Charlotte Gainsbourg unveils intimate photos of 5 bis rue de Verneuil at Rencontres d’Arles in July 2026

Charlotte Gainsbourg presents her intimate photographs of her father’s house at Rencontres d’Arles 2026. The actress and singer takes a personal look at 5 bis rue de Verneuil, Serge Gainsbourg’s legendary Paris home.

5 bis rue de Verneuil: from private home to museum open to the public

In 2023, Charlotte Gainsbourg opened the doors of 5 bis rue de Verneuil for the first time. Her father’s house became a museum, with a singular photogenic quality. The interior was reproduced by Claude Berri for his film Je vous aime (1980).

On this occasion, the artist spoke to Vogue France about her memories of the place. She evoked a magical space where every object on the walls reflected what had meant so much to Serge Gainsbourg. According to her, her father knew how to blend the modern and the ancient with great precision.

Open for more than two years, the museum offers a tour of previously unseen objects and works. There’s also a reference bookshop and bar.

“I’m glad this project exists. On the one hand, because it’s been thirty years since my father died, it’s time to pass on the baton, so that my children won’t have to manage their grandfather’s house later on.”

An emotional legacy

For Charlotte Gainsbourg, this project is about passing on a legacy to future generations. She didn’t want her own children to have to manage the house alone in the future. This approach reflects a desire to share with the public.

The space reveals an intimate Serge Gainsbourg, far removed from his public image. Contrary to what one might imagine, the space is small and cramped. At times, it was even stifling for him, in the words of his daughter.

• The museum is located at 5 bis rue de Verneuil in Paris.
• It opened its doors in 2023
• A museum trail traces the life and career of Serge Gainsbourg
• A bookshop-boutique offers objects in its own image
• A bar completes the offer of this multi-faceted venue.

A new photographic exhibition at Rencontres d’Arles 2026

Before opening the museum to the public, Charlotte Gainsbourg captured the place as she knew it. She used her Hasselblad to photograph every corner of the house. These images will be presented for the first time at Rencontres d’Arles 2026.

The exhibition is entitled 5 bis, a direct reference to the home’s address. It will be held at the Saint-Trophime cloister, 20 Rue du Cloître, Arles. Visitors will be able to discover it from July 6 to October 4, 2026.

The exhibition is curated by Matthieu Humery, a specialist in photography. He heads the LUMA Foundation‘s Living Archives program. This collaboration guarantees a rigorous and sensitive approach to photographic work.

The House of Saint Laurent and Maja Hoffmann support this project. Thanks to their collaboration, these intimate images find a setting that matches their emotional impact.

A personal look captured in solitude

Charlotte Gainsbourg describes her creative process in powerful terms. She recalls the solitude, the time taken to choose her lenses and her tripod. Sometimes by day, sometimes by night, she photographed without touching or moving objects.

Her words convey an urgency to capture these moments before they open to the public. She speaks of stealing images before it’s too late. Her testimony reveals a deep attachment to this place steeped in memories.

An artist between cinema, music and photography

A well-known actress and singer, Charlotte Gainsbourg has now added photography to her means of expression. This new artistic project is an extension of her work on the memory of her father. It shows a more intimate side of her creative process.

The exhibition at the Saint-Trophime cloister offers a remarkable historical setting for these images. This twelfth-century monument is in dialogue with the modernity of the photographic gaze. The contrast between the two places reinforces the emotional dimension of the event.

Rencontres d’Arles 2026 thus hosts an exhibition that goes beyond a simple family tribute. It is an artistic work in its own right. Charlotte Gainsbourg asserts her personal vision with touching sensitivity.

• Charlotte Gainsbourg