The 17th edition of the Wiss’art contemporary art salon opens its doors in Wissembourg from October 24 to November 1, running daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 2 rue des Écoles, featuring 42 artists and a special guest appearance by Annie Puybareau, according to dna.fr.
What to Know About the 17th Wiss’art Salon
- The exhibition runs from October 24 through November 1 at 2 rue des Écoles, featuring free admission for the public.
- Normandy-based figurative painter Annie Puybareau serves as the official guest of honor for this year’s lineup.
- Association president Pascal Jouan reports that 42 artists are displaying between 350 and 400 works, balancing local talent with international participants.
A Return to the Traditional Autumn Format
Organizers have returned the contemporary art salon to its traditional autumn window after a shifting schedule last year that featured a slot at the beginning of September. Pascal Jouan, president of the organizing association Wissembourg en arts, noted in reporting by dna.fr that the previous year’s early September format proved disappointing with lower attendance and fewer participating artists. The event now features 42 artists presenting roughly 350 to 400 works spanning various painting techniques, alongside an elevated standard for sculpture.
The roster maintains its regional roots in the Grand Est while drawing creators from Germany, Belgium, Iran, Ivory Coast, Bulgaria, and Canada. Jouan stated that he deliberately sought out creators who have rarely exhibited in Wissembourg to diversify the visual offering. In line with the event’s usual approach, no mandatory theme has been imposed on the participants, leaving each artist free to present their own distinct creative universe.
Annie Puybareau Steps in as Guest of Honor
Annie Puybareau takes center stage this year as the designated guest of honor. Trained at the Beaux-Arts under Robert Savary, a Grand Prix de Rome winner, Puybareau works in the tradition of the Rouen School and studied the motif alongside Albert Mallet. Her oil paintings highlight fluid brushwork and light, drawing subjects from Normandy alongside travels to Morocco and Italy.
Jouan recalled meeting Puybareau roughly a decade ago at a gallery in Brittany, where she presented him with a volume detailing her 40-year career. The organizer noted that guests of honor must bring professional stature and a distinct aura to the salon. The tradition of naming a guest of honor began in 2012, following the salon’s early iterations from 2009 onward.
Falling Exhibitor Numbers Increase Financial Pressure
Sales figures for the salon historically hover between 10% and 13%, with the previous year recording 40 sold works out of approximately 3,000 visitors. While past events relied on free municipal venues to help sustain the organizing association, recent structural shifts have changed the association's finances. Jouan told dna.fr that the association is managing a drop in total exhibitors—counting 45 instead of 70-75, and up to 110 in a record year—while facing room rental costs.
The association has been invited to submit a municipal subsidy request for the current salon edition. Future planning for the organization extends well beyond the current week, with events mapped out through the association’s 20th anniversary in 2029.
| Event Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 24 to November 1 |
| Location | 2 rue des Écoles, Wissembourg |
| Admission | Free entry |
| Exhibitor Count | 42 artists (350–400 works) |
Future programming includes a Naive Art gathering planned for Pentecost in 2027 following a previous edition held in 2024. A retrospective dedicated to Robert Kuven is scheduled for 2028, leading up to a major exhibition centered on Salvador Dalí in 2029 to mark both the 20th anniversary of the association and the 40th anniversary of the artist’s passing, as outlined by dna.fr.
