The Gallery
Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste
Since 1997, contemporary ceramic art in Toucy, in the Puisaye, in northern Burgundy
Founded in 1997, Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste is a leading destination for contemporary ceramic art in France and Europe. Located in the heart of Toucy, in the Puisaye region of northern Burgundy, the gallery presents exhibitions by established and emerging international ceramic artists throughout the year.
Housed in a historic 17th-century building, it offers art lovers, collectors and visitors exploring Burgundy an opportunity to discover contemporary ceramic art in a distinctive cultural setting. It has established itself today as a world-renowned gallery for contemporary ceramic art.
Open all year round, the gallery offers a demanding program of solo exhibitions devoted to artists who have chosen the earth as their mode of expression. From the outset, the founders wanted to offer an exhibition space in a rural setting on a par with large urban galleries, both in terms of the quality of the works presented and the attractiveness of the venue.
To date, the gallery has organized more than 160 exhibitions and presented almost as many French and international ceramists exclusively in France, some of whom have become permanent artists, such as Matthew Chambers, Thomas Bohle, Ursula Morley-Price, Ann Van Hoey, Erna Aaltonen...
Each year, the venue welcomes 8,000 visitors from all over France and Europe. Regularly featured in art magazines and journals, as well as in the Michelin Green Guide and the Lonely Planet travel guide, it plays an active role in the region’s cultural and tourist appeal.
The gallery also develops partnerships with museums and cultural institutions
to allow a wider audience to discover contemporary ceramics. Collaborations
with the Musée d’Art Moderne de Troyes in 2013 and the Maison des Arts de
Châtillon in 2019, as well as the "Carte blanche à la Galerie de l’Ancienne
Poste" exhibition hosted by the famous La Piscine Museum in Roubaix in
2020, reflect the venue’s recognition and a growing interest in this artistic
medium.
See Exhibitions off-site.
At the corner of Lucile Cormier and Philippe Verger streets, the post office was part of everyday life in Toucy until 1968, when a modern facility was built on the edge of town. An antiques shop then took over the premises and remained there until the end of the 20th century.
Isabelle Brunelin’s background was in corporate communication, far removed from clay or age-old traditions. So it came as a surprise when she and her partner, Christophe Alquier, paused during a drive through the Puisaye countryside to visit an exhibition of “contemporary ceramics.” The term itself intrigued them. Though both were passionate about art, they had always assumed ceramics meant functional, utilitarian objects. They were astonished to discover instead a world of originality — a new generation of artists using clay as a medium for bold, contemporary expression.
It didn’t take long for inspiration to strike. The beautiful building of the former post office was vacant. With Isabelle’s communication expertise, Christophe’s creative talent, and the strong ties they had quickly formed with ceramic artists, the couple decided to open a gallery dedicated to ceramic art from around the world. The fact that Toucy is a small town deep in the rural Burgundy did not faze them.
They were driven by a passionate artistic vision. That is how Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste was born.
C. 0'Reilly
Author living and
writing in Toucy
Press
Become a member
Join the Friends of Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste!Created in 1997 to support the gallery’s efforts in promoting contemporary ceramic art, the Association of Friends of Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste (A.G.A.P.) brings together some 180 members, some of whom have supported the structure since its inception.
In 2025, the association reached a new milestone in its mission by contributing, thanks to donations from its members, to the acquisition of ceramic works by major museum collections.
In addition to invitations to all events organized by the gallery, patron members (€150 and above) receive all catalogues published during the year free of charge.
Thanks to its recognised status, donations to the Association of Friends of Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste are eligible for a tax deduction of 66 % in France.
- President: Isabelle BRUNELIN
- Secretary-General: Joachim GRUNDMANN
- Treasurer: Nathalie PIERLOT
- Reception and Public Engagement: Loris ROUX
To support the Association of Friends of Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste, please select your preferred membership level :
Gallery Partners
Through its commitment to promoting contemporary ceramic art rooted in the heritage of the Puisaye region in Burgundy , and its distinctive approach in a rural setting, Galerie de l'Ancienne Poste benefits from the support of the DRAC (Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs) and local authorities.
Contact
In the charming little town of Toucy , in the heart of the Puisaye region in northern Burgundy - under two hours from Paris on the A6 freeway - Galerie de l'Ancienne Poste welcomes you in a 17th-century private mansion opposite the town hall.
24 rue Philippe Verger (place de l’Hôtel de Ville)
89130 TOUCY
+33 (0)3 86 74 33 00
contact@galerie-ancienne-poste.com
Opening hours:
Thursday - Sunday
10 am – 12:30 pm
3 -7 pm
