Thaddaeus Ropac Announces Fonds Bustamante, New Cultural Institution in Arles, Opening July 9
On July 1, 2026, Thaddaeus Ropac announced the forthcoming opening of Fonds Bustamante, a new cultural institution founded by French artist Jean-Marc Bustamante. The foundation will formally open on July 9 in Arles, France, housed in the restored 12th-century Église Sainte-Croix church, renovated by architect Charles Zana. The building is divided into La Nef, the primary exhibition space, and Les Collatéraux, a research center and cafe. The inaugural exhibition, “En Miroirs,” runs through October 30, 2026, and features work by Bustamante alongside artists including Gerhard Merz, René Daniëls, Cristina Iglesias, Jan Vercruysse, Reinhard Mucha, Thomas Schütte, Franz West, Rodney Graham, Clément Rodzielski, Tatiana Trouvé, Michael Buthe, Alice Anderson, Shervin/e Sheikh Rezaei, and Federico González. The opening coincides with the annual Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles festival, adding to the city’s cultural landscape that already includes LUMA Arles, Lee Ufan Arles, and the Fondation Vincent van Gogh.
The Signal
Bustamante, born in 1952 in Toulouse, is a major figure in European contemporary art with a practice spanning photography, sculpture, painting, installation, and drawing, reflecting on space, the image, the gaze, and presence. He has exhibited at the Venice Biennale, São Paulo Biennial, and Documenta, and has taught at Amsterdam’s Rijksakademie, Munich’s Kunstakademie, and the Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he served as director from 2015–2018. The establishment of Fonds Bustamante signals a growing trend of artist-founded institutions in Europe, offering a model where artists curate dialogues across generations. For collectors and curators, the foundation’s inaugural group show provides a rare opportunity to see Bustamante’s work in conversation with international peers, reinforcing Arles as a destination for contemporary art beyond the summer festival season.
The Morning Signal · Daily
Enjoying this? Get the daily wire.
The art world in one daily email — auctions, openings, and acquisitions from 90+ primary sources, distilled into a five-minute read. Independent — no marketplace, no gallery ads.
Join collectors, dealers & curators
No spam · free every morning · unsubscribe anytime
- Artists: Jean-Marc Bustamante, Gerhard Merz, René Daniëls, Cristina Iglesias, Jan Vercruysse, Reinhard Mucha, Thomas Schütte, Franz West, Rodney Graham, Clément Rodzielski, Tatiana Trouvé, Michael Buthe, Alice Anderson, Shervin/e Sheikh Rezaei, Federico González
- People: Jean-Marc Bustamante, Charles Zana
- Galleries: Thaddaeus Ropac
- Museums: Fonds Bustamante, LUMA Arles, Lee Ufan Arles, Fondation Vincent van Gogh
- Locations: Arles, France
The Morning Signal · Daily
Get stories like this in your inbox
The art world in one daily email — auctions, openings, and acquisitions from 90+ primary sources, distilled into a five-minute read. Independent — no marketplace, no gallery ads.
Join collectors, dealers & curators
No spam · free every morning · unsubscribe anytime
The Jobs Digest · Weekly
New art-world jobs, every Monday
The Jobs Digest rounds up the week’s new museum, gallery, and auction-house openings — with salary when disclosed. One email a week, unsubscribe anytime.
