The First Art Biennial in Picardian Wallonia
The BUTOR Art Biennial is an international exhibition of contemporary art held in Molenbaix (municipality of Celles, in Picardian Wallonia). For its first edition, from August 22 through October 4, 2026, the event will feature some twenty regional and international artists.
The exhibition is being held at an exceptional location: the four-star Ferme d’Écavée hotel, a restored 17th-century farmhouse surrounded by an 8-hectare estate featuring 600 trees, farmland, various water features, and a natural swimming pond.
The Origins of the Project
At the heart of this biennial is Bernard Adins, a great art lover who has long cherished the dream of launching a large-scale art project at the Ferme Écavée, a family estate with a rich history.
To make this dream a reality for the public, he contacted the municipality of Celles and its alderman for Culture to work out a partnership. The municipality is enthusiastic about the proposal and is committed to supporting the project leader.
The curatorship of the exhibition has been offered to two art historians from the region: Julien Foucart (curator at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Tournai) and Robin Legge (lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tournai and coordinator of the nonprofit organization Intersections – Contemporary Art & Heritage Tournai).
A special place
La Ferme Écavée offers all the necessary amenities: a restaurant, meeting and exhibition rooms, 8 stables, a tack room, and an elegant hunting lodge. The estate embodies a harmony between culture, hospitality, and nature.
