Casa Maxence, a new artists' residence in Barcelona

Casa Maxence, located at Carrer Pomaret number 14 in Barcelona, in the residential district of Sarrià, was recently inaugurated, which is a new artistic residence that is decorated with paintings, sculptures and installations by world-class artists. The patron and collector of contemporary art Didier Guillon, is the CEO of the Valmont Foundation. According to him, Casa Maxence is "a home for friends and artists of the brand and exhibits works by artists such as Quetin Garel, Elle Marni, Carles Valverde, Frédéric Amat, Yves Lévêque, Pavel Rou Roučka and the Artigas Foundation".

Guillon acknowledges that he and his family have had a love affair with the city of Barcelona for more than a decade. Originally the headquarters of the Valmont South Middle Europe subsidiary, the 1905 house has its roots in the refinement of the modernist era. The house is in a flourishing Art Nouveau style, with influences from Gaudí and Joseph Puig, Lluís Domènech i Cadafalch and Enric Sagnier. It stands out especially for its facade, where pastel colors intertwine with a variety of motifs in high relief, and bucolic details make their way gracefully along the walls and balustrades. In short, Casa Maxence is a unique place that illustrates the Guillon family's passion for art, design and refinement, passed down from generation to generation.

The house is made up of a living room and four bedrooms, spread over three floors, joined by a central cascade of luminous masks on the staircase, which make us think of a mysterious and seductive Venice. At the back of the property is a Japanese garden, which forms a very serene and minimalist space. A place, which serves as a source of contemplation for some and creativity for others, where art and nature harmonize completely. On the other hand, the studio houses a splendid sculpture in the form of a soft wood bird by the French artist Quentin Garel. Born in 1975 and a former resident of Casa Velázquez in Madrid, his work is located next to the white Carrara marble cage created by Elle Marni, the famous Italian Carrara marble factory founded in 1946. Also of note is the nude giant, a collaborative work by Didier Guillon and the talented Spanish sculptor Carles Valverde, takes pride of place at the entrance to Casa Maxence. This masterful piece immediately attracts the attention of visitors due to its imposing presence. In addition, at the entrance to the house you can discover a miniature version of a nude, presented in various materials. According to Didier Guillon "just like the other three Valmont Residences, the house goes far beyond the traditional notion of hospitality to become an artistic, emotional and immersive experience."

A room for each artist

With Casa Maxence in Barcelona, the Valmont Foundation has Xalet Capucine, Vila Valentine and Résidence Bonvicini, and in all these spaces art is the main protagonist. It is the story of an indestructible bond between the countries and the artists that the members of the Guillon family have chosen. For example, the pastel green of the Art Nouveau style of the shutters in Barcelona subtly dialogues with the lagoon green of the beams of the Residencia Bonvicini in Venice and the Mediterranean blue that characterizes the interiors of Vila Valentinea Hydra. This search for style is reflected in the meticulous choice of artists, to whom each of the bedrooms is dedicated. We can also note that each room has its own identity. It is worth noting the presence of some ceramic squares signed by Isao and composed by Capucine Guillon. One of the many artistic signatures of the latest Valmont Residences. Casa Maxence is divided into four bedrooms. The first is a bedroom with a romantic and provocative spirit. It has black and white photographs that show a stripped landscape, like an echo of the black ink drawings on the pages of the New York Times that the artist likes so much. A number of pieces in the style of Andy Warhol are also on display. Bedroom number 2 is dedicated to the figure of Frederic Amat (Barcelona, 1952), in which the pieces titled The Voyage of Telemac and La Venjança are shown, which are works highly appreciated by the members of the Valmont Foundation.

On the other hand, in the living room and bedroom number 3, visitors can appreciate that it is dedicated to the French artist Yves Lévêque (France, 1937), who like Didier Guillon, sees his art guided by passion and a clear artistic vision . His works are small and large formats with soft colors that intertwine with the very characteristic Art Nouveau style of the Maxence House and his graphic works reproduce stories of sensory journeys, imaginary landscapes and lunar fields, as well as skies splattered with stray birds, etc. Finally, in room number 4, you can appreciate the work of the artist Pavel Roucka (Czech Republic, 1942), who presents expressive figurative compositions, with unusual color effects and non-traditional work processes. The work "Dalila" should be highlighted, which becomes the subject as well as the process within the canvas.

A strong link with the Artigas Foundation

Upon entering the salon of Casa Maxence we can appreciate the works of the renowned ceramist J. Llorens Artigas, which explain the strong bond that has existed and still exists between Didier Guillon and the J. Llorens Artigas Foundation for many years. According to Didier "the works of Artigas contribute to give a striking artistic language, combining dream and surprise, in a subtle relationship between timelessness and modernity, offering visitors a unique sensory journey".