With its first artist residency held in autumn 2024, Iconic House and Iconic Foundation reaffirm a core belief: contemporary creation thrives on time, space, and a meaningful dialogue with places.
Since opening its first hospitality property in Les Baux-de-Provence in 2022, Iconic House has placed art at the center of its identity. Nearly 150 artworks and more than twenty artistic collaborations reflect its commitment to transforming its Houses into living spaces shaped by artists’ perspectives.
The Project in Action
From November 12 to 22, 2024, seven emerging multidisciplinary artists (working across drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, video, and dance) were invited to create freely at Les Hauts de Gordes. Accommodation and full board allowed them to dedicate themselves entirely to artistic research and production, with no imposed theme.
The decision to host this first residency in Gordes was rooted in the village’s rich cultural and artistic heritage. Much of Gordes’ renown stems from the many artists who, over time, have drawn inspiration from its light, landscapes, and distinctive stone architecture. At the conclusion of the residency, each artist donated a work created on site to join the Iconic House collections and be exhibited throughout the various Houses.
Selected from nearly 250 applications, the seven artists were chosen by a jury composed of Laurine Abrieu, Editor-in-Chief of Milk Décoration; Marie Godfrain, Editor-in-Chief of IDEAT; Joséphine Fossey, art curator and interior designer; Guillaume Houzé, President of Lafayette Anticipations and member of the Executive Board of the Galeries Lafayette Group; Fabien Vallérian, Arts & Culture Director at Ruinart; as well as Thibaud Elzière and Robin Michel, co-founders of Iconic House.
The selected artists were:
Julie Fleutot — Painting
Victor Cadene — Drawing and collage
Bérénice Gentil — Sculpture
Martinet & Texereau — Drawing
Alexandre Onimus — Photography
Alexandra Willis — Visual arts, science, and environment
Étienne Boulanger & Aidem — Video and dance
The ICONIC Perspective
This residency marks the beginning of a patronage approach centered on experience, transmission, and the memory of place. By inviting artists to create in situ, Iconic Foundation seeks to embed artistic creation permanently within the homes of the Iconic House Collection while supporting the emergence of new artistic voices and works that capture the essence of a moment, a territory, and a human connection.