Paris+ par Art Basel concludes highly successful debut edition

The inaugural edition of Paris+ par Art Basel brought together 156 premier galleries from 30 countries and territories – including 61 exhibitors with spaces in France – in a new flagship event that further amplifies Paris’s international standing as a cultural capital. A strong line-up of galleries from France was joined by exhibitors from across Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America, and the Middle East for a global showcase of the highest quality. Reaching beyond the Grand Palais Éphémère, the fair presented an active cultural program from morning to night, all week, and throughout the city, through a robust program of collaborations with Paris’s cultural institutions and its city-wide sector Sites.

The debut edition of Paris+ par Art Basel was attended by leading private collectors from France and across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, as well as museum directors, curators, and high-level patrons from approximately 140 cultural organizations including: Albertina, Vienna; Art Institute of Chicago; By Art Matters, Hangzhou; The Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection, Paris; CAPC musée d'art contemporain de Bordeaux; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Dia Art Foundation, New York; Elgiz Museum, Istanbul; Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris; Fondazione MAXXI, Rome; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington D.C.; ICA Boston; Jeu de Paume, Paris; Lafayette Anticipations, Paris; Leeum Museum of Art, Seoul; Les Abattoirs, Toulouse; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA); The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Moderna Museet, Stockholm; Mudam – The Contemporary Art Museum of Luxembourg; Munchmuseet, Oslo; Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon; Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal; Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris; Musée d’Orsay, Paris; Museo Tamayo, Mexico City; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo; Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City; New Museum, New York; NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale; Palais de Tokyo, Paris; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Serpentine Galleries, London; Tate, London; and Zachęta - National Gallery of Art, Warsaw.

The fair welcomed President of France Emmanuel Macron and French Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak. First Lady Brigitte Macron was also in attendance on the fair’s first public day. During his visit, President Macron congratulated Art Basel on having reinvented a true international contemporary art fair in Paris.

‘I believe this week marks a true inflection point for the arts community in France, one in which Paris’s cultural actors came together to collectively present, on the global stage, the best of what the city has to offer,’ said Clément Delépine, Director, Paris+ par Art Basel. ‘The excitement in the halls and throughout Paris is testament to the city's renewed momentum and the spirit of collegiality which has made the extraordinary success of this first edition possible’.

‘This is a truly historic moment for Art Basel,’ said Marc Spiegler, Global Director, Art Basel. ‘Despite having only nine months to prepare, this felt like a strong show in every way. Collectors came from all over the world and were rewarded with the highest quality of artworks in the booths. We couldn't have hoped for a better debut in this amazing city, whose cultural scene continues to go from strength to strength.’

Galleries exhibiting across all sectors of Paris+ par Art Basel –including Galeries Émergentes, the fair’s premiere sector dedicated to galleries presenting young and emerging artists –remarked on their experiences of the debut edition:

Galeries

‘Art Basel is the plus for Paris! The fair and its organization have strongly reinforced Paris’s artistic energy. We are seeing more collectors, from the US and Asia notably, sales are high, and the audience is eager to discover new talents as well as modern masters. I could not dream of more for Paris.’

Kamel Mennour, Founder, kamel mennour (Paris)

‘It was an honor to be part of Art Basel’s first Paris edition, having participated in all of the fair’s locations for many successful years. The quality and number of important international collectors remained high, and we placed several works in significant collections in the first few hours of the fair opening.'

Monika Sprüth and Philomene Magers, Co-owners, Sprü̈th Magers (Berlin, London, Los Angeles)

‘I expected Paris+ par Art Basel to be a vibrant and dynamic fair, but now I think it should be called Paris+++. A great job in so little time! At the fair I engaged with people from Australia to Latin America, from North America to Asia. Paris is at the heart of these beautiful and diverse connections. Seeing President Macron and Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak come to support the fair and its galleries is a great sign. It shows that culture in France is at the center of the current agenda, and it places France at the center of culture in the world!’

Lorenzo Fiaschi, Director, Galleria Continua (San Gimignano, São Paulo, Beijing, Havana, Les Moulins, Paris, Rome)

‘Paris+ was beyond expectations; it’s a fair which brought us all together again in the most elegant and transformative way. The sales were to A-plus collectors and foundations that we haven’t seen in a few years, and the fair reminded us of the before times. We want to thank the Art Basel team for creating such a significant fair in such a short period of time, further building upon the foundation that FIAC established.’

Lisa Spellman, Owner and Director, 303 Gallery (New York)

‘We were thrilled by the energy of the fair and impressed by the truly global cross-section of great collectors we saw on the first day – the most astute Europeans and Americans, as well as great Asian clients. Paris has always been an art capital and a place our partners consider a second home, but this week we felt a whole new momentum here. And so LGDR’s focus for this first edition of Paris+ was on quality, with works by modern and contemporary artists that are the ne plus ultra of their oeuvres. The response to our presentation was fantastic, with many works on our stand sold, and just as important, so many marvelous conversations made possible by the fair’s atmosphere – neither too grand nor too intimate, but just right.’

