The contemporary art gallery Égrégore, located in the rural countryside of Lot-et-Garonne, France, is fighting to survive in a challenging market while maintaining its mission to showcase touching artistic works. Founded by Jean Guérard, the gallery continues to adhere to its core principle of introducing artists who move and inspire, as demonstrated through the works of its sixth artistic challenge currently on display.
Established in 2022, the Égrégore contemporary art gallery settled in the Lot-et-Garonne countryside in La Réunion, near Casteljaloux. More precisely, it occupies the Souliès estate, a former agricultural operation spanning 27 hectares, which naturally allows for outdoor exhibitions of artworks. On a recent morning, the statues by Rémi Trotereau arranged in the tall grass seemed like ghosts of this historically significant place.
The umbrella pines that stand today were originally planted to signal to Protestants that the property they were entering was a friendly house. With his gallery, Jean Guérard extends this idea, stating that "Égrégore is a land of welcome and security for friends of art," as proclaimed by the president of what he calls "the largest associative gallery in France." The calm and serenity of the location captivated him and his wife, who had lived in the city of Marmande for many years.
The tranquility and peacefulness of the location attracted Jean Guérard and his wife Catherine, who approached their project with a specific mindset. "If rurality welcomes us, let's enhance it with something very beautiful," Jean Guérard explained, describing the spirit with which the couple founded the gallery. Blending original stones, timber framework, and large windows, the venue has managed to preserve its original ambiance while adding a touch of modernity.
Surrounded by the watchful presence of his wife Catherine Guérard's statuettes, the gallery owner shares admiringly, "All her works reflect a moment in life, they all correspond to a particular emotion." The small sculptures displayed both in the gallery and throughout the house seem to watch over visitors, creating an intimate atmosphere where art and personal history intertwine.
"There is history and art at every corner," Jean Guérard notes, as he explains the origin of each work and artist exhibited in his space. This personal approach to curation reflects the gallery's commitment to meaningful artistic expression, even as it faces the broader challenges confronting the contemporary art market in rural settings.
