For its 26th edition from 4 to 7 April at the Grand Palais Éphémère, regional and cosmopolitan art fair Art Paris 2024 is truly in Olympic form. Focusing as always on discovery, it will be welcoming a very select group of exhibitors with a stronger international presence that comprises 136 handpicked modern and contemporary art galleries from 25 countries. This edition will be exploring two themes: Fragile Utopias. A Focus on the French Scene and Art & Craft, led respectively by guest curators Éric de Chassey and Nicolas Trembley. The Promises sector for young galleries and Solo Show will be revealing new talents and featuring historical figures who deserve to be rediscovered.
In 2024, Art Paris commits to further support the French scene by joining forces with BNP Paribas Private Bank, the fair’s premium partner, to launch the BNP Paribas Private Bank Prize. A Focus on the French Scene with a total prize award of 30,000 euros.
A rigorous selection process
136 galleries were selected for the 2024 edition from a total of 291 applicants. With 42 new arrivals compared to 2023, the 2024 selection is marked by the very first participation of several trendsetting European contemporary art galleries: Esther Schipper (Berlin, Paris), Peter Kilchmann (Zurich, Paris), Meessen De Clercq (Brussels), Michel Rein (Paris, Brussels) and Richard Saltoun (London, Rome). They are joined by Poggi, Frank Elbaz and leading galleries, such as Continua, Lelong & Co, Almine Rech and Perrotin who are returning this year. 60% of the exhibiting galleries are French, which means Art Paris can showcase the entire scope of the French gallery ecosystem, from the prominent modern and contemporary art galleries in Paris to galleries across France, while providing support to young galleries.
The remaining 40% comprises a selection of foreign galleries that is boosted by the arrival of New York gallery Bienvenu Steinberg & J, Circle Art Agency from Kenya, Etemad from Iran or London-based Soho Revue.
Modern art, which represents 20% of the selection, is characterised by numerous exhibits focusing on surrealism that mark the movement’s 100th anniversary in 2024. First time exhibitors Antoine Laurentin (Paris, Brussels), Boquet (Paris) and Czech gallery Cermak Eisenkraft provide a breath of fresh air.
Fragile Utopias. A Focus on the French Scene
by Éric de Chassey
Éric de Chassey, director of the Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art (INHA), teacher at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon and exhibition curator will share his perspective on the French scene with a selection of 21 artists chosen from among the exhibiting galleries on the theme Fragile Utopias. He will also be writing a presentation of each artist’s work. As Éric de Chassey points out: “The sole function of the visual arts is not one of representation or decoration, they also provide models that can guide our perception, thoughts and actions, in other words they contribute to constructing possible utopias. These utopias may be embodied in any form and with every medium, however in these uncertain times marked by major changes in society and the way we understand the world, they are often of a temporary and precarious nature and as such they are ‘fragile’ utopias.”
Selected Artists:
Jean-Michel Alberola (1953) – Templon / Yto Barrada (1971) – Polaris / Cécile Bart (1958) – Galerie Catherine Issert / Alice Bidault (1994) – Pietro Spartà / Pierrette Bloch (1928-2017) – Galerie Zlotowski / Nicolas Chardon (1974) – Oniris.art / Sonia Delaunay (1885-1979) – Galerie Berès / Mathilde Denize (1986) – Perrotin / Nathalie du Pasquier (1957) – Yvon Lambert / Philippe Favier (1957) – Galerie 8+4 / Elika Hedayat (1979) – Aline Vidal Paris / Sarah Jérôme (1979) – H Gallery / Benoît Maire (1978) – Nathalie Obadia / Vera Molnár (1924-2023) – Galerie Verart Véronique Smagghe / Michel Parmentier (1938-2000) – Loevenbruck / Juliette Roche (1884-1980) – Pauline Pavec / Edgar Sarin (1989) – Galerie Michel Rein / Daniel Schlier (1960) – Galerie East / Assan Smati (1972) – Nosbaum Reding / Maria Helena Vieira da Silva (1908-1992) – Galerie Jeanne Bucher Jaeger / Raphaël Zarka
The BNP Paribas Private Bank Prize. A Focus on the French Scene, a new award with a prize of 30,000 euros to support art in France
Ever since 2018, Art Paris has been showcasing and supporting the French scene by asking an exhibition curator to turn a subjective, historical and critical eye on a selection of specific projects by French artists from among the participating galleries.
Keen to increase its support of the French art scene in 2024, Art Paris premium partner BNP Paribas Private Bank is joining forces with the fair to launch the BNP Paribas Private Bank Prize. A Focus on the French Scene with a prize of 30,000 euros. The winner, selected by a prestigious jury from among the artists chosen by Éric de Chassey for the Fragile Utopias focus, will be announced on Wednesday, 3 April 2024.
