Hélène Mukhtar at Galerie des Dominicains in Nice

Silvia Assin recently visited the latest exhibition by Hélène Mukhtar, currently on view at Galerie des Dominicains, in the heart of Vieux Nice on Rue Saint François de Paule. The show makes an immediate impression with its vibrant energy and visual intensity.

Well-known to the local audience for her participation in the Ovni Festival—presented by Galerie Depardieu—Mukhtar returns with an even bolder offering: an unexpected fusion of painting and video sculpture. The result is a fresh expressive language that bridges traditional forms and contemporary technology, offering a multisensory experience.

Upon entering the gallery, viewers are greeted by brightly colored acrylic canvases and three large screens displaying video artworks. A consistent visual identity ties the works together: a vivid color palette, strong graphic lines, and sharp irony that’s evident in titles like Conversation with a Black Cat and How to Persuade a Purple Dog.

Mukhtar herself seems to embody the spirit of her art—dynamic, with a short haircut and animated gestures, she could have stepped out of one of her own animated worlds. Born in Nice, she began her creative career with L’Oréal in the United States before returning to her artistic roots at her studio in Sanremo.

In recent years, her voice has stood out in the world of contemporary video art, establishing a recognizable style defined by movement, humor, and media blending.

At the opening, a particularly striking piece was a slim blue plexiglass sculpture with a video on triathlon projected within. This artwork perfectly encapsulates the hybrid nature and kinetic energy of the exhibition.

Mukhtar’s show is an invitation to experience art through a new lens, in a universe where painting and video coexist, challenge, and enhance one another.