At a glance
- Who? French photographer Philippe Jarrigeon has won the 2026 Maison Ruinart Prize, the 8th edition of this photography award.
- Which work? Le Vrai du Faux, a new series made in Champagne in summer 2026 around the Faux de Verzy, beech trees with twisted shapes.
- Where to see it? At Paris Photo, in the Grand Palais, from 12 to 15 November 2026, booth P12.
- What the winner receives: a residency in Champagne, a commission backed by a grant and a dedicated space at the fair. The amount is not disclosed.
- The prize: created in 2018 by the Champagne house Ruinart, with the support of the Picto Foundation.
The Champagne house Ruinart, owned by the LVMH group, is pursuing its photography patronage. For its 8th edition, the Maison Ruinart Prize honours Philippe Jarrigeon, who turned the twisted trees of Verzy into fictional characters. His images are shown for the first time at Paris Photo, until Sunday 15 November.
Le Vrai du Faux, an unexpected Champagne
According to the house’s presentation, Philippe Jarrigeon took over Champagne to create an entirely new project, looking at a territory shaped by an ancient geological history. Its protagonists are the Faux de Verzy, twisted beech trees with supernatural shapes. The photographer pairs them with fossil shells, bouquets and ambiguous figures, blurring the line between reality and fiction.
Paris Photo describes a series made in summer 2026 that explores the dialogue between mineral and plant life in the Champagne landscape. The trees become fantastical presences, as if lit from within, while flowers and shells take the leading role. Through playful and poetic staging, the series offers an unexpected view of Champagne, where reality is transformed.
Who is Philippe Jarrigeon?
Born in France, Philippe Jarrigeon is a graduate of ECAL, the Lausanne university of art and design, where he has taught since 2008. According to his biography published by Paris Photo, his work has been shown at the Hyères Festival, the Fotomuseum Winterthur and Paris Photo. He works with magazines, fashion and luxury houses, and artists. Co-founder of Dorade and winner of a Swiss Design Award, he published PLAY in 2021.
Ruinart links his work to surrealism and a marked taste for staging. Before Champagne, he photographed the Fontainebleau forest for the series Rocher Fatal, which his Paris gallery WOMANRAY is also showing at Paris Photo this year, in the Emergence sector.
A residency, a grant, a booth
The prize follows the same path every year. It recognises a project from the Emergence sector of Paris Photo, devoted to emerging artists. The winner is invited to a residency in Champagne, where he or she carries out a commission backed by a grant, the amount of which is not published. The works are shown for the first time at Paris Photo, in a dedicated space, then at other major art fairs, according to the house.
Ruinart presents the prize as one of the pillars of its patronage, alongside the Prix Planète Art Solidaire, with the aim of helping emerging talent locally. In October, Ruinart was also among the official partners of Art Basel Paris.
Eight editions since 2018
The first winner, in 2018, was Simon Lehner, followed by Elsa Leydier in 2019. Gosette Lubondo received the 3rd edition in 2021, Matthieu Gafsou the 4th in 2022 and Constance Nouvel the 5th in 2023. The duo Édouard Taufenbach and Bastien Pourtout won in 2024 with Jardin de craie, projected onto the walls of the chalk cellars. In 2025, Marine Lanier won the 7th edition with Alchimia, a series printed on brushed aluminium.
1729, the year Ruinart was born
According to LVMH, Maison Ruinart was founded in Reims on 1 September 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart, and the group describes it as the first Champagne house. It will celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2029: until then, ten works will be commissioned and unveiled in Champagne. For the region’s most sought-after bottles, see the most expensive Champagne in the world.
Paris Photo opening hours and access
Le Vrai du Faux is on show at booth P12 of Paris Photo, in the Grand Palais, avenue Winston-Churchill, in the 8th arrondissement. The fair is open from 1 pm to 8 pm, and until 7 pm on Sunday 15 November. On Saturday 14 November, several nearby metro stations are closed from 11 am: the fair recommends Saint-Philippe du Roule or Alma-Marceau on line 9, and La Tour-Maubourg on line 8. The full programme, the 246 exhibitors and ticket details are covered in our Paris Photo 2026 guide (in French).
| Prize | Maison Ruinart Prize, 8th edition |
| Winner | Philippe Jarrigeon, French photographer |
| Series | Le Vrai du Faux, made in Champagne in summer 2026 |
| Subject | the Faux de Verzy, fossil shells, bouquets |
| Gallery | WOMANRAY, Paris |
| Exhibition | Paris Photo, Grand Palais, stand P12 |
| Dates | 12 to 15 November 2026 |
| Grant | amount not disclosed |
| Prize created | 2018, with the Picto Foundation |
Information checked on 14 November 2026. Sources: Maison Ruinart, Prix Maison Ruinart, Paris Photo, Maison Ruinart Prize 2026, Paris Photo, Emergence sector, Paris Photo, practical information, LVMH.
