4th Salon des artistes: the public selects the winners

After opening its doors on June 21, the fourth edition of the Salon des artistes de Saint-Barthélemy came to a close on Saturday July 26. Inspired by the Salon des Artistes Français created in Paris in 1881, the event was conceived by Charles Moreau, director of the Wall House Museum, with visitors voting for the winners. This year, 41 artists, authors of a photograph, a sculpture or a work belonging to the graphic arts (paintings, drawings, etc.) entrusted their creation to the Wall House Museum. Although not all visitors took the time to slip a ballot into the makeshift ballot box installed at the entrance to the cultural venue, 424 did.
For the graphic arts, it was Fabienne Leconte and her "Retour des dragons" that the majority of voters chose. The photograph that won over the public was by Laurie Pottecher (already a Salon winner in 2023 and 2024), entitled "Moonrise takeoff", which offers a quasi-spatial view of the Gustavia lighthouse. Last but not least, Patrice Bianchi's sculpture "Light" was chosen over the other creations. This is a first for the Salon, since since 2022, it has systematically been a sculpture by Dvis Dformes that has won the public vote.

While the number of participating artists is down slightly on previous editions, the number of voters is up sharply, but the Salon des artistes de Saint-Barthélemy continues to make its mark on the local cultural landscape. Not only because it involves and brings together the island's amateur and professional artists in a single event, but also because by applying the principles of the Salon des artistes français, it places talent and imagination on an equal footing. Because, in the end, it's the visitors - and therefore the public - who award the prizes. There's no doubt that the fifth edition, in 2026, will attract new talent.

Above, the works of the winners of this year's Salon des Artistes, with, from left to right and top to bottom:
- "Le retour des dragons" by Fabienne Leconte (graphic arts).
- Moonrise takeoff" by Laurie Pottecher (photography).
- Light" by Patrice Bianchi (sculpture).