Ali Baba’s cave of art
with Ellen Turner Hall
In the centre of Collioure, virtually spilling out onto Rue Dr. Coste, you will find Laurent Puigsarbé sitting at the entrance to his gallery. More than a gallery, as the name proclaims, it is where Laurent has amassed a contemporary artistic history of Collioure.
Eclectic in every way – paintings, sculpture, drawing, photographs – the works jostle for place on the packed walls or in miscellaneous stacks covering every available millimetre. The artists are mostly local, all friends of Laurent.
The welcoming smile and face of Café Sola for 24 years, Laurent regularly invited artists to exhibit their works. “Seven exhibits per year for 24 years! You do the math,” he said proudly. In addition he commissioned works from each one. These became the basis of his personal collection.
Regular clients will recognize many of the artists: Kirsten MacIntosh, Gilles Gimenez, Alain Vilacèque, Hervé Donnezan among others. Sails, fish, lighthouses, fireworks, and the sea, the sea, everywhere. “Everything is for sale, except my chair”, Laurent said with his characteristic exuberance. What’s more, the prices are affordable.
New artists arrive everyday with their works for Laurent to exhibit. During my visit a woman walked in with three of her canvasses. One of a fish sporting the Catalan red and gold stripes, I’m sure it will be grabbed up quickly. Go and check it out before it is too late!
Mes qu’une Galerie is open Thursday to Sunday from 10h00 to 19h00.