Art & Craft
by Nicolas Trembley
This theme’s title, curated by art critic and independent exhibition curator Nicolas Trembley, takes its name from the pioneering Arts and Crafts movement that saw the light of day in Great Britain at the end of the 19th century. The theme will address the way in which modern and contemporary artists have taken – and continue to take – the world of crafts (ceramics, glass, tapestry, etc.) and make it their own, combining in so doing thought and gesture.
Around twenty international artists will be chosen from among the exhibiting galleries to comprise a themed tour of the fair. Nicolas Trembley will also write a text with a presentation of each artist’s work.
To quote Nicolas Trembley: “Although it is true that the visual arts at the beginning of the 20th century incorporated practices more often associated with the applied arts, the emergence of a more conceptual form of contemporary art put an end to this historical way of doing things. Since the beginning of the 21st century and the development of a globalised art market that pushes minority practices and groups to the fore, we are witnessing the emergence of artworks whose techniques are traditionally related to artisanship. Furthermore, we are rediscovering works by historical and contemporary artists whose approach borrows from the world of craft.”
Selected Artists:
Magdalena Abakanowicz (1930-2017) – Richard Saltoun / Joël Andrianomearisoa (1977) – Almine Rech / Jean-Marie Appriou (1986) – Perrotin / Thomas Bayrle (1937) – Galerie East / Karina Bisch (1974) – Lahumière / Saloua Raouda Choucair (1916-2017) – Saleh Barakat / Michele Ciacciofera (1969) – Galerie Michel Rein / Daniel Dewar (1976) et Grégory Gicquel (1975) – Loevenbruck / Elizabeth Garouste (1946) – Galerie Ketabi Bourdet / GE BA – Galerie Françoise Livinec / Josep Grau-Garriga (1929-2011) – Galerie Claude Bernard / Sheila Hicks (1934) – Galerie Claude Bernard / Jérôme Hirson (1984) – Galerie Le sentiment des choses / Patrick Kim-Gustafson (1986) – Marguo / Jacqueline Lerat (1920-1992) and Jean Lerat (1913-1992) – Capazza / Barbara Levittoux-Świderska (1933-2019) – Richard Saltoun / Oceania – Anonymous sculpture made in 1920 – Galerie Jeanne Bucher Jaeger / Shiro Tsujimura (1947) – Galerie Le sentiment des choses / Jeanne Vicerial (1991) – Templon / Jane Yang-D’Haene (1968) – Bienvenu Steinberg & J
Solo Show: seventeen single-artist exhibits
These solo shows spread throughout the fair allow visitors to discover or rediscover in depth the work of modern (Jean Hélion, Jacqueline, Jean Lerat), contemporary (Gilles Barbier, Samantha Mc Ewen) and emerging artists (Leyla Cardenas, Lucia Hierro, Katia Kameli).
Solo Shows:
Gilles Barbier (1965) – Huberty & Breyne
Leyla Cardenas (1975) – Galerie Dix9 – Hélène Lacharmoise
Stijn Cole (1978) – Irene Laub Gallery
Fathi Hassan (1957) – Nil Gallery
Jean Hélion (1904-1987) – Galerie Patrice Trigano
Lucia Hierro (1987) – Fabienne Levy
Ellande Jaureguiberry (1985) – Galerie 22,48 m2
Katia Kameli (1973) – 110 Galerie Véronique Rieffel
Mohamed Lekleti (1965) – Galerie Valérie Delaunay
Jacqueline (1920-2009) and Jean (1913-1992) Lerat – Galerie Capazza
Samantha McEwen (1960) – Modesti Perdriolle Gallery
Giulia Marchi (1976) – Labs Contemporary Art
Jung-Yeon Min (1979) – Galerie Maria Lund
Pauline Rose Dumas (1996) – Galerie Anne Laure Buffard
Ben Walker (1974) – Soho Revue
Sophie Zénon (1965) – Galerie XII
Carlo Zinelli (1916-1974) – Galerie JP Ritsch Fisch
Promises: a sector supporting young galleries and emerging artists
Promises, a sector focusing on young galleries created less than six years ago, provides a forward-looking analysis of cutting-edge contemporary art. Participating galleries can present up to three emerging artists and Art Paris finances 45% of the exhibitor fees. This year Promises plays host to nine international galleries: Bim Bam Gallery (Paris), Galerie Felix Frachon (Brussels), Gaep (Bucharest), Galerie Hors-Cadre (Paris), Labs Contemporary Art (Bologna), Maāt Gallery (Paris), Molski gallery (Poznań), She Bam Galerie Laetitia Gorsy (Leipzig), Soho Revue (London)
Press release from Art Paris
Image: Elika Hedayat. Les dépossédés #11. 2023. Oil on canvas. 97 x 130 cm. Image courtesy of Galerie Aline Vidal
