For the fifth consecutive year, several works by Trouville-sur-Mer artist Émilie Arnoux are heading to prestigious contemporary art venues in the United States. The French painter, known locally for her street art on the swimming pool wall and her gallery-workshop on Victor Hugo Street, has built an international career that bridges her Norman coastal hometown with the American art scene.
Arnoux has gained recognition for her artwork inspired by beach and sea themes, primarily creating large-format paintings that blend elements of pop art, beach culture, and surf art. Her upcoming American exhibitions include some of the most coveted contemporary art shows in the country, starting with Art Basel Miami Beach in December, followed by Art Palm Beach, also in Florida. The tour will continue with the Los Angeles Art Show and Hamptons Fair Art, culminating in a solo exhibition at her New York gallery in July 2026.
"Exhibiting in the most beautiful contemporary art shows is every artist's dream, I think," Arnoux explained. The connection to her New York gallery came about serendipitously when a gallery owner unexpectedly visited her studio. "I was already working well, sending my works internationally. And one day, perhaps by chance or because he had heard about what I was doing, a New York gallery owner walked through the door of my studio," she recalled.
The gallery owner had an immediate connection with her work and invited her to exhibit at the Fremin Gallery, a prestigious contemporary art gallery. "Working in a gallery in New York – you don't refuse that," she said with a laugh. Interestingly, while the gallery owner was born in Honfleur, the two communicate in English.
Despite her works traveling to America for several months, Arnoux herself remains rooted in Normandy. "If I had to leave with my works, I couldn't paint; you can't be in two places at once," she explained. "So I send my paintings but stay in Normandy to work." She splits her time between Trouville and Sainte-Adresse, where her partner lives.
While her career is flourishing in the United States, Arnoux admits she's not particularly social and feels most comfortable when painting. She's uncertain about traveling to America at the end of 2025 or early 2026, but plans to definitely visit New York in July for her solo exhibition at the Fremin Gallery.
The artist maintains a balance between her international sales and local market, keeping certain works available in Trouville. "Obviously, there are works that I choose to put on sale in Trouville. I need to keep some for the people who follow me, for those who are discovering me too," she noted. There's genuine local demand for her work, and she actually sends fewer paintings to the United States than before, though she recently sent a piece titled "Trouvillaise" to New York despite preferring to keep it locally – it was sold to a collector.
When it comes to inspiration, Arnoux feels no shortage of creative ideas. "I have no problem finding inspiration; I would need four lifetimes to do everything I want to do," she said. Her artistic universe remains cohesive, addressing many subjects related to the beach and sea through different aspects: architecture, characters, portraits, and family scenes. She also expresses interest in working on desert lakes, drawn to warm contrasts like blue and yellow ochre.
Currently, Arnoux is focusing extensively on reflections, finding the subject fascinating. She has embarked on creating series, which creates anticipation among her followers and pushes her out of her comfort zone. "I love that, and painting makes me happy," she concluded. Her Gallery-Workshop is located at 18 Rue Victor Hugo in Trouville-sur-Mer and is open on Saturdays, with some exceptions.
