French painter Laurence Saunois, a Figeac native with international acclaim, is presenting her latest exhibition "Nympheus Luminansís, les Nymphéas de la Lumière" (Water Lilies of Light) exclusively in her hometown until November 30, 2025, before embarking on a prestigious two-year museum tour across the United States. The exhibition, which represents eight years of artistic development, serves as a contemporary homage to Claude Monet and the poetic universe of his Giverny gardens.
The exclusive preview is being held at Salle Balène in partnership with the Champollion Museum - Writings of the World and the City of Figeac. Following its hometown debut, the exhibition will travel to six major American institutions from January 2026 to December 2027, spanning from Connecticut to Texas. This Franco-American cultural project is being produced by David J. Wagner.
The exhibition features ten large-format paintings where light and color serve as the primary protagonists. Saunois has developed what she describes as "real-impressionism," a unique artistic language that combines figurative rigor with impressionist sensitivity. Each canvas is designed to provide viewers with an immersive contemplative experience.
During the opening reception on Friday, November 24, the artist expressed her profound emotion about the final result. "I finished the last painting on August 30. Over three years of work, I preserved myself and devoted myself entirely to this project. It was a choice. The result is here. I am very proud," Saunois said. "When installing in Salle Balène, I had a shock. I was surprised by my own work. This is the setting it needed."
Hélène Lacipière, municipal councilor for culture and heritage, emphasized the significance of showcasing the project to Figeac residents before its American departure. "Showing this project to the Figeac public before its departure for the United States seemed obvious to us," she stated. "These ten paintings will bring a little of our joy of living to the USA."
The centerpiece of the exhibition, "La danse de la lumière" (The Dance of Light), required more than 1,000 hours of work over four years. Inspired by a visit to Monet's gardens, the artist explained her intention to "capture the vibration of light on the colors of nature and offer viewers an immersive experience, as if they were opening, for each painting, a window onto the Giverny basin."
Saunois, recognized internationally for her figurative and hyperrealistic works inspired by nature, has exhibited and won awards in both France and the United States. Her paintings explore our relationship with light, time, and artistic memory. The adventure began in 2017 during her visit to Giverny, making this exhibition representative of ten years of her artistic life.
The ten paintings are also featured in a publication that discusses the city and museum alongside the artwork. "This book will accompany the exhibition," Saunois explained. "I will go to the United States in January 2026 to attend the American premiere at the Slater Memorial Gallery in Norwich, Connecticut."
The exhibition remains open to the public until November 30, 2025, with daily hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free, allowing the community to experience this remarkable collection before it begins its journey across American museums.
