A sculpture by Germaine Richier is surrounded by sailboats outside of the Picasso Museum in Antibes, France.
Earlier this month I had the pleasure of traveling to one of the most enchanting places I’ve seen on Earth (truly). It was a long-awaited trip, having been postponed several times during the pandemic. So when my mother and I finally set foot upon the stunning Cote d’Azur of France, to say that I was thrilled is an understatement. And y’all, it truly lived up to the hype. Every day I was blown away by the beauty in all directions, both in the natural landscape, as well as the architecture, art, and culture that surrounded me. I was hoping for a trip to really inspire and reset me, and I most certainly got just that.
The stunning medieval village of Eze, which sits upon a mountaintop between Nice and Monaco along the Mediterranean. The village is now home to many artists who sell their wares to tourists.
‘Has this turned into some kind of travel blog?’ you may ask? I’ll spare you the full details of my mother-daughter vacay, but I thought you, dear reader, might enjoy seeing a handful of the things that inspired me creatively on this sojourn. Because lo and behold, you may just see some of these influences come through as I begin working on new pieces for Fall/Winter 2023-2024…
A fisherman in the port of Villefranche-sur-Mer, a small village adjacent to Nice, who mends his net in the early morning sun before heading out to work. The bust at right is of surrealist artist Jean Cocteau, who was a onetime resident of the village.
Chapelle Saint-Pierre, a 13th century church in Villefranche-sur-Mer, re-imagined by Jean Cocteau in the 1950s.
A quick scan of Villefranche-sur-Mer, a 13th century (though settled since prehistoric times) village and fishing port adjacent to Nice. Also onetime home to Jean Cocteau and the Rolling Stones (Villa Nellcote, where Exile on Main Street was recorded, is located here, for those in the know)
The jewels taking a dip in Nice. Pictured here are the Shapeshifter Ring and the Rollo Band.
Late work by Pablo Picasso, at the Picasso Museum in Antibes. Picasso lived here briefly towards the latter part of his life, making works in a studio at a medieval castle that later became the Picasso Museum.
Sculpture work by Picasso. I found myself very drawn to his simplistic representation of faces.
Trekked to the infamous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes for a super-schmancy lunch. You don’t show up to this celeb-favorite spot without dressing the part (literally, they won’t let you in)… So we donned our finest summer attire and threw on some Talisman of course ;) I’m wearing the Alex Amulet Necklace and Linear Studs. Mom wears the Michael Amulet Necklace and Infinite Hoops.
Le Club 55 in Saint-Tropez… onetime play place of Brigitte Bardot, Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin. Located on what was by far the best beach of the whole trip… those stunning turquoise waters refreshed my soul.
Fresh squeezed juices at Le Club 55 in Saint-Tropez, and the Wave Theory Ring.
Onwards to Nice, where I got to see works by one of my all-time favorite artists, Niki de Saint Phalle, at the MAMEC (Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain). This is an early example of one of her “Nanas,” which later became much more stylized with smooth, rounded bodies. Niki’s early feminism and depiction of women, particularly in such a patriarchal area of the world, is something I greatly admire.
Another work by Niki de Saint Phalle. This shirt belonged to a former lover. Wouldn’t want to be that guy ;)
Works by Yves Klein in my favorite blue at the MAMEC in Nice.
All smiles on this trip. I’m wearing the Held Necklace and the Flow Chain, along with the Aphrodite Hugs and the Linear Studs.
The gorgeous medieval village of Saint Paul de Vence. Yet another place where artists thrive to this day.
A contemporary sculpture of cast bronze and natural elements, found at a gallery in Saint Paul de Vence. Artist unknown but I certainly jived with it.
Small swath of the immense gardens of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. The Villa was built by Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild when, at age 40, she found herself divorced and longing for a dreamy place to call home. I can relate.
More gardens, this time of the “exotic” variety atop the medieval Eze village. I truly can’t get this enchanting place out of my head.
Spirals abounded on this trip… seen here in some ironwork on a doorway in ancient Eze.
Sailboats in the port of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Nautical themes were all around in these sleepy fishing towns, and I most certainly soaked it up (pun intended ha). Though I didn’t get a picture, I found myself very attracted to the anchor chain I saw connected to boats in the dock… More to come there.
Janet stands for a photo as we head back to our AirBnB in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
I’m one lucky chica to have been able to visit such an incredible place. If one word could encapsulate this trip, it would have to be “stunning.” Need I say more?