Expo : Guerre et paix - Combas au Pont du Gard
From 29 May to 1 November 2026, the stone giant will come alive to the rhythm of Figuration Libre. For the very first time, the Gard region is hosting a major exhibition dedicated to Robert Combas, a leading figure on the contemporary art scene.
A MEETING BETWEEN ANTIQUITY AND FREE FIGURATIVE ART
This exhibition offers an immersion into the world of Robert Combas, through a selection of works inspired by antiquity, mythological tales and great battles.
Driven by expressive and colourful painting, it establishes a dialogue between free figuration and the ancient heritage of the Pont du Gard. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a monumental canvas dedicated to the Trojan War, illustrating the full narrative power of the artist.
The exhibition design juxtaposes heritage and contemporary creation, offering a fresh perspective on the site.
A RICH AND NARRATIVE WORK
From the 1980s onwards, Robert Combas quickly made a name for himself on the international art scene, with exhibitions in Europe, the United States and Japan.
His work draws on a variety of influences — art history, mythology, historical narratives and popular culture — and is characterised by a narrative and expressive style of painting, in which each canvas depicts figures and stories within a dense and theatrical composition.
ROBERT COMBAS, LEADING FIGURE OF THE FIGURATION LIBRE MOVEMENT
Robert Combas, born in 1957 in Lyon and raised in Sète, developed an artistic vision at a very early age, drawing inspiration from popular culture, music and historical narratives.
Having trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Montpellier in the late 1970s, he gradually developed a personal pictorial language, characterised by a free, expressive and resolutely figurative style of painting.
AN ARTIST WITH A WIDE RANGE OF PRACTICES
Throughout his career, Robert Combas has diversified his modes of expression by exploring, alongside painting, sculpture, ceramics and installation art.
Also involved in musical and performance projects, he has developed a rich and cross-disciplinary body of work, drawing on a variety of influences that bridge artistic heritage and contemporary cultures.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
For over forty years, Robert Combas has established himself as one of the leading figures in contemporary French art. His works, exhibited in museums, art centres and galleries, feature in numerous public and private collections in France and abroad, retaining his characteristic pictorial energy and narrative freedom.
ROBERT COMBAS AND CONTEMPORARY MYTHOLOGIES
Robert Combas’s work explores historical and mythological narratives, from ancient wars to legendary figures. The 2026 exhibition at the Pont du Gard features some forty works, including a monumental nine-metre canvas dedicated to the Trojan War, transforming ancient myths into contemporary frescoes that are vibrant and full of energy.
A BRAND-NEW PRODUCTION WITH CHRISTOPHE BERTHONNEAU AND GROUPE F
A brand-new production brings together Robert Combas and Christophe Berthonneau for a monumental video mapping show projected onto the Pont du Gard in the summer of 2026.
This immersive show transposes the artist’s visual world onto the scale of the monument, blending images, light and references to antiquity. The soundtrack accompanies this experience with compositions by the group Les Sans Pattes, of which Robert Combas is a member.
Every evening from 4 July to 30 August at 10.30 pm – Parking: €9 per vehicle, free for season ticket holders
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
Exhibition: WAR AND PEACE – COMBAS at the Pont du Gard
On the Left Bank, in the Temporary Exhibition Gallery.
Admission to the exhibition is included in the ticket price for the discovery areas.
Dates: 29 May to 1 November 2026 – Opening hours: 10am – 1pm / 2pm – 6pm
More information about the artist: https://www.combas.com/