The Gallery
La Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste
A unique venue for contemporary ceramics since 1997
Located in Puisaye, a land of fire and creation, the Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste was founded in 1997 through the shared passion of ceramic artists, collectors, and art lovers. Right in the heart of Toucy, opposite the Town Hall and housed in a beautiful 17th- century private mansion, it has established itself today as the essential reference in France and Europe for contemporary artistic ceramics.
Open all year round, the gallery offers a demanding program of solo exhibitions devoted to renowned 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 some 8,000 visitors from all over France and Europe. Featured in the exhibition selections of art magazines and journals, as well as in the Michelin Green Guide and travel guide Lonely PlanetThe gallery plays an active role in the region's cultural 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 (Hauts-de-Seine) 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, bear witness to the venue's recognition and a growing interest in this medium of artistic expression.
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 all the countries. 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 who lives and writes in Toucy
Press
Become a member
Rejoignez les Amis de la Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste !Created in 1997 to support the gallery's efforts to promote contemporary ceramic art, the Association des Amis de la 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, high-support members (from €150) receive all catalogs published during the year free of charge.
Support for the structure via the A.G.A.P. is recognized by the public authorities thanks to a tax ruling that allows donors to reclaim 66 % of the amount of their contribution.
- President: Isabelle BRUNELIN
- General Secretary: Joachim GRUNDMANN
- Treasurer: Nathalie PIERLOT
- In charge of reception and mediation: Loris ROUX
o support the Association of Friends of the Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste, please check the box of your choice:
Gallery Partners
In its approach to raising awareness of ceramic art rooted in the heritage of Puisaye and the originality of its project in a rural environment, the Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste benefits from the support of the DRAC (Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs) and local authorities.
Contact
In the charming small town of Toucy, in the heart of Puisaye and less than 2 hours from Paris via the A6 motorway, the Galerie de l’Ancienne Poste welcomes you inside a 17th-century private mansion located 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
Horaires d’ouverture :
Thursday - Sunday
10 h – 12 h30
3pm -7pm
