Nestled in the heart of Aix-en-Provence in the South of France, in the historic Mazarin district, Gallifet is a fantastic art centre.

Housed in a stunning 18th-century’s hôtel particulier, the venue, founded by Nicolas Mazet and Kate Davis, features six galleries and a beautiful garden, home to a restaurant shaded by century-old chestnut trees, and an experimentation space.

Welcoming visitors from around the world, Gallifet presents three exhibitions each year. It showcases a diverse array of contemporary artists and creative voices. This year marks a particularly momentous chapter in its history.

Running in parallel to the major Cezanne exhibition staged at the nearby Musée Granet titled Cezanne au Jas de Bouffan, Gallifet Centre d’Art presents Echos de Cezanne, an exhibition that examines the resonance of Cezanne’s vision on both established and emerging artists. Vik Muniz, Pablo Picasso, Etel Adnan, Irving Penn and Nan Goldin are some of the artists featured in this remarkable show.

Curated by Pierre Allizan, and with the support of galleries such as Gagosian and Ropac among others, the exhibition unfolds as a dialogue across time and media (photography, painting, collage, film and sculpture) in this majestic space.

Looking to the future rather than the past, Echos de Cezanne bridges both established and emerging voices, and explores Cezanne’s long lasting impact on artists.

Some of these connections are explicit: the echo of Cezanne’s palette, the weight of his brushwork, or the structural rigour of his compositions. Others are evocations, revealing themselves through recurring themes, the Sainte Victoire mountain of course, and abstract portraits, that continue to permeate artists’ work today.

Highlights include a wonderful etching of a Provencal house by Giorgio Morandi, and a powerful video displayed on the lower ground floor, by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The work depicts the slow decay of a vibrant fruit basket, resonating with Cezanne’s numerous nature-mortes.

By bringing these works together, Gallifet Centre d’Art invites visitors to consider Cezanne’s eternal, conscious or unconscious legacy.

Staged until 28th September, the exhibition is a must-see if you are in the South of France.

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