Picasso never fails to please.
When visiting Paris this year, the most exciting show that I saw was at the Picasso Museum, which reopened in 2014 after a five year renovation. We had a private tour of the new exhibition, “Picasso-Giacometti“. This highly anticipated show was organized by the Annette and Alberto Giacometti Foundation, pairing the paintings, sculpture and drawings by these two great masters of 20th century art.
Next, we ventured south, where we found more Picasso treasures. In Antibes, we visited the Chateau Grimaldi. Picasso was given a studio in Antibes to use in 1946, after the war. He worked there for only two months, creating sculptures and ceramics. His production was so prolific that the Musée Picasso in Antibes is comprised of works that he made just in that two month period.
One of the main reasons I wanted to travel to the south of France was to visit two private sculpture gardens that are open to the public in Provence.
The Bernar and Diane Venet Foundation is a must see. The artist is a passionate collector of works by his fellow artists including Frank Stella, Sol LeWitt, Dan Flavin, Donald Judd and many others.
The day we visited the foundation, Venet showed us around his home and told us stories of how he acquired his art. After, we walked the grounds, admiring his monumental sculptures and installations. Venet installed two pieces by famed artist James Turrell, one in a building and the other outside in nature. Both are magnificent.
Venet also created a beautiful Frank Stella pavillion. During our visit, he regaled us with stories of how he acquired the pieces. When you visit, make sure to give yourself ample time to enjoy the property and the art.
The next stop was a visit to Domaine Du Muy, a contemporary sculpture park newly created by the illustrious Mitterrand family.
Jean-Gabriel Mitterrand hosted a beautiful lunch overlooking a Subodh Gupta sculpture. When hiking the rugged trails in this park, one comes across sculpture after sculpture by internationally renowned artists. These works are carefully arranged in a natural setting by Edward Mitterrand and Simon Lamunière, guest curator. Some of the exceptional pieces are the Yayoi Kusama’s 1600 spheres placed in a pond, Claude Lalanne’s “Pomme de New York” and David Saltiel’s polished mirrors, reflecting nature. It is great fun walking the hills and coming across these sculptural gems. Be sure to wear walking shoes.
Our last stop was Villa Santo Sospri in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, a beautiful estate open to the public, where Jean Cocteau created frescoes inspired by Greek mythology.
Part of the fun of traveling with an art group is getting entree to marvelous private collections. Allard Hans Georg Von Rohr was our lecturer and guide. Allard is a genius. In addition to having a photographic historical memory, he knows everyone in the art world.
In France, we saw collections that not only focused on contemporary art, but
also interior design and gardens. The furniture and lighting were unique; some pieces were playful and others elegant. The garden we saw in the French Riviera was a work of art. Sculptures were dispersed in groupings of succulents that also became little sculptures itself.
I adored the placement of Danh Vo’s deconstructed “Statue of Liberty” next to the view of the Eiffel Tower in one collection.
Collectors can be so generous. Each year Daniel and Florence Guerlain give a contemporary drawing prize honoring three artists. The prize has been in existence since 1921. They hosted a beautiful lunch and private viewing of their collection pre FIAC. We ate well at private homes and restaurants, stayed in wonderful hotels and saw memorable art.
Recommended Restaurants:
Paris
-Restaurant Michel Rostand
-Restaurant Violin d’Ingres
-Market
-Le Train Bleu
French Riviera
-La Petite Maison
-La Colombre d’Or
-Le Reserve de Nice
Hotels
-Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat
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