Jeremy Gobe, La liberté Guidant la Laine, 2017
2018 marks the 20th anniversary of Art Paris Art Fair. Since its foundation in 1999, the fair has established itself as Paris’ leading modern and contemporary spring art event. The 2018 edition will play host to 142 galleries presenting more than 990 artists from 73 countries providing an overview of European art from the post-war years to the current day, while leaving room for the new horizons of international creation from Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Sigrid Gloerfelt, L’Envol (detail) 2009 / Galerie Tanit
Open to all forms of artistic expression, including video art and design, Art Paris Art Fair offers a theme-based approach emphasizing discovery and rediscovery. This year’s guest country is Switzerland and the fair will also be taking a close look at the French art scene with a new theme developed especially for the twentieth anniversary as well as the usual monographic exhibitions in Solo Show and emerging artists in Promesses.
Bernard Aubertin, Sillage (detail) 2014 / Galerie Jean Brolly
Blek Le Rat, Bohémian Rhapsody (detail) 2012 / Galerie Ange Basso
Hessie, Boutons (detail) 1974 / Galerie Arnaud Lefebvre
20 YEARS – AN OVERVIEW OF THE FRENCH ART SCENE
For its 20th anniversary and in reference to its initial vocation of supporting the French art market, Art Paris Art Fair asked exhibition curator and art critic François Piron to take a subjective look at the French art scene. The idea was to select 20 artists from among the projects presented by participating galleries and to produce an in-depth textual analysis of their work. His choice puts the spotlight on some unique figures from the 1960s to the present day, artists who have managed to preserve their independence, or stayed on the margins of mainstream culture and whose work today deserves both to be reinterpreted and enjoy greater visibility.
Gregoire Müller, Andy, 2017 / Grob Gallery
Philippe Lardy, LifeForms, 2016
Guy Oberson, Arthur H (detail) 2017
Switzerland Guest of Honor
Art Paris Art Fair has forged its reputation by exploring foreign art scenes. After Africa last year, Switzerland is the 2018 guest of honor. The prolific and diverse Swiss art scene, with its taste for all things minimal and offbeat sense of humour, is like the country itself, lying at the crossroads of different European traditions and cultures. Art historian and exhibition curator Karine Tissot has been entrusted with the Switzerland Guest of Honor program, which will endeavor to promote the wealth and diversity of the Swiss scene with a rich program.
Carlos Sagrera, Heating the room (detail) 2017 / Rutger Brandt Gallery
Paul Vergier, Arbustes, 2017
Matthias Schaareman, 1710 (detail) 2016 / Rutger Brandt Gallery
Promises: supporting young galleries and emerging artists
The Promises sector is host to 12 young galleries with less than six years of existence, which may present up to three emerging artists each. The L’art est vivant/ Promesses prize rewards a young talent represented by one of the Promises sector galleries at a key moment in his/her career.
Brian Harte, Family (detail) 2017
Todd Hido, 10707-7, 2011 / Galerie Foucher-Biousse
Georges Jeanclos, Couple, 1980 / Galerie Capazza
Solo Show: 35 monographic exhibitions by modern and contemporary artists
A monographic exhibition offers a special moment in an artist’s career because it helps to develop a better understanding of his/her work and, in so doing, develops the artist’s reputation. Ever since 2015, Art Paris Art Fair has been encouraging the presentation of one-person exhibitions spread throughout the fair. The 2018 edition features an unprecedented number of 35 solo shows.
Dominique Lacloche, Untitled (detail) 2017 / Galerie Loo & Lou
Matthias Contzen, Planete Lucky (detail) / Galerie Loo & Lou
In Paris during Art Paris Art Fair
A wind of change is blowing in France as more than ever Paris asserts its place as the world capital of art. The ‘Springtime in Paris’ VIP programme, elaborated in partnership with the capital’s museums, will illustrate the Parisian art scene’s effervescence this spring.
[via Art Paris]
Art Paris 2018
April 5–8, 2018 / Grand Palais
Please visit the Art Paris website >
