Art Basel Paris, soon the revelation at the Grand Palais

Forty additional galleries were able to join it and a multitude of events, official or off, contribute to its international influence. A third of the 200 galleries participating in Art Basel Paris (October 18 to 20, 2024) have spaces in France and brush aside fears that the French scene will be forgotten. “ And you never defend your territory as much as when it is put on an equal footing with international excellence », assures Clément Delépine, director of the fair.

The year of all challenges

He also points out that the French market is doing well, consolidated in 4th place in the world. “ France is now the gateway to the European Union, with VAT maintained at 5.5%, as 55% of EU art transactions take place here. »

Thus, from the new “Premise” sector which can include creations before 1900, to the more contemporary “Emergence”, sure values, discoveries and diversity are there. Our country’s privileged link with the fashion world has also made it possible to form a partnership with the house of Miu Miu, leader of the public program which is developing in nearly 10 Parisian locations.

An edition that thinks big

Clément Delépine is satisfied with this third edition of the fair organized under his direction, which highlights historical creators and promotes the growth of an emerging and international scene, in line with today’s questions.

« The reinstallation at the Grand Palais, which also attracted many more applications, allowed us to add 40 galleries and offer approaches as diverse as outsider art, queer or racialized artists. We were also able to promote foreign scenes, such as that of the Middle East, which today proves to be a particularly active artistic platform. Ultimately, it is a global recognition of an art market that is changing, and of a world that is transforming », he analyzes.

Thus the “Galleries” sector welcomes 26 new entrants, including Athr Gallery, from Jeddah, with 4 Saudi visual artists such as Sara Abdu or Muhannad Shono. When from New York, Casey Caplan comes in particular with Kevin Beasley or Hannah Levy, never shown at the fair, and Di Donna with paintings signed Yves Tanguy or Wifredo Lam.

The important French galleries are all there, exhibiting timeless artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat (Thaddaeus Ropac) and newcomers such as Julian Charrière (Perrotin gallery). Other young visual artists are in the prospective “Emergence” sector, like Lou Fauroux, who explores a future without Internet at Exo Exo, or the Japanese sculptor Kenji Ide, who revisits the traditional crafts and culture of his country, at Kayokoyuki.

For the first time, the “Premise” concept presents itself as a curatorial space, which allows 9 galleries to exhibit works prior to 1900. We see a work by Henri Rousseau (Dina Vierny gallery), we discover Janet Sobel (1838-1968), Ukrainian artist at the crossroads of Art Brut and Abstract Expressionism (Gallery of Everything), or Mohamed Meledi, associated with the Casablanca School (Loft Art Gallery). And under the label “Oh La La!” », the organizers had fun asking the exhibitors to put up nice re-hangings from Friday, in order to encourage visitors to come back.

Art Basel Paris
Grand Palais, 3, avenue du Général-Eisenhower, 75008 Paris
From October 18 to 20