Ephemeral art fair

"The sea"

July 2 > July 6, 2025

From July 2 to 6, 2025, Marseille will live to the rhythm of contemporary art with “la mer”, a brand new ephemeral art fair imagined by 74th Arts. For six days, theHôtel Les Bords de Mer and several of the city’s most emblematic sites will be transformed into veritable open-air galleries.

Published on 11 June 2025

A unique event on the Mediterranean coast

“la mer” is more than just an art fair: it’s a complete artistic and cultural experience, combining exhibitions, meetings with artists, sunset dinners, concerts, studio visits… all in a dream setting overlooking the Mediterranean. It’s also an original way to discover Marseille from a different angle, combining culture, nature and heritage.

Over 80 artists from around the world

Paintings, sculptures, photos, videos, ceramics, design… More than 80 local and international artists will present their work around a common theme: the sea. They will speak of territories, memory, the environment, migrations, but also of their personal links with this immense and symbolic space.

Among them are names like Maliza Kiasuwa, who weaves natural sponges in the shape of corals, or Théo Ouaki, who transforms ceramics into a message committed to the planet. There are also original projects such as Terrains/Terroirs, which uses the five senses to explore Mediterranean landscapes.

©Purity. Soft vanilla and lemon notes. The blossoming of the magnolia stellata, native to Japan, celebrates the arrival of spring.Jardins du Musée International de la Parfumerie, Mouans-Sartoux, March 2023 © Célia Pernot|Celia Pernot

©Les Bords De Mer Marseille France Photo @wearecontents|YANN DERET

Marseille, summer’s new art capital

“la mer” transforms the entire hotel into a lively artistic journey, bringing together a variety of works (painting, ceramics, textiles, video and design) by local and international artists, with a strong Marseilles presence, to explore the links between art, nature and culture.

Led by Becca Hoffman, founder of 74th Arts, and its curators Armelle Dakouo, Jonah Steinberg and Jessica Hodin-Levy, the project aims to show Marseille in a new light: a creative, open city on the move, where art can be experienced outside museums. With “la mer”, they create a link between artists, residents and visitors, in a warm and inspiring atmosphere.

So if you’re in Marseille at the beginning of July, don’t miss this artistic and original stopover!

Free events

Monday June 30

Visits to artists’ studios:

Atelier Adrien Vescovi – at Belle de Mai

Les Ateliers Lautard at the Belle de Mai – group exhibition of 30 artists

Atelier Mélanie Gomis (in collaboration with Maison Mode Méditerranée)
experimental textiles and materials research at 5 avenues

Group show of 10 artists at Driss Aroussi and Badr El Hammami‘s Atelier B4, place Lorette, Panier.

Wednesday, July 2nd

Exhibition tour: Infiniment Bleu at 11 a.m.
Location: Château Borély – Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Guided tour with artist Mélanie Gomis

Children’s workshop : Weaving workshop – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Hôtel Les Bords de Mer
With artist Marion Garcia Del Barro
15 participants aged 7 to 12 – registration: events@74tharts.com

Thursday July 3rd

Hôtel Les Bords de Mer Restaurant 10:30am / 12pm
Round-table discussion with artists Lara Tabet, Emmanuelle Luciani, and Polymer Collective on the creative challenges of art and the environment.
Moderated by Seloua Luste Boulbina, followed by signing of her book Une philosophie du végétal (2025)

L’histoire de Marseille en 12 bouteilles – 6:30 pm – 9 pm (limited seating)
In partnership with Maison Ferroni, Hôtel Les Bords de Mer
Discover 12 liqueurs made in Marseille through the ages during an immersive tasting session.

Saturday, July 5th

Ali Cherri

1:00 pm > 2:30 pm
MAC – Musée d’Art Contemporain de Marseille
69 Avenue d’Haïfa, 13008 Marseille
Guided tour of the exhibition “Les Veilleurs d’Ali Cherri”, followed by a musical performance by the Quintet Atmaten, in response to the artist’s experimental museography and his exploration, through interventions on archaeological collections, of the temporal gaps between ancient worlds and contemporary societies.