For its 26th edition from 4 to 7 April at the Grand Palais Éphémère, the art fair once again focuses on showcasing regional and cosmopolitan art pieces.

Art Paris will be welcoming a select group of exhibitors with a stronger international presence that comprises 136 hand-picked 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.

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. 

More than half 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 international selection includes New York gallery Bienvenu Steinberg & J, Circle Art Agency from Kenya, Etemad from Iran or London-based Soho Revue, among others.

Fragile Utopias. A Focus on the French Scene

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 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 (b.1953) – Templon / Yto Barrada (b.1971) – Polaris / Cécile Bart (b.1958) – Galerie Catherine Issert / Alice Bidault (b.1994) – Pietro Spartà / Pierrette Bloch (1928-2017) – Galerie Zlotowski / Nicolas Chardon (b.1974) – Oniris.art / Sonia Delaunay (1885-1979) – Galerie Berès / Mathilde Denize (b.1986) – Perrotin / Nathalie Du Pasquier (b.1957) – Yvon Lambert / Philippe Favier (b.1957) – Galerie 8+4 / Elika Hedayat (b.1979) – Aline Vidal Paris / Sarah Jérôme (b.1979) – H Gallery / Benoît Maire (b.1978) – Nathalie Obadia / Vera Molnár (1924-2023) – Galerie Verart Véronique Smagghe / Michel Parmentier (1938-2000) – Loevenbruck / Juliette Roche (1884-1980) – Pauline Pavec / Edgar Sarin (b.1989) – Galerie Michel Rein / Daniel Schlier (b.1960) – Galerie East / Assan Smati (b.1972) – Nosbaum Reding / Maria Helena Vieira da Silva (1908-1992) – Galerie Jeanne Bucher Jaeger / Raphaël Zarka (b.1977) – Mitterrand

Art & Craft

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 (b.1977) – Almine Rech / Jean-Marie Appriou (b.1986) – Perrotin / Thomas Bayrle (b.1937) – Galerie East / Karina Bisch (b.1974) – Lahumière / Saloua Raouda Choucair (1916-2017) – Saleh Barakat / Michele Ciacciofera (b.1969) – Galerie Michel Rein / Daniel Dewar & Grégory Gicquel (b. in 1976 and in 1975) – Loevenbruck / Elizabeth Garouste (b.1946) – Galerie Ketabi Bourdet / Ge Ba – Galerie Françoise Livinec / Josep Grau-Garriga (1929-2011) – Galerie Claude Bernard / Sheila Hicks (b.1934) – Galerie Claude Bernard / Jérôme Hirson (b.1984) – Galerie Le sentiment des choses / Patrick Kim-Gustafson (b.1986) – Marguo / Jacqueline (1920-1992) & Jean (1913- 1992) Lerat – Capazza / Barbara Levittoux-Świderska (1933-2019) – Richard Saltoun / Oceania – Anonymous sculpture made in 1920 – Galerie Jeanne Bucher Jaeger / Shiro Tsujimura (b.1947) – Galerie Le sentiment des choses / Jeanne Vicerial (b.1991) – Templon / Jane Yang-D’Haene (b.1968) – Bienvenu Steinberg & J

Solo shows

Eighteen solo shows spread throughout the fair allow visitors to discover or rediscover in depth the work of modern (Jean Hélion, André Masson), contemporary (Gilles Barbier, Samantha McEwen) and emerging artists (Leyla Cardenas, Lucia Hierro, Katia Kameli).

Solo Shows:
Gilles Barbier (b.1965) – Huberty & Breyne / Leyla Cardenas (b.1975) – Galerie Dix9 – Hélène Lacharmoise / Stijn Cole (b.1978) – Irene Laub Gallery / Fathi Hassan (b.1957) – Nil Gallery / Jean Hélion (1904-1987) – Galerie Patrice Trigano / Lucia Hierro (b.1987) – Fabienne Levy / Ellande Jaureguiberry (b.1985) – Galerie 22,48 m2 / Katia Kameli (b.1973) – 110 Galerie Véronique Rieffel / Mohamed Lekleti (b.1965) – Galerie Valérie Delaunay / Jacqueline (1920-2009) et Jean (1913-1992) Lerat – Galerie Capazza / André Masson (1896-1987) – Galerie Jacques Bailly / Samantha McEwen (b.1960) – Modesti Perdriolle Gallery / Giulia Marchi (b.1976) – Labs Contemporary Art / Jung-Yeon Min (b.1979) – Galerie Maria Lund / Pauline-Rose Dumas (b.1996) – Galerie Anne-Laure Buffard / Ben Walker (b.1974) – Soho Revue / Sophie Zénon (b.1965) – Galerie XII / Carlo Zinelli (1916-1974) – Galerie J.P. Ritsch-Fisch

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:
Galerie Felix Frachon (Brussels), Gaep (Bucharest), Galerie Hors-Cadre (Paris), Hunna Art Gallery (Sharjah, U.A.E), Labs Contemporary Art (Bologna), Maāt Gallery (Paris), Molski Gallery (Poznań), She BAM! Galerie Laetitia Gorsy (Leipzig), Soho Revue (London)

All the important info about Art Paris 2024 at a glance

ART PARIS 202426th EDITION
04 – 07 APRIL 2024
GRAND PALAIS ÉPHÉMÈRE, 2 Pl. Joffre, 75007 Paris, France

Metro: line 8, École Militaire station
RER: line C, Champ-de-Mars – Tour Eiffel station
Bus: lines 28, 80, 82 86 & 92, École Militaire station
Vélib station (bike-sharing service): No. 7 111 – Ecole Militaire – Place Joffre
Car Parking: Parking Indigo Joffre Ecole Militaire

Public Opening hours:
Thursday 4 April 2024: 12:00 – 20:00
Friday 5 April 2024: 12:00 – 21:00
Saturday 6 April 2024: 12:00 – 20:00
Sunday 7 April 2024: 12:00 – 19:00

Admissions:
Thursday or Friday: € 30 / € 15 for students
Saturday or Friday: € 35 / € 20 for students
Free entry for children under 10 years old