FocaleNuArt - Artistic Nude Photography Festival

A unique festival in France dedicated to artistic nudity

Created in 2011 by the association FocaleNuArt, this festival has become over the editions the only event in France entirely dedicated to artistic nude photography. Every summer, the medieval bastide of Villeréal, in Lot-et-Garonne, transforms into an open-air gallery to host the works of a dozen photographers from all over France and abroad. The festival has established itself as a benchmark in this field, attracting renowned artists and a passionate audience.

A rigorous selection by an independent jury

Each year, photographers wishing to exhibit submit their series of images to an independent jury which evaluates the artistic quality and coherence of the proposals. Only about a dozen applications are selected from the numerous submissions received. This demanding selection guarantees a high level of excellence and a diversity of approaches to artistic nudity: from classical to contemporary, from black and white to color, from staged to spontaneous shots.

A guest of honor each year

The festival honors a photographer recognized for their entire body of work. Among the guests of honor of recent editions, we can mention Caltar (2025), Lily Stoneheart (2024), Marc Dubord (2023), and Claude Roussillon (2022). The guest of honor has a privileged space to present a significant series of their work.

An artistic trail through the bastide

The main exhibition takes place at the Espace Jean Moulin, in the heart of Villeréal's central square, under the iconic medieval market hall of the bastide. In addition, an "off" circuit allows visitors to discover works in the shops and private homes of the village. A map of the trail is available at the exhibition hall, the town hall, and the Tourist Office, inviting visitors to stroll through the alleys of this 13th-century bastide while discovering the photographs.

Convivial highlights

The festival is structured around several key moments:

• The opening reception: organized on the first Saturday of the festival in the late afternoon, it brings together artists, residents, and visitors in a festive and friendly atmosphere.
• Meet the photographers: throughout the exhibition week, the public can interact directly with the artists present on site.
• The audience award ceremony: at the closing, visitors vote for their favorite photographer, and the winner is announced at a public ceremony on the last Sunday of the festival.

A commitment to promoting artistic nudity

The FocaleNuArt association, founded in December 2011, aims to promote artistic nude photography through the organization of permanent and traveling exhibitions, as well as training and advanced courses. In a context where this photographic genre sometimes struggles to find exhibition spaces, the Villeréal festival offers a space for freedom and dialogue between artists and the public, helping to evolve the perception of the body and nudity in contemporary art.