2026-09-27 - NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - La dépêche du Midi 

"It is a masterful example of contemporary French Impressionism": Lot painter Laurence Saunois captivates the United States with her series of ten monumental canvases inspired by Monet".

Published on 09/26/2026 at 9:18 PM

Article written by Audrey Lecomte

La Dépêche du Midi

Figeac painter Laurence Saunois has been exhibiting her "Nympheus Luminansis" series in the United States since last January. After Connecticut and Alabama, her works are currently on view in Louisiana. In January 2027, she will attend the opening reception in Houston, Texas, continuing a two-year American tour. The exhibition has been such a hit that it may even be extended to the French Embassy in Washington in 2028.

A year ago, after eight years of relentless work, Figeac painter Laurence Saunois completed an incredible series of ten monumental paintings inspired by Claude Monet's gardens in Giverny. An exclusive exhibition organized with the city of Figeac at the Salle Balène allowed a thousand visitors in the fall of 2025 to preview this collection of paintings titled "Nympheus Luminansis," which caught attention as far as the United States.

In early January 2026, the artist from the Lot region inaugurated the first leg of a two-year U.S. tour in Connecticut. Following Alabama, Laurence Saunois's exhibition has been on display since mid-September in Louisiana at the Historic City Hall in Lake Charles—a public art and history gallery that hosts numerous traveling exhibitions from around the world.

"A beautiful artistic and human adventure"

Last June, while reopening her garden to the public for the first time in sixteen years, Laurence Saunois made no secret of her happiness in experiencing such an adventure—"A beautiful artistic and human adventure," she noted. Her emotion is palpable when she speaks about this project so close to her heart. The Figeac local traveled all the way to New York to accompany her works and attend the first opening reception across the Atlantic. In January 2027, the artist plans to return to the United States to attend the opening reception of the exhibition in Houston, Texas. She will even lead a guided tour for the American public, whose feedback has been unanimously glowing.

"It is a masterful example of contemporary French Impressionism that fully captivates its audience. Laurence Saunois adopted a sublime and complex approach to recreate the inspiration behind Monet's iconic Water Lilies series, meticulously crafted and filled with endless, delightful details. Anyone who loves Impressionism will adore this series and find something new in each piece every time," writes Dayne Rugh, director at the Slater Memorial Museum in Connecticut.

The exhibition will make its next stop next spring in San Angelo, Texas, followed by Kansas at the end of the year. And Laurence Saunois's American journey will not stop there, as it is expected to continue into 2028. The artist's works could be displayed at the French Embassy in Washington. A book dedicated to the "Nympheus Luminansis" project is currently available for purchase. A short documentary was recently produced and will be shown in the museums hosting the exhibition.

La dépêche du Midi devotes an article to Nympheus Luminansis. Copyright La dépêche du Midi