Picasso’s Ceramics Studio to Reopen as Museum Vallauris

Pablo Picasso’s famed ceramics studio is getting a second life, complete with a museum and lush new gardens. After nearly 30 years behind closed doors, the Madoura Pottery workshop in Vallauris, France is set to reopen to the public in 2027 following a €7 million ($8.2 million) transformation.

The atelier was opened 1938 by Georges & Suzanne Ramié. It was the birthplace of great acts of creativity by 20th-century greats like Picasso, Matisse, and Marc Chagall, before closing in 1997. Nearly three decades later, the mayor of the local city of Vallarius, Kevin Luciano, has spearheaded a major renovation project that will see the ruin welcome visitors once more.

Picasso produced ceramics at the workshop for more than two decades, beginning in 1948, and in that time he produced more than 3,500 objects, including platters, vases, pitchers, and mugs that often featured playful animal imagery.

While some serious interventions have been necessary to ensure the stability of the structure for future generations the objective is to “keep the building true to its original historical nature, to not distort of modify it too much—we want it to remain as it was.” said Luciano. A decade ago, the studio was at the risk of crumbling due to waterlogged walls and holes in the ceiling after being abandoned for seven years. Yet the workshop was still largely as Picasso left it, including period furniture, tools, brushes, and drying boards. The facility was bought for €3 million ($4 million) by the association of local authorities with the intent to create a cultural hub focused on ceramics.

The studio won’t be the only museum in town. A former priory in Vallauris hosts the grandly-named Musée National Picasso, whose star exhibit is the 1952 fresco La Guerre et La Paix, painted in the chapel. ”

If all goes to plan, the ceramics site will open to the public in spring 2027.