32nd Salon d’Automne – Sursock

The Sursock Museum is pleased to invite you to the 32nd Salon d’Automne, the first edition of the Salon d’Automne to take place since the Museum’s reopening in October 2015.

One of the primary activities of the Sursock Museum since its opening in 1961, the Salon d’Automne has consistently brought together emerging and established artists in the longest running open call exhibition in Lebanon. Following in the traditions of the historic Paris Salon, the Salon d’Automne was a place where artists could show new work to a broad public, signaling trends and shifts in the art scene of the time. The most notable Salon d’Automne took place in 1964, where the move towards abstraction in art was clearly noticeable. Since then, the Salon d’Automne has brought together artists, art critics, and the public in a lively debate on the state of art in Lebanon.

The Salon d’Automne now takes place every two years as part of the expanded Museum’s varied exhibitions program, which sees three major exhibitions per year. The open call format is an opportunity for the Museum to encounter a wide variety of practices by artists living and working in Lebanon, and for early career artists to show their work in a major exhibition at the Museum. This year’s Salon d’Automne brings together 52 artists working across all media, from painting and installation to video. Selecting works from over 300 applications was not an easy task for the Jury.

Every year, the Museum awards several prizes. These are the Sursock Museum Prize for the most innovative work, and the Emerging Artist Prize – generously gifted by Mrs. Hind Sinno – for the most promising early career artist. This year, and for the first time, we have added the Audience Choice Award. You will be able to select your favorite artwork to be awarded, so don’t forget to cast your vote inside the exhibition space!