This summer, Christie's will present four exhibitions in Paris and Arles. A selection of iconic photographs by Jean-Marie Perier, together with a first collection of about thirty historical works from the Roger Thérond collectionA second selection from the same collection will be presented at ArlesAt the 'Hotel Nord-Pinus, on the occasion of the Arles meetings, the most important international festival dedicated to photography. A third exhibition will be dedicated to the designer's contemporary jewelry. Cora Sheibani.
The entire summer program, free and open to the public, is part of Christie's long-standing commitment to promoting culture. A tradition that in recent years has seen the auction house host contemporary artists such as Rachel Marks and organize important retrospectives dedicated to key figures in design and jewelry, such as the one dedicated to Palace Van in 2025.
More than just an exhibition calendar, the 2026 summer program represents a clear cultural strategy for Christie's. The London-based house confirms its intention to transform its Paris headquarters into a permanent space for the dissemination of art, going beyond its traditional auction activity.
Jean-Marie Périer: The good years
From June 30th to August 28th, Christie's dedicates a major exhibition to Jean-Marie Perier, among the most famous French photographers of the 1960s. The exhibition brings together 27 large format photographs that tell the story of an unrepeatable era through the faces of the great icons of music and cinema. The portraits of Françoise Hardy, Sylvie Vartan, Johnny Hallyday, and many other protagonists of French pop culture demonstrate a photographic language suspended between spontaneity and stagecraft, capable of capturing the spirit of freedom and creativity of a generation.
Roger Thérond: a historical collection
The heart of the program is represented by the presentation of the Collection Roger Thérond – Une passion française. Roger Thérond, historical director of Paris MatchOver the course of his life, he built one of the most important private collections dedicated to 20th-century photography. For the first time, Christie's is exhibiting a selection of these works ahead of the sale scheduled for November 2026. The artists featured include Eugène Atget, Gustave Le Gray, Dora Maar, Man Ray, and Jacques Henri Lartigue. The works span over a century of photography's history, from its 19th-century origins to modern times, offering a coherent reading of the evolution of photographic language.
Arles and the Rencontres de la Photographie
A second part of the collection is presented by the 6 at the 17 July at the historian Hotel Nord-Pinus of Arles, during the Arles meetings, the international photography festival founded in 1970. The exhibition takes on a particular symbolic value because it celebrates the bicentenary of the birth of photography through images dedicated to the landscapes and portraits of the South of France, a region deeply linked to the life of Roger Thérond himself.
Cora Sheibani
From 4 at the 9 July Christie's hosts the first French exhibition dedicated to the Swiss designer Cora SheibaniHer creations are distinguished by: material exploration; innovative use of color; unusual combinations of precious stones; and a balance between fine jewelry, contemporary design, and artistic experimentation. Her works are born from the intersection of gemology, art history, science, and observation of nature, while maintaining a strong European artisanal edge.
Cover photo: Sylvie Vartan, Paris, December 1964 © Jean-Marie Périer
