Julie Pailhas
L'art inspirant du quotidien
By Caroline Guio
Her name rings a bell? Her father, Roger, was a renowned Marseille gallerist in the 1990s and 2000s, and her sister, actress Géraldine, is a regular on film sets. Julie Pailhas, in turn, has been steadily building a reputation in Marseille, discreetly establishing herself in a small Vauban apartment chosen for its soul, authenticity, and abundant light. Perched at the top of a staircase, she curates an inspiring collection of design and furniture through her gallery Objets Inanimés.
After 20 years in Paris, working in fashion press and decorative arts, Julie returned to her hometown to showcase a carefully curated selection of vintage pieces (Marcel Breuer, Pierre Jeanneret, 1950s brutalist lamps, Art Deco bowls from the 1920s) alongside contemporary artists. She represents about fifteen selected talents, including ceramists Olivia Cognet and Elisa Uberti, and designer Axel Chay, who crafted a floor lamp exclusively for the gallery. Sculptor Yasmin Bawa, whose totemic tables and wall sculptures blend hemp and polished lime, will be featured this fall. Julie brings an eye for beauty, cultivated through art, auctions, and her circle of passionate collectors. Her love for unique shapes, textures, and materials—whether matte or glossy, lacquered or wooden—instantly elevates interiors. Her goal is to reintroduce soul into everyday spaces, in the face of growing standardization. Julie’s passion for Marseille is as radiant as the Mediterranean light that inspires her work. Her hybrid project reflects her love for sharing, music, good living, and art—bringing beauty to life, one piece at a time.