“The challenge is open to all professional artists, wherever they are, from France, Europe or elsewhere. And there is no age limit,” invites Jean Guérard. The owner, president of the Égrégore association, has a high idea of contemporary art in the countryside.
Baudelaire’s verses
Artists have until December 21 to apply. Eight of them will be selected to participate in the gallery’s major summer exhibition (from June 7 to September 7, 2025). Each artist will have to create a work on the imposed theme of the famous verses of the poem “L’Invitation au voyage” by Charles Baudelaire: “There, everything is order and beauty, luxury, calm and voluptuousness. »
In addition to this creation, they will be able to present eight to ten works during the exhibition. The jury prize will be awarded on the day of the opening. The public prize, at the end of the exhibition, after counting the visitors’ votes over the course of three months.
Launched in 2015, the Égrégore Challenge, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary next year, has already crowned the artists Rémi Trotereau, Anne Bothuon, Isiak… After leaving Marmande in 2018, the gallery was set up in a former stable on the Souliès estate, in the middle of more than 30 hectares of classified natural space. A spectacular setting, inside and outside the walls.
To apply, artists must send their curriculum vitae, a presentation text on the spirit of their work as well as around ten visuals by post to Galerie Égrégore or by email ([email protected]) .
