Maisons Pariente announces the creation of the “Prix Maisons Pariente” to promote art in France

To mark the fifth anniversary of Maisons Pariente, co-founders Kimberley Cohen and Leslie Kouhana have launched the “Prix Maisons Pariente”, a new artistic competition to promote the emerging art scene in France. The very first edition of this award will be launched at the beginning of September 2024 for students from French art schools and will reinforce Maisons Pariente’s ambition to promote young talent and support them on their artistic journey.

The Prix Maisons Pariente

The artistic competition will be judged by an 8-member jury, that will include Charles Zana, architect, Amélie du Chalard, founder of Amélie Maison d’Art gallery, Michèle Dard, director of Camondo school, Julia Rouzaud, founder of Goodmoods, Isabelle Dubern, co-founder of The Invisible Collection, Isis Colombe-Combréas, co-founder of MilK Decoration, Kimberley Cohen and Leslie Kouhana, co-founders of Maisons Pariente.

A family passion for several generations, art plays a major role in all Maisons Pariente hotels, each designed with its own identity and refined artistic flair. The collection, comprising four hotels in exceptional locations – Crillon le Brave in Provence, Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez, Le Coucou in Méribel and Le Grand Mazarin in Paris – features a rich selection of artworks. Taken from the Pariente family’s private collection or suggested by Amélie du Chalard, consultant for each hotel’s artistic curation, the works selected forge the identity of each location.

As strong supports of the arts, the Pariente family personally selects works of art and creations that are in harmony with each location and that promote the French and international art scene. Each of the hotels is a veritable sanctuary of art, where creativity and elegance intertwine to create exceptional living spaces. Contemporary works blend with bold sculptures and captivating installations; every piece has been chosen for its ability to inspire and reflect Maisons Pariente’s commitment to celebrate art in all its forms. The hotels each pay tribute to art and design, bringing together both renowned and emerging artists to create a dialogue and cohesion between eras and styles.

The works of the three winners of the “Prix Maisons Pariente” will be presented during a private viewing in a partner gallery in Paris and exhibited over the course of several months in the gallery as well as the hotels. This will provide the artists a privileged space for their personal artistic expression and give them valuable exposure to an international audience and other awards to be announced at the launch of the prize.

Le Grand Mazarin, Paris

Among the emerging artists brought to light by Maisons Pariente, Jacques Merle created the sublime painted ceiling of the swimming pool at Le Grand Mazarin, which takes inspiration from the myth of Narcissus. Artist Sophia Pega designed the fresco and windows which reveal a dreamlike world in the Winter Garden. Le Grand Mazarin celebrates art through regular events, temporary exhibitions and meetings with artists, making every stay an opportunity to discover new talents and Paris’ vibrant art scene.

Lou Pinet, St Tropez

Works by renowned artists from the Pariente’s family Collection can be seen in the Hotel Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez. A cheerful, colourful cairn by Ugo Rondinone, designed as a totem of fluorescent-coloured rocks, can be admired alongside two bronze spirals by British sculptor Toni Cragg, whose work revolves around the fragmentation and recomposition of forms. At the Beefbar, the hotel’s restaurant, Alexandre Benjamin Navet has created a huge fresco in tribute to Saint-Tropez, a city he wasn’t familiar with before this project. He was inspired to create the fresco by postcards he found in the hotel’s neighbour’s house. Lesser known at the time, he now works with some of the world’s leading luxury brands.

Crillon le Brave, Provence

In this Provençal hotel, visitors can admire colourful paintings by Frédéric Heurlier Cimolai, a German painter living in France as well as ‘Nana’, a plump, colourful woman, famous creation by Niki de Saint Phalle. A majestic work by German artist Gregor Hildebrandt, made up of magnetic tapes, adorns the bar at Crillon le Brave. A painting on tent canvas by Claude Viallat endlessly repeats an abstract form, similar to a jack-in-the-box, and two works by Donald Judd, the American minimalist artist, respond to a portrait by Pablo Picasso in a dialogue between modern and contemporary art.

Le Coucou, Méribel

At Le Coucou, a poetic refuge at the summit of Méribel designed by Pierre Yovanovitch, the interior decoration of this endearing chalet invites contemplation as guests enter the lobby, with a fresco featuring owls, painted on the ceiling by Matthieu Cossé. Ugo Rondinone’s work is also present with a stone sculpture of a man welcoming guests, from the Pariente family’s personal collection alongside hand-crafted rock engravings by Gaultier Rimbault-Joffard which adorn the hotel’s decor.