanne displays some models of his famous still lifes, along with easels and sketches. A sensory and playful visit, immersing you in the artist's world and exploring your own creativity, is offered on certain days during the school holidays.

Musée Granet

Opened in 1838, the Musée Granet is an institution in Aix-en-Provence. It displays over 4,000m² of exhibition space featuring close to 600 paintings and sculptures spanning the 12th to the 21st century. The museum also holds ten paintings by Paul Cézanne, including a version of « Les Grandes Baigneuses ». In 2010, the museum received the invaluable Planque collection on deposit, comprising 300 masterpieces, most of which have been on display since 2013 in the new spaces of the Musée Granet at the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs, under the title « Granet XXe ».

The museum has presented, in partnership with the Tate Gallery in London, an exhibition devoted to the English artist David Hockney, one of the most influential and popular contemporary artists in the world. Avant-garde and daring, he draws on numerous sources, including popular imagery and the works of old and modern masters. His work is built on the great classics of art: still lifes, portraits and landscapes, as well as his great obsession, representation and perspective.

Among the hundred or so works on display, the vast majority came from the Tate's collection. The Aix-en-Provence exhibition marked the final stop of a touring retrospective previously shown in Brussels, Vienna and Lucerne. It traced the artist's unique journey from the mid-1950s to the present day.

Fondation Vasarely

The Fondation Vasarely is an architectonic centre, blending art and architecture, built between 1971 and 1976 by the Franco-Hungarian artist Victor Vasarely, and listed as a Historic Monument since 2013.

At the Fondation Vasarely, immerse yourself in the fascinating world of optical art within the luminokinetic building imagined, designed and funded by Victor Vasarely. Here you can discover 44 monumental works spread across seven 11-metre-high hexagonal units. Since 2018, the « Vasarely Plasticien » exhibition has celebrated the exceptional and atypical career of the artist who challenged the conventions of the 20th century, from his early days as a graphic designer to his utopian project for a « polychrome city of happiness ».

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