Monaco’s contemporary art scene has a fresh splash of colour this autumn as French artist Brigitte Aliot transforms the lobby of Le Méridien Beach Plaza into an inviting space for artistic discovery. Her exhibition, IN FILE, brings together expressive abstract paintings that explore movement, emotion and the freedom to see something different in every work.
On display until 16 January 2027, the exhibition offers residents and visitors an opportunity to experience contemporary art in an unconventional setting, where creativity can be encountered as part of an ordinary visit rather than behind the doors of a traditional gallery.
An Artistic Language Built on Colour and Movement
A self-taught artist from Lyon, Aliot has spent nearly two decades developing a distinctive visual language shaped by experimentation, instinct and an evolving relationship with colour.
Her earlier work was characterized by more structured compositions and defined, architectural forms. Over time, her approach has become increasingly fluid, with softer contours, sweeping lines and more spontaneous arrangements taking center stage.
The resulting paintings balance movement with restraint, bringing together contrasting qualities that can feel bold and delicate, energetic and contemplative at once.
Working within the tradition of Lyrical Abstraction, Aliot places particular emphasis on the expressive possibilities of painting. Her process combines instinctive gestures with techniques that give her canvases a distinctive physical presence.
These include ceramic paint, used to create textured, glossy surfaces before acrylic colour is introduced, as well as spray paint for larger works. The combination of materials and methods contributes to the visual variety of IN FILE, where colour and form become the principal means of expression.
No Single Meaning, No Wrong Interpretation
One of the most engaging aspects of Aliot’s work is her reluctance to prescribe what the viewer should see. Rather than providing a fixed story or explanation for each painting, she leaves the interpretation open.
A composition might suggest a landscape to one person, a recognisable object to another, or an entirely different association shaped by a memory, mood or emotion. The same painting can therefore provoke different responses depending on who is looking at it.
This openness is central to the exhibition’s appeal. Instead of asking visitors to decode a predetermined message, Aliot invites them to trust their own perceptions and engage with the work on a personal level.
Her paintings bring together seemingly opposing sensations, from strength and fragility to noise and silence, while balancing pop-inspired elements with a more romantic sensibility. The result is an artistic vocabulary that encourages curiosity rather than insisting on a single answer.
Contemporary Art Finds a Home Beyond the Gallery
The setting is an important part of the experience. IN FILE is presented at Le Méridien Beach Plaza’s Le Méridien Hub, the hotel’s lobby and social space, where guests can encounter the works as they arrive, meet friends or pause during their stay.
By placing contemporary art in an everyday environment, the hotel offers a different way to experience creative work. Visitors do not necessarily need to plan a dedicated gallery visit; the paintings become part of the surroundings, inviting a moment of discovery amid the rhythm of Monaco’s waterfront life.
The exhibition also provides a reason for local residents and Riviera visitors to step inside, enjoy a coffee and explore the collection, even if they are not staying overnight. Set within the Larvotto district, the hotel offers a setting where art, hospitality and the Mediterranean atmosphere naturally intersect.
In Monaco, hotel guests can obtain complimentary admission to exhibitions at the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM) by presenting their room key. The initiative provides an additional connection between a hotel stay and the Principality’s cultural institutions, encouraging visitors to explore more of the local arts scene during their time in Monaco.
For a destination widely associated with luxury, major sporting events and the glamour of the Mediterranean, initiatives that bring contemporary art into accessible public-facing spaces offer another dimension to its cultural identity.
Brigitte Aliot’s IN FILE exhibition is on display at Le Méridien Beach Plaza, 22 Avenue Princesse Grace, Monaco, until 16 January 2027.
Whether encountered during a hotel stay or as part of a visit to Larvotto, the exhibition offers a chance to pause and experience art without the expectation of a prescribed interpretation. Its vibrant colours, flowing forms and open-ended compositions invite visitors to bring their own imagination to the encounter.
In Aliot’s world, the painting does not have to tell everyone the same story. Its meaning emerges in the eye of the beholder — making each encounter a little different from the last.
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