Oniris 40 ans

Overview

Through October 3, 2026, the Oniris Gallery in Rennes is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special exhibition featuring a selection of iconic works by artists who have shaped the gallery’s history since its opening on September 9, 1986.

Founded in Rennes by Yvonne Paumelle with an inaugural exhibition dedicated to François Morellet, the Oniris Gallery has established itself over the decades as a major player in the contemporary art scene in Brittany and France. For forty years, it has developed a discerning program focused on painting, abstraction, conceptual art, and innovative contemporary practices.

To mark this anniversary, the exhibition offers a journey through four decades of artistic creation, presenting iconic works by emblematic artists who have contributed to the gallery’s identity. This selection reflects the richness of the artistic dialogues forged over the years and highlights the major aesthetic directions that have shaped the Oniris project.

Among the artists associated with the gallery's history are Véra Molnar, Aurelie Nemours, Geneviève Asse, Norman Dilworth, Christian Bonnefoi, Alain Clément, Philippe Cognée, François Morellet, Jean-Pierre Pincemin, Claude Viallat, and others.

Since 2012, under the direction of Florent Paumelle, the gallery has continued its commitment to established artists and new generations of creators, reaffirming its dedication to introducing the public to the many forms of contemporary art, with a particular focus on painting and abstraction.

This anniversary exhibition offers a unique opportunity to rediscover a venue with a forty-year history of exhibitions, gatherings, and artistic collaborations that have contributed to the reputation of the Oniris Gallery, now recognized as one of the leading contemporary art galleries in western France.