Apéro, Cours Saleya - Nice (2025)

Alex Nereuta’s Apéro, Cours Saleya captures the sun-drenched atmosphere of a Mediterranean café terrace in the heart of Nice, France. A large white parasol casts graphic shadows over a red-and-white striped awning, while warm ochre façades, turquoise shutters and simplified architectural details evoke the colourful charm of Old Nice. Bold geometric forms, gestural brushstrokes and figurative elements create a vibrant yet intimate portrait of life on the French Riviera. Inspired by the lively cafés and open-air market of Cours Saleya, this original contemporary painting celebrates the timeless French ritual of apéro—that leisurely moment when friends gather over a glass of wine, an Aperol Spritz or a favourite cocktail, often accompanied by a few small bites. You can almost feel the warmth of the afternoon sun as you settle into a café terrace, surrounded by lively conversations, colourful market stalls and the relaxed rhythm of Mediterranean life. Rather than depicting one specific view, the composition brings together familiar details observed across different seasons and moments in Vieux Nice: striped awnings, fruit and vegetable stands, colourful buildings, people gathering outside cafés and the dramatic shadows cast by parasols. Reassembled through memory, these elements capture the distinctive light, architecture and atmosphere of this iconic Côte d'Azur destination. Created using acrylic and marker on canvas, this one-of-a-kind original painting combines bold graphic shapes with a sun-filled palette of warm ochres, Mediterranean blues, vibrant reds and crisp whites. A celebration of Nice, the South of France and the simple pleasures of café culture, people-watching and slowing down over an afternoon apéro.