Art Paris 2024: Between Increased International Gallery Participation & New Curatorial Focus

Amidst its cultural revival, Paris’s art world is pulsating with life. The French capital cultivates a new allure with fresh private art foundations, bustling museums, and must-see galleries reclaiming the city’s place on the contemporary art map. Art Paris, one of the leaders of this cultural expansion, opens its doors to the public today, launching the art fair’s 26th edition.

Art Paris 2024 brings together 136 modern and contemporary art galleries from 25 countries, showcasing the work of more than 900 artists. The art fair celebrates a 30% increase in debut exhibitors, presenting top-tier galleries like Esther Schipper (Berlin, Paris), Peter Kilchmann (Zurich, Paris), and Richard Saltoun (London, Rome). They stand alongside esteemed returning galleries such as Poggi, Frank Elbaz, Continua, Lelong & Co, Almine Rech, and Perrotin. International galleries make up 40% of the roster, reaffirming the city’s impactful presence in the global art scene.

Known for its commitment to the French scene, Art Paris 2024 features two main themes: Fragile Utopias: A Focus on the French Scene, led by guest curator Éric de Chassey, and Art & Craft, directed by renowned art critic Nicolas Trembley.

Fragile Utopias: A Focus on the French Scene

The main subject of Fragile Utopias is the precarious nature of various artistic forms of the domestic scene including a selection of 21 artists represented by exhibiting galleries. As Éric de Chassey explained: “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.”

Art & Craft

The fair’s other major theme takes its name from the Arts and Crafts movement that emerged in 19th-century Great Britain. The theme showcases how modern and contemporary artists are shaping the world of crafts like ceramics, glass, and tapestry. Twenty international artists were chosen from among the exhibiting galleries.

As the curator of the section, Nicolas Trembley explains: “The quest for a universal art form that is accessible to the masses and takes into account social and anthropological questions has continued to develop and even flourish alongside the canons of modern art. It is more present than ever.”

Other Sections

The 2024 edition is also introducing the BNP Paribas Private Bank Prize, a €30,000 award to support French art and artists. This prize is awarded by a jury of prominent art world professionals to one of the artists selected by Éric de Chassey within the theme Fragile Utopias. The collaboration between BNP Paribas Private Bank and Art Paris aims to sustain French art and artists, showcasing a focus on the French art scene and its advancement.

Additionally, the fair unveils two special selections: the Promises sector for young galleries will support new talents, and the Solo Show sector, which features monographic exhibitions of modern, contemporary, and emerging artists.