16 AUGUST 2023 / PLACE MONTOULIEU, OAK GALLERY SEES ART DIFFERENTLY
By Silvana Grasso
Galerie OAK recently opened 2 Place Montoulieu in Toulouse. A space of creations that offers as many works signed by renowned talents as local or emerging artists.
It is a duo of contemporary art and design enthusiasts who have just opened at 2 place Montoulieu in Toulouse, the OAK Gallery in old kitchens of a listed house of the fifteenth century. A place that has known several lives: “Ten years ago, I founded Studio OAK en appartement in Toulouse to present my own collection, says Antoine designer of furniture and lighting. In 2016, this Studio also became the OAK Gallery, allées Frédéric Mistral. A space of plural exhibitions that transcends the boundaries of traditional art. Before becoming a few months ago, the Gallery OAK One-of-A-Kind, acronym which means unique pieces in English.
In this beautiful bright space, we discover furniture and lighting signed by the best French craftsmen, far from mass production: “I also collaborate with Emmanuelle Vidal, antique dealer in Toulouse, specialized in furniture of the second half of the twentieth century who presents to complete the offer, rare pieces in timeless limited series, restored by her”. This duo trained in the decorative arts, accustomed to beautiful international decoration projects quickly put bridges between the various specialties: like Marc Deloche, jewelry designer in Toulouse, Jacques Grange (interior designer), Serge Castella (decorator) or Peter Marino (American architect). “We present both established artists such as Clotilde Ancarani (visual artist and sculptor) or William Guillon (designer), as well as emerging artists.
Local know-how in good place
“If visual artists, painters, sculptors or photographers occupy the space, craftsmen and designers from the region with more intimate know-how are also present. Such as Jonathan Soulié, coppersmith in Gaillac, Chantal Mommejac, straw marqueter in Montbrun-Bocage, Marie-Pierre Biau, draftswoman and ceramist, Sylvie Peyneau, painter in Toulouse”, details the one whose concern is not to exhibit only artists but rare, precious creations that are closer to art than decorative. “This gallery also offers functional works always with a more sculptural than utilitarian concern”.
And to cite the example of a mirror not only made to reflect an image but also to enlarge the perspective. “For me, a work must stand the test of time and question.” A gallery that is already a great success: “We have some collectors from Toulouse but more than 70% of our clientele is foreign, including American. Passing customers who also buy online. Toulouse is a city that loves art and culture. It takes advantage of its distance from Paris (unlike Bordeaux two hours by train from the capital) to attract a clientele that loves rare pieces with a strong history.
Until the end of September, the OAK Gallery exhibits outside the walls in Montaulieu (Aude) in a former royal cloth factory, the Toulouse photographer Thierry Genay, whose photos seem paintings, far from the classical academic spirit.
