In Hyères, Villa Frouin, a meeting place for contemporary creation

From Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28, this 19th-century residence is the epicenter of contemporary ceramic creation, confirming its status as an essential artistic event in the Var landscape.

The event, with free admission, is designed as a privileged meeting point between ten professional artists and the public, ranging from the simply curious to seasoned collectors.

HERITAGE SETTING Nestled in the Costebelle district, Villa Frouin is not a traditional gallery. Restored by its owners, Nadège and Étienne Frouin, who are passionate about art and heritage, it has been transformed into a living and cultural space open all year round. The gardens and salons of the villa offer an intimate and warm setting that fosters proximity with the works and creators.

"With Étienne, we imagined this festival as a moment of sincere encounter, between artists and a curious public, in a place that invites you to take your time," explains Nadège Frouin.

For her, this setting is essential to the experience offered: "The Villa is not a classic exhibition space. It is an inhabited space, where the works naturally find their place and where the meeting with the public becomes more direct, more human." The festival is distinguished by its friendly atmosphere and its meticulous scenography, which respects the venue.

The route is designed to be fluid, inviting visitors to wander between an outdoor exhibition and sale in the gardens and the presentation of masterpieces in the interior spaces.

One of the major highlights is the continuous presence of the ten selected ceramicists.

Each will be available to discuss their techniques, inspirations, and career path, offering visitors an authentic immersion into the creative processes.

Free admission aims to break down barriers around art and make it accessible to as many people as possible, in a spirit of sharing and discovery.

Far from being limited to a single style, the festival champions a pluralistic vision of ceramics, at the crossroads of art, fine craftsmanship, and design. Visitors discover a wide range of creations: refined functional pieces, reinvented everyday objects, bold contemporary sculptures, and experimental plastic research.

"What interests us in ceramics is its diversity: from everyday pieces to more sculptural forms. The festival chooses to showcase this richness, quite simply," continues Nadège Frouin. The 2026 selection brings together artists with unique universes, such as Fanny A and her porcelain inspired by the marine flora of the Giens peninsula, Sébastien Chartier and his animal sculptures of primitive power, or Marine Metadjer (SEXYMUD) and her personal mythology blending sweetness and exuberance.

• PLEASE NOTE... Villa Frouin is located at 129 chemin des Villas in Hyères. Dates and times: • Friday, June 26 from 3 pm to 9 pm. • Saturday, June 27 from 9 am to 12:30 pm and from 3 pm to 9 pm. • Sunday, June 28 from 9 am to 12:30 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm.