Artists Exhibitions in Brittany, a selection of artist galleries to see in Pont-Aven
Before Artist Galleries arrived in Pont-Aven, the region was quite rural, remote, and culturally unique. Bretons are quite independent, they prefer to associate with people they know, and historically didn’t approve much of foreigners, even if they came from the next village. Things have changed.
Pont-Aven has been an artist colony since the 1850’s, when a rail line was extended from Paris in 1862. American Artists were some of the first to venture out, notably, Philadelphia artists, like Henry Bacon, Robert Wylie, C.J. Way, Earl Shinn, and Howard Robert’s. Over the years, the list grew, English, French, and German artists began to visit the region. Inspired by the exotic wilderness and culture of the relatively isolated Bretagne, artists came here looking for something different. By the time French artist Paul Gauguin arrived in 1886, Pont-Aven, and Brittany were known.
Contemporary Artists continue the tradition of relocating to this far flung corner of the world. Artists have been creating artist galleries and studios here for decades now. At one time, there were 60 artist galleries60 artist galleries in Pont-Aven. The number changes every year, some stay, and some go.
Listed here in no Particular order are some of my own recommendations for those seeking to discover an artist gallery or studio, to find something beautiful, poetic, and perhaps sublime.
Antoine Hommet,
Galerie IZART
Melissa Ferreira
Fred of the Wood
Pont Aven School of Contemporary Art, (now closed, but…)
LAURENT DUBÉ
Marlene Millon
Noémi Dessus
Echo Art
Anne Guevel
Gallery Anne Guevel – Place Julia
John K. Melvin
