Art Paris curated by Artsper

Artsper is proud to partner with Art Paris and to present a curated selection of participating galleries of this year’s edition. You can find artworks by the talented artists and galleries featured in the fair available to collect on our site. The 26th edition of the Art Paris fair unfolds from April 4th to 7th, 2024, in the heart of Paris. This event will gather 136 galleries representing 25 countries within the majestic halls of the Grand Palais Éphémère. Discover our dedicated online art collection!

1. “Fragile Utopias” by Éric de Chassey

Twenty one artists from the French artistic scene will be selected by Éric de Chassey, Director of the National Art History Institute. As Éric de Chassey describes, visual arts are not just about representation or decoration. They also offer models for perception, thought and action, forming utopias in the process of creation. Utopias can be expressed in different ways, but they are often temporary and fragile.

Many believe that the modernist era ended in the 1970s due to the collapse of major political utopias, giving rise to postmodernism. In postmodern art, we’re seeing a shift back to traditional functions. Utopias being temporary and uncertain, they have persisted beyond modernism. This aspect is now less influenced by authoritative statements and more by the uncertainties of a period marked by the decline of grand ideologies. This is evident in artworks that embody their own fragile utopias.

Many featured artists presented in “Fragile utopias” sell their artwork on Artsper:

Looking back, we can discern this utopian aspect in the works of artists, particularly female artists like Sonia Terk-Delaunay, who were often overlooked during the modernism movement. Sonia Terk, born in Odessa, later moved to Saint Petersburg and settled in Paris. Beyond painting, she designed functional objects, which may explain why it took so long for her to be seen as legitimate on the art scene. Her various identities play a key role in her original artistic production. Her artworks from the 1910s consistently employed the concept of “simultaneity”, using color as a means to animate both abstract and figurative elements.

Philippe Favier‘s art has been deeply intertwined with explorations of utopia and heterotopia.
Despite often dealing with somber themes, Favier infuses his artwork with tenderness and humor, rendering them seemingly harmless. His pieces stir up emotional reactions, gently suggesting that utopias or heterotopias are intrinsic to our human condition. For instance, in his 2011 series “Rose cousin” dried rose petals delicately encased in enamel and framed within a pollen frame stand as poignant microcosms. These petals, delineated by a slender line of paint, form miniature, delicate, cold and distressing worlds.

During the 1940s, Maria Helena Vieira da Silva‘s depiction of the world defied strict categorization—it neither fell into the figurative or abstract category. Maria’s pieces are imbued with uncertainty, showcasing a paradoxical unity stemming from the infinite fragmentation of space. Among the compositions showcased at the fair, all three revolved around interiors, a favored theme of the artist. Her artworks stand out with their colorful grids, organizing spatial realms into a continuum of infinite possibilities.

Raphaël Zarka is especially captivated by Platonic solids, which in the early 17th century were deemed as foundational elements of the universe. Through his craft, he transforms these solids into an array of objects, notably sundials that blend functionality and extravagance. In doing so, he creates the possibility of a future that never materialized, granting these creations a renewed existence.

2. “Art & Craft” by Nicolas Trembley

Nicolas Trembley, an exhibition curator and art critic presents the Art & Craft theme. This theme explores how modern artists handle craft skills (ceramics, glass, tapestry) over time. Around twenty international artists will be selected from among the participating galleries, giving rise to a thematic tour of the fair and the production of a text featuring the work of each artist selected. It includes the work of Josep Grau Garriga, a pioneer of the international tapestry movement that developed in the sixties, from the Catalan school.

The show boasts a number of features: the “Solo Show”, focuses on 18 solo exhibitions, giving the public the opportunity to discover contemporary artists in more detail, including Mohamed Lekleti, Fathi Hassan, André Masson, Jean Hélion, Gilles Barbier, Leyla Cardenas or Pauline-Rose Dumas. The “Promises” sector will feature nine young galleries (under six years old), offering a future-oriented perspective of contemporary art, including the Gallery Laetitia Gorsy – She Bam!.

The fair also takes an eco-friendly stance, with a regional focus that promotes a local approach. An eco-design approach is implemented, based on a life-cycle analysis.

Practical information: The VIP itinerary (accessible by invitation only, exclusively dedicated to invited collectors and art professionals) consists of a program of 35 private visits and exclusive events.

Don’t miss out on this year’s edition! With thought-provoking themes that are sure to spark your imagination, it is an event you won’t want to pass up.. Can’t make it to the fair in person? Artsper has you covered with our curated Art Paris collection, where you will be able to experience the essence of Art Paris online. See you there – online or at the fair!