The Best Contemporary Art Galleries In Marseille

The southern French city of Marseille is a vibrant, multicultural hub that has seen a constant growth of cultural spaces ever since it was named European Capital of Culture in 2013. With edgy art venues contributing to the city’s cultural wealth, we look at the best contemporary art galleries in the area.

1. Backside Gallery

Art Gallery

Backside Gallery is dedicated to the urban art form of street art. However, not all of the artworks inside this hidden gallery are spray paintings on a wall. Tucked away in its unique location, Backside Gallery is an immersive space that presents avant-garde and ambitious works which have been made through artistic collaboration. The exhibitions highlight the work of talented French and international artists.

2. Galerie Anna-Tschopp

Art Gallery

Named after the grandmother of one of gallery’s directors, Galerie Anna-Tschopp opened in 2005. Since its inauguration, the gallery has held two policies at its core. The first is to unite both nationally and internationally distinguished artists with up-and-coming practitioners, with the hope of continually supporting the future of art in Marseille. The second is linked to the idea that less is more. With strict criteria on quality, Galerie Anna-Tschopp only displays work that they deem to be exceptional.

3. Galerie Detaille

Art Gallery

The Detaille family’s history in the field of photography dates back to 1897, when Nadar Detaille bought a studio in Marseille. The passion for art has flowed through the family tree, and now Hélène and Gérard Detaille run this gallery on Rue Marius Jauffret. Proud of its history, the gallery continues to display exceptional photography that explores the world realistically, poetically and artistically. The Galerie Detaille exhibits exciting pieces of all kinds, from historic and contemporary, to well-known and emerging.

4. Galerie du Pharos

Art Gallery

The Galerie du Pharos presents many exceptional artworks, ranging from paintings and sculptures to photographs and video installations. Somewhat eclectic, these artworks by a number of exemplary artists are representative in style and their unification is what makes Galerie du Pharos so unique. The gallery is located near the Old Port (Vieux Port) of Marseille.

5. La Friche

Theatre

Built in a former tobacco factory, La Friche is a cultural venue and gallery that stimulates the imagination. Over the last two decades, the 45,000 square metres (480,000sq ft) that make up La Friche have been dedicated to contemporary and experimental art. The space has seen the birth of hundreds of exciting exhibitions and projects, with more than 150,000 people visiting annually. Perhaps more of a creative village than a standard gallery, La Friche’s unique space has seen a vast range of projects by both established and emerging artists.

6. Seize Galerie

Art Gallery, Shop

Located in the heart of Notre-Dame-du-Mont, Seize Galerie is focused on the contemporary and the futuristic. Dubbing itself an art gallery and corner shop for amateurs and professionals alike, Seize Galerie is committed to the exploration of the modern art form of graphic design. The gallery displays works of many themes and modes of expression, including painting, graphics, drawing, graffiti, video and installation.

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