Marius Monaco has once again merged culture and craftsmanship with the launch of its third “Art of Storytelling” exhibition, unveiling Car Legends of Monaco by French illustrator Maxime Duvillard. The show, which opened on Monday, June 16 at the iconic venue on Quai Antoine 1er, runs until Monday, July 14 and offers a visual joyride through the Principality’s rich automotive and cinematic past.
This new series features a striking collection of Art Deco-inspired illustrations, each one a love letter to the cars and characters that have defined Monaco’s motoring history. Duvillard, known for his meticulous research and emotionally layered artwork, has dug deep into archives to resurrect the stories behind the wheels — weaving together elements of architecture, film, royalty, and Formula One with a draughtsman’s precision and a storyteller’s soul.
Among the standouts in the exhibition are finely rendered depictions of several vehicles from La Collection de Voitures de S.A.S le Prince de Monaco, including the powder-blue Sunbeam Alpine that Grace Kelly famously drove in To Catch a Thief, and the stately Chrysler Imperial that greeted her on her arrival to the Principality as Princess of Monaco. There’s even a nostalgic nod to the family’s old Austin FX3 taxi, a vehicle in which a young Prince Albert II reportedly once begged to ride in the luggage compartment — a detail delightfully captured in Duvillard’s narrative-rich style.
The show also shifts into high gear with a celebration of Monaco’s Grand Prix legacy, portraying legends like Louis Chiron, Ayrton Senna, and Charles Leclerc in vibrant tableaux that echo the roar of the circuit’s famed hairpin turns. These aren’t just car portraits — they’re windows into Monaco’s identity, replete with nods to state visits, royal weddings, and cinematic glamour.
Duvillard describes his creative process as that of an “investigator-illustrator,” one who aims to surprise and move the viewer through art that fuses fact with flair. “Each illustration must tell a story,” he says, “and reveal something more than what’s on the surface.”
The Car Legends of Monaco exhibition continues Marius Monaco’s transformation from refined dining spot to full-blown cultural destination. The “Art of Storytelling” series has previously showcased works by Jean Cocteau, Raymond Moretti, and Brazilian artist Marcos Marin, positioning the restaurant as a serious player in Monaco’s artistic landscape.
Open daily from noon to 22:30 until July 14, this latest exhibition invites locals, tourists, and petrolheads alike to relive the Principality’s grandest automotive moments — from palace courtyards to pit lanes — all under one elegant roof.
For more information, visit www.mariusmonaco.com.
