Exploring the South of France this summer? Check out our top picks for design exhibitions in the region
Design Lovers Unite: Not-to-Miss Exhibitions in the South of France this Summer
Summer 2025 promises a vibrant array of design exhibitions in the South of France, attracting both emerging talent and established artists. From Nice and Hyères to Arles and Saint-Tropez, these exhibitions offer a mix of historical retrospectives, contemporary design, and engaging installations.
Design Parade at Villa Noailles (Hyères) and Ancien Évêché (Toulon)
The Design Parade, an annual event showcasing emerging designers, returns to Hyères and Toulon. This year's event features solo exhibitions by jury presidents Harry Nuriev and Jaime Hayon. The Transformist Apartment by Nuriev and Le Miroir by Hayon will be on display until September 7 in Hyères and until November 1 in Toulon, respectively.
Barbara Hepworth Retrospective at Fondation Maeght (St. Paul-de-Vence)
Sculpture enthusiasts will delight in the expansive retrospective of Barbara Hepworth's work at Fondation Maeght. This retrospective offers a deep look into the life and work of the influential British artist.
"Matisse Méditerranée(s)" at the Matisse Museum (Nice)
Part of the Nice Art and Ocean Biennale 2025, this exhibition showcases rarely seen works by Henri Matisse inspired by the Mediterranean environment. The bold colors and regional influence make this exhibition a must-see for art and design lovers.
Rencontres d'Arles Photography Festival (Arles)
Though primarily focused on photography, the Rencontres d'Arles Festival is a major cultural event that includes design-related installations and discussions. The 56th edition runs from July to September 2025, featuring globally diverse and politically engaged photographic works.
Celebration of Ralph Pucci at Château La Coste
Design enthusiasts will appreciate the dedication to contemporary furniture and lighting design by Ralph Pucci at Château La Coste. The exhibition brings together furniture and lighting editions by 13 artists and designers, all made of white 'plasterglass'.
Additional Exhibitions
In addition to the aforementioned exhibitions, Saint-Tropez hosts solo exhibitions by artists Ben Arpéa and Adler Guerrier opening on September 4. Meanwhile, Yelena Yemchuk's unseen personal photo archives and new series' of works are on display at Kolektiv Cité Radieuse in Marseille. Isabelle Castanier's exhibition titled 'Sieste, songe and légèreté' can be found at her childhood home in Saint-Tropez.
The exhibition 'Les Années folles de Coco Chanel' at NMNM's sister Villa Paloma explores Gabrielle Chanel's creativity in the context of the Côte d'Azur in the 1920s. The exhibition 'Ithaca / Ітака' is Yemchuk's tribute to 'the unbreakable spirit of Ukrainian women of all ages'.
The joyful exhibition 'Petits Mondes' in Toulon showcases some 200 works from around 60 designers, covering furniture, toys, decorative objects, and illustrated books. The Centre Pompidou Constellation programme includes the satellite exhibition 'Petits Mondes' in Toulon, which traces the evolution of children's furniture from the Modern movement onwards.
The 'Visions' chapter of the Design Parade takes place at Renzo Piano's new Mareterra coastal development in Monaco. The exhibition 'Partenaires particuliers (supports, surfaces, dissemination)' at Fondation CAB in Saint-Paul de Vence features the DKR chair by Hall Haus, which joined France's national furniture collection, the Mobilier National.
Dragon Hill in Cannes has been transformed into a design showroom, featuring works by Irene Cattaneo, Rosa Egiziano, Agnès Debizet, André Dubreuil, Atelier van Lieshout, Victor Roman, and Bella Hunt & Dante Di Calce. The exhibition 'Cactus' at NMNM in Monaco showcases an Art Nouveau lamp designed by Louis Majorelle based on the morphology of an Opuntia.
The jury presidents of this year's Design Parade are Thomas Takada, Simon Dupety, Malo Gagliardini, Marie Gastini, Magali Lamoureux and Joanne Riachi, Johan Karrebæk Thun, Kelly Eng and Marie Piplard. Olivia Cognet's new showroom in Vallauris displays around 50 works, including ceramic bas-reliefs, glazed lava sculptures, chandeliers, totems, and six-meter-long tables. The exhibition titled 'Vestiges' nods to the memory and tradition of the historic town of ceramists.
Lastly, the Centre Pompidou in Paris is undergoing transformation from summer 2025 to early 2030. The exhibition of experiments by 2024 winners Sacha Parent and Valentine Tiraboschi is on display at Villa Noailles. These exhibitions offer a compelling lineup for design lovers visiting the South of France this summer.
- Design enthusiasts should not forget to visit the exhibition 'Petits Mondes' in Toulon, a showcase of over 200 works from around 60 designers, spanning furniture, toys, decorative objects, and illustrated books, which is part of the Centre Pompidou Constellation programme.
- This summer's home-and-garden enthusiasts will discover a captivating lifestyle display at Dragon Hill in Cannes, featuring works by renowned artists such as Irene Cattaneo, Rosa Egiziano, Agnès Debizet, André Dubreuil, Atelier van Lieshout, Victor Roman, and Bella Hunt & Dante Di Calce.
