Jaime Hayon at Villa Noailles: 25 years of imagination and craftsmanship
From 26 June to 7 September, Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon presents an immersive exhibition that reveals the foundations of his creative universe, set within one of Europe’s most iconic contemporary art spaces.
Address: Hyères (France)
Hours: From 26 June to 7 September 2025
Villa Noailles, the emblematic art and architecture centre in Hyères, in the south of France, is hosting one of this summer’s most anticipated exhibitions: “Le Miroir” – a profound exploration of Jaime Hayon’s (Madrid, 1974) trajectory and creative process.
Renowned for blurring the boundaries between art, design and craftsmanship, Hayon offers an immersive, emotional experience that celebrates 25 years of creative output.
The artist’s universe has been built from the outset around solid values: humour, sensuality, organic forms, a vibrant colour palette, deep respect for the craft and rich cultural references.
This combination of boundless imagination and formal rigour has shaped a singular career, where the personal and professional naturally intertwine.
The “Le Miroir” exhibition unfolds across two complementary spaces:
Room 1: L’Atelier. Sources of Inspiration
This space recreates the intimate and vibrant atmosphere of Jaime Hayon’s studio, offering a rare glimpse into the heart of his creative process. Here, visitors encounter a curated constellation of objects, paintings, sculptures, materials, sketches and unfinished pieces that reflect the artist’s wide-ranging and eclectic influences – from ancestral crafts and baroque ornamentation to folk traditions and contemporary design languages drawn from across cultures and continents.
More than a mere backdrop, this studio-like environment embodies the dual forces that underpin Hayon’s practice: the tension between tradition and innovation, spontaneity and precision.
It is in this space, both physical and symbolic, that the alchemy of intuition and technique unfolds – a place where ideas take shape through exploration, trial, and rigorous craftsmanship. The room offers not only an insight into the aesthetics of his work, but also into the mindset of an artist who embraces process as an essential part of meaning.
Room 2: 25 Years of Creation
The second space celebrates Hayon’s career through a carefully curated selection of iconic works that trace his aesthetic and conceptual evolution.
From sculptural ceramics and wooden furniture to glass lighting and bronze sculptures, this section highlights his ability to explore a wide range of materials while maintaining a coherent formal language. Drawing emerges as a fundamental tool – a starting point, a research method and a means of invention.
The Mirror of a Unique World
The title of the exhibition, “Le Miroir” (The Mirror), is no coincidence. The show reflects not only Hayon’s visible work, but also what drives it: his inner world, his sensibility, and his commitment to a way of creating that resists trends and the fast pace of the market. In a setting historically known as a haven for the avant-garde, such as Villa Noailles, this introspective journey takes on a new resonance.
“This exhibition not only reflects Hayon’s visible work, but also what drives it.”
Villa Noailles: A Historical Setting
Commissioned by Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles in the 1920s and designed by architect Robert Mallet-Stevens, Villa Noailles stands as one of the earliest examples of modernist architecture in France. With its geometric lines, open spaces and direct connection to the Mediterranean landscape, the building was not just an architectural manifesto, but a laboratory for ideas.
For decades, the Noailles made it a gathering place for Europe’s artistic avant-garde, hosting figures such as Man Ray, Jean Cocteau and Luis Buñuel. That legacy of innovation and boundary-pushing endures to this day. Since becoming a centre for contemporary art in 1996, Villa Noailles has cultivated a bold, multidisciplinary programme that has established it as an international reference for design, architecture, fashion and photography.
Hayon’s presence in this setting not only aligns with its legacy but also reaffirms his position as one of the most influential and distinctive creators of his generation, capable of engaging with the past while projecting boldly into the future.
Between the Playful and the Sublime
Jaime Hayon’s works possess an instantly recognisable visual language: dreamlike figures, schematic faces, patterns that evoke both tribal and futuristic motifs, and a colour palette that ranges freely between the playful and the sublime. His universe is defined by a constant tension between spontaneity and refinement, instinct and meticulous craftsmanship. Each object, each form, seems to emerge from a dream where decorative art, symbolic storytelling and exquisite artisanal technique coexist.
This exhibition invites the viewer to delve into the inner workings of this imagination and understand how each piece responds to a story, a gesture, or an intuition. Far from offering fixed interpretations, Hayon presents open questions, invitations to wonder and contemplation, where function becomes visual poetry and the everyday transforms into art. It is precisely in this hybrid territory – between childlike surprise and formal excellence – where the strength of his work resides.
A Leading Voice in Contemporary Design
Hayon has collaborated with some of the world’s most prestigious brands, including Fritz Hansen, Cassina, Baccarat, BD Barcelona Design, Nani Marquina, Swarovski, Camper and Lladró, among many others. In each of these, he has left an unmistakable mark, fusing functionality with narrative, and tradition with experimentation. His creations can be found in contemporary art museums, public spaces, private interiors, boutique hotels and design collections, firmly establishing him as a leading figure on the international design scene.
In 2021, he was awarded Spain’s National Design Award, recognising both the relevance and global impact of his career. His ability to unite function and emotion, objects and storytelling, makes him an essential voice in shaping the new sensitivities of contemporary design. This exhibition not only celebrates his legacy and boundless imagination but also invites us to reflect on the future of design from a more human, sensitive, inclusive and socially engaged perspective.
“Le Miroir is an invitation to rethink design through a more human and committed lens.”
Highly recommended.
(*) Photos provided by Hayon Studio.
