Adventice,

Adventice, Montpellier, France, 2025 is inspired by JR’s new series made from wood and paper, currently on view for the first time at Montpellier’s Carre Sainte-Anne until January 4th, 2026. 

The Adventice series draws from a little-known chapter of Montpellier's history. In the Middle Ages, wool imported from Spain, North Africa, and beyond carried hidden seeds. These foreign seeds thrived in the Mediterranean climate, giving rise to France’s first botanical garden. 

In botany, the word adventice stems from the Latin advenire, “that which comes from the outside.” Once seen as invasive weeds, they are now recognized as vital to biodiversity, supporting pollinators and enriching soil. Cornflowers and poppies are among them, now iconic to the French countryside.