3 exhibitions at MO.CO to experience Montpellier differently
Montpellier, a city of light and heritage, establishes itself each summer as a hotspot for contemporary artistic creation, ideal for a getaway in the south of France. In its vibrant streets and sunny squares, art is everywhere, particularly through the initiatives of MOCO, Montpellier Contemporain, which brings together several sites dedicated to art. Just a few steps from Place du Peyrou, the Hôtel Richer de Belleval, an architectural gem and haven of peace, is the ideal starting point for exploring this cultural effervescence while enjoying a luxury stay in Montpellier.
The summer of 2025 promises to be particularly rich with three major exhibitions that testify to the vitality of Montpellier’s art scene. The MO.CO will successively unveil the promising work of young graduates, the works of Jean-Marie Appriou, and the universe of Françoise Pétrovitch. These three events will set the cultural tone for the summer season.
The next generation in the spotlight
From June 18 to July 2, 2025, the Faculty of Medicine will host an exhibition by graduates of the MO.CO. ESBA school. Its title, I welcome with pleasure whatever comes next, already announces a sense of momentum, openness, and confidence in the future. This exhibition is a veritable laboratory of ideas and forms, where emerging artists present the fruits of several years of research and experimentation.
The exhibition will feature a rich panorama of works that question the contemporary world with freshness and audacity. The event allows visitors to discover new, often socially engaged sensibilities and offers the public an immersion into the aesthetic and political concerns of the younger generations.
A summer dedicated to art
From June 21 to September 28, 2025, Jean-Marie Appriou will transform the spaces of MO.CO. Panacée into a theater of dreamlike forms with his exhibition La Cinquième Essence. Known for his work with sculpture and the metamorphosis of materials, Appriou presents a body of work imbued with the mystery of the elements. He shapes materials with precision to illustrate ancient myths, science fiction, and natural cycles.
Through this exhibition, the artist explores a “fifth essence,” that subtle matter beyond the four traditional elements, which ancient philosophers referred to as quintessence. Visitors will be invited on a sensory and spiritual journey, crossing worlds and mixing elements and materials, between reverie and tension.
An exhibition in close collaboration with the artist
At the same time, from June 21 to November 2, 2025, Sur un os, an exhibition by Françoise Pétrovitch, will take over MO.CO with its unique evocative power. The French artist is known for her drawings and sculptures that oscillate between fragility and ambiguity.
His delicate yet disturbing works conjure up a dense universe populated by troubled, silent figures. Sur un os is an exhibition that traces the artist’s career with nearly 130 works created between 1994 and 2025. Some of them will be presented to the public for the first time, while others were created exclusively for the MO.CO project.
A stay at the heart of creativity with our luxury hotel in Montpellier
For art lovers, these three exhibitions offer plenty of reasons to discover or rediscover Montpellier at its most inspiring. The Hôtel Richer de Belleval, nestled in the heart of the historic center, offers an exceptional setting for those who wish to immerse themselves in art in absolute comfort. This charming hotel in Montpellier embodies a certain idea of the dialogue between heritage and creation, tradition and modernity.
Your stay becomes much more than just a relaxing break: it’s a cultural experience in itself. Stroll through our historic establishment in Montpellier, sample dishes created by chefs Jacques and Laurent Pourcel in our gourmet restaurant or bistronomic restaurant, then set off on foot to explore the exhibitions at MO.CO: it’s this continuity between the French art of living and cultural heritage that Montpellier does so well.
Book your stay now in the heart of French culture and heritage for an enchanting summer break.
