Cannes is known for sandy beaches and famous festivals, but the city’s cultural heritage is just as impressive. Culture Trip takes a look at the best museums and art galleries in Cannes.
The Centre d’Art La Malmaison, housed in what used to be the Grand Hotel, hosts temporary exhibitions of work from renowned 20th- and 21st-century artists such as Picasso and Chagall. Modern-art aficionados will love this chic, intimate space, situated on Cannes’ main boulevard.
Located within a medieval castle that was once home to the monks of Lérins, the Musée de la Castre sits high above the city, providing amazing views over La Croisette, the bay and the Lérins Islands. In 1877, the museum was bequeathed an eclectic art collection by a local resident, which includes medieval artefacts, Asian instruments and 19th-century paintings.
Villa Domergue, originally built in 1934, exhibits the work of Jean-Gabriel Domergue and his wife Odette Maudrange-Domergue. A prominent French painter of the 20th century, known primarily for his portraits of Parisian women, Domergue also designed the villa itself, while Odette designed the Mediterranean terraced gardens, ponds and waterfalls. Villa Domergue is located in the beautiful hillside scenery above Cannes, offering amazing views of the bay below.
The Hurtebize gallery in Cannes specialises in Post-Impressionist and Modern art. While purchasing one of these paintings might be out of reach for most, it shouldn’t stop you from admiring the wonderful work, which includes the likes of Renoir.
Located on the rue d’Antibes, this gallery forms an important part of Cannes’s cultural centre, situated around the Promenade de la Croisette. Permanent exhibitions feature artists such as Alain Geneau, whose work on flowers demonstrates an acute emotional control of shape, Yves Aubry, known for his use of vibrant colours and Christian Jequel, a painter inspired by the scenes of everyday life. It was founded in 2005 and another one opened on the same street in 2015.
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Established by Sabrina and Franck Neel in 1992, the small but well-known Galerie Neel plays host to a variety of artists, painters and sculptors. Having spent many years in New York, Los Angeles and Japan, the Neels returned to France to showcase the best in contemporary art. This intimate gallery has featured artists such as Cécile Desserle, who uses charcoal and make-up brushes to produce vibrant and sensual modern portraits. Galerie Neel has also recently begun using LED lighting for displays, for aesthetic and presentation purposes.
Espace Miramar is an exhibition space dedicated to photography and the visual arts. Located on the ground floor of an old hotel (the Palais Miramar Hotel, which was built in 1929), Miramar gets involved during the Cannes film festival, screening movies in its large auditorium. Six times a year, it holds major exhibitions centred around moving image throughout the ages.
Another gallery in the Croisette area, this gallery is situated within the opulent Carlton Hotel. Displaying a range of paintings, sculptures and unique glassware from international and local artists, the gallery also sells and purchases artwork on a regular basis. Works by some of the greatest European artists are collected and exhibited here, including Matisse, Picasso, Renoir and Chagall. Relax in the decadent surroundings and feel the collision between grand architecture and beautiful art in this one-of-a-kind gallery space.
English writer in France. Swapped a hectic life in the city of London for an easy-going southern French vibe. I still work just as hard but on my own terms and on my own time. I enjoy travelling, writing, working, hanging out with friends and family... and of course meeting the amazing people and seeing the wonderful things this country has to offer. www.alexledsom.com
