Coming off a record-breaking September 2021 show, Art Paris has returned to the Grand Palais Éphémère located at the foot of the Eiffel Tower to celebrate the best in art across Europe.
The curated themes of “Natural Histories” and “Art & Environment” offers a meaningful glance at the contemporary art in a country (and region) that has been so well known for its historical contribution.
Though Art Paris has been taking place for over 24 years (with Art Paris celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023!), it has been since 2018 that Art Paris has consistently supported the French contemporary art scene by inviting curators to lend a subjective, historical and critical eye on a selection of specific projects by French artists presented by participating galleries. This way, guests and art buyers from around the world get an opportunity to observe art from the French eye.
We travelled to Paris, France to explore the show and get a sense of what the art world is like in Europe.
Art Paris 2022 Location
Le Grand Palais Éphémère.
Champs de mars, Paris.
28/04/2021
Wilmotte & associés architectes
@Patrick Tourneboeuf/RMN_GP/Tendance Floue
The location of Art Paris is truly special. The Grand Palais Éphémère situated at the toes of the iconic Eiffel Tower. It is a highly sustainable building, and Art Paris has been making a special effort to be environmentally sensitive in the staging of the show, from recycled materials and natural construction practices. The space is substantial, with gallery spaces fanning out from the entry points. As you get deeper in the space, the view of the Champs de Mars and the Eiffel Tower spreads ahead of you through towering windows.
To demonstrate how dynamic this temporary building really is (as it is hosting events during the renovation of the Grand Palais), the building has hosted countless exhibitions, live shows and events open to all audiences throughout the year. It will even serve as an official 2024 Summer Olympics site, hosting the judo, wrestling, wheelchair rugby and para-judo events.
The Ruinart Champagne Lounge
Ruinart Champagne Lounge at Art Paris 2022
The venerable champagne house has been a longtime supporter of the arts, with efforts to fund and inspire creativity around the world, including in New York City. For Art Paris 2022, the brand took over the second story of the Grand Palais Éphémère to host a VIP lounge for guests to enjoy Ruinart Champagnes and observe the fair (and the Eiffel Tower) from a new vantage point. Ruinart was also serving champagne around the fair floor for guests to enjoy during their tour.
Booths and Areas at Art Paris
At least 130 distinct spaces could be toured at this year’s fair. Artists at Art Paris are represented from all over the world, with a concentration on galleries representing artists in Europe. Artists come from all over the world, including North America and Asia. Among these booths included a selection of solo shows, a unique approach that Art Paris as championed, allowing one artist to show a larger body of work. Fourteen galleries featured collections of solo works. Other galleries focused on curating selections based on the themes of the show, Natural Histories and Art & Environment.
Types of Art on View at Art Paris 2022
The variety of art at Art Paris was very impressive and may surprise American audiences who expect to see “blue chip” art (work from very famous artists with established values). While some of this work was indeed on view at Art Paris 2022, so much came from rising artists with only group or single solo shows presented to their name. It is very refreshing to see art that is new, inspired, and conceptually interesting next to iconic blue chip artworks.
Sculpture was readily available at Art Paris 2022, with a large variety of formats and approaches, including the use of found object and metals, as well as surreal or otherworldly displays of nature.
Camille Brès, Pauline B. à son bureau, 2022. Image: Galerie Ariane C-Y
Paintings that were inspired by the digital realm and surrealism were also plentiful, coming from younger artists who have been influenced by both fine art and a life conducted online.
Photography was also on view, a medium that is often missing from general art fairs in the US but prized here, with new works along with reimagined and remixed archives.
Le Grand Palais Éphémère.
Champs de mars, Paris.
28/04/2021
Wilmotte & associés architectes
@Patrick Tourneboeuf/RMN_GP/Tendance Floue
Others adventurous pieces included work by algorithmically-driven, marker-wielding robots and mind-bending mirror works by a selection of artists. Some works included digital displays.
Artists included Gastineau Massamba, Andy Denzler, François Morellet, Julio Vaquero, Laurence Aëgerter, Alina Frieske, Yves Bélorgey, Taysir Batniji, Martin Essl, and many more. Galleries showing work included Opera Gallery, Galerie Binome, Galerie Anne de Villepoix, Galerie Carole Kvasnevski, Galerie Ariane C-Y, and many others.
You can virtually visit Art Paris 2022 with a richly-designed 3D version of the fair, accessible here.
Visiting Art Paris 2023
Art Paris will be celebrating its 25th anniversary during its 2023 edition, taking place 30 March – 2 April 2023. Be sure to monitor the Art Paris website for updates and tickets. See you there!