Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The André Villers Museum of Photography was founded in 1986 in Mougins, Alpes-Maritimes, by André Villers, photographer close to Pablo Picasso. This place exhibited portraits of the painter, especially those made by Villers himself, as well as works by other renowned photographers such as Denise Columbus, Edward Quinn, Robert Doisneau or Jacques-Henri Lartigue. A collection of ancient cameras, including the cidoscope (precursor of cartoon), was also presented, supplemented by temporary exhibitions of contemporary photography.

The museum closed in 2019 to become a more ambitious project, the Centre de la photographie de Mougins, inaugurated in July 2021 after renovation work. This new centre perpetuates the legacy of the original museum by expanding its missions, while maintaining funds dedicated to the history of photography and its major figures, such as Picasso, whose portraits by Villers were a central element of the collections.

André Villers, a key figure in the museum, was not only its founder but also a major actor in its artistic identity. His friendship with Picasso and his role as the painter's appointed photographer allowed the collections to be enriched with unique photographs, reflecting the links between pictorial art and photography in the 20th century. The museum thus highlighted rare works, while valuing the technical heritage of photography through historical apparatus.

Temporary exhibitions, organized regularly, offered a showcase for contemporary photography, creating a dialogue between periods and styles. This dynamism helped to anchor the museum, then the Centre of Photography, as a reference point for amateurs and professionals, in a territory marked by a strong artistic tradition, especially linked to Picasso's historical presence in the region.

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