Renoir in Guernsey, 1883 Exhibition

Renoir in Guernsey, 1883 / 30 September - 15 December 2023

Art for Guernsey is delighted to announce that an exciting new exhibition - Renoir in Guernsey, 1883 - will open at the end of September this year.

The only Renoir exhibition in the world in 2023, it will celebrate the 140th anniversary of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s stay in Guernsey and the inspiration that he found on the island, and will be staged in partnership with the Guernsey Museums and the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, including a host of major international loans.

The centrepiece of the event will be a fine art exhibition at Candie Museum, with other exhibitions and activities planned at the Priaulx Library, the Renoir Walk and Art for Guernsey’s gallery in the Old Quarter, which is due to open this spring. 

Capturing Movement and Light, AFG Gallery
Artists have long been captivated by Moulin Huet, since the light has a particular quality. Renoir felt challenged by the emergence of photography: whilst the Impressionists were at the cutting edge of painting, this novel medium was making an impact on the art world. He was sure, however, that one thing that photographers could not capture was the movement of the light. Local photographer Paul Chambers, armed with photographic equipment that would have been available in the 19th century, took up the challenge of achieving what Renoir thought to be impossible.

The Renoir Walk, Moulin Huet
In 2019 Art for Guernsey put together the Renoir Walk, now a permanent fixture in the Moulin Huet valley. Refurbished in 2023, the walk is a self-guided alfresco exhibition that allows participants to see the bay from the same perspectives as Renoir did.

A Day in 1883, Priaulx Library
A fascinating collection of engravings, photographs and documents will recreate the atmosphere of the island at that time of Renoir’s visit.

Public Photography Exhibition
Art for Guernsey invites islanders and visitors to take up the same challenge as Paul Chambers, and to have their work exhibited at the gallery. #RenoirSnaps

Keep an eye out for updates and read the press release here.