Amalia Dayan, Co-Founder, LGDR (New York, Hong Kong, Paris, London)

‘The inaugural Paris+ par Art Basel was a success for us, and I believe for many of our colleagues, too. The early crowd was reminiscent of a typical Art Basel preview day, with collectors coming from all over Europe and the US, and we were pleased to see so many collectors from Asia in person again. We were especially happy to have conversations with many major international museum directors and curators.’

David Zwirner, Owner, David Zwirner (New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong)

‘This first edition was particularly dynamic for us and very satisfying! We were sold out from the very first day and placed works with American, Belgian, French, Mexican, and South African collectors. Many of the works entered the collections of foundations and museums.’

Loïc Garrier, Paris Director, Ceysson & Bénétière (Paris, Saint-Etienne, Lyon, Koerich, New York)

‘We are so proud to have participated in the inaugural edition of Paris+ par Art Basel. The sales were significant, and the energy throughout the fair grounds and the city was fantastic to experience. We are incredibly grateful for the support and organization of the fair, now in this new city.’

Max Falkenstein, Senior Partner, Gladstone Gallery (New York, Brussels, Rome, Seoul)

‘It was one of the best fairs the gallery has participated in, and not only from a sales perspective. We were delighted to see many collectors from all over the world, American trustees but also French collectors.’

Jérôme Poggi, Founder, Galerie Jérôme Poggi (Paris)

'The arrival of Art Basel to Paris has undoubtedly added great momentum to the ecosystem of the French capital. We saw much more international attendance to the fair with sales being both strong and consistent. Paris has so much to offer, and we are very happy to be a part of this comeback of the city.'

Mathieu Paris, Senior Director, White Cube (London, Hong Kong)

'With the concentration of international collectors, curators, and art world players, everyone seems to be in Paris and Paris+ par Art Basel has definitely increased the attractiveness of the city’s art market. Since some time, Paris is experiencing a strong renaissance and has gained back an important role as an art world capital. Paris+ was a strong sign for this.'

Thaddaeus Ropac, Founder, Thaddaeus Ropac (London, Paris, Salzburg, Seoul)

‘We were delighted to reconnect with several collectors, particularly from Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, who we have not seen for some time, due to travel restrictions. The network of Paris+ par Art Basel collectors is of high quality. Paris is booming, with major galleries that used to shun the French capital moving in and private foundations multiplying.’

Anna Kraft, Director, galerie frank elbaz (Paris)

‘Artists and collectors have always been particularly drawn to Paris for its art historical importance and cultural resonance. Many of our artists were keen to place their works specifically in prestigious French collections, and with the excitement around the inaugural edition of this fair they have put forward both new and historically important works. This has been greatly appreciated by local collectors and those from far and wide.’

Serena Cattaneo Adorno, Director, Gagosian (Geneva, Basel, Gstaad, Rome, Athens, Hong Kong)

‘The increase in the quality of the works presented and the profile of the players led to a higher number of sales. The installation by Ashley Hans Scheirl and Jakob Lena Knebl at the entrance to our booth, echoing the Austrian Pavilion at the last Venice Biennale, will join the prestigious collection of one of the leaders in the tech industry. It will also result in exhibitions in several institutions for this duo, whose work will be shown next year at the Palais de Tokyo and in the Falckenberg Collection in Hamburg.’

Hervé Loevenbruck, Founder, Loevenbruck (Paris)

‘James Thurber once said that “the whole of Paris is a vast university of art', and this first Paris+ fair week confirms those words remain absolutely true. For us at Hauser & Wirth, the atmosphere is particularly inspiring as we're preparing our new Paris space to open next year. Our stand at Paris+ reflected our delight in being here and our commitment to art of the highest caliber, through a concise selection of museum-quality works by gallery artists, with each represented by the very best of his or her oeuvre. And it was clear on this first day of the fair that collectors and curators have gotten the assignment: Major works went quickly within the first few hours of Day 1.’

Marc Payot, President, Hauser & Wirth (Hong Kong, Ciutadella de Menorca, Gstaad, St. Moritz, Zurich, London, Somerset, Los Angeles, New York)

‘Paris is buzzing. Art Basel’s debut undoubtedly confirmed the city's status as an art capital. This was echoed by the numerous extraordinary exhibitions across town – not least the important show of Alice Neel at the Centre Pompidou, on the artist's political and social engagement – and strong sales and international attendance at Paris+.’

Xavier Hufkens, Owner and Founder, Xavier Hufkens (Brussels)

‘I am positively surprised by the international audience and institutional attendance. There was an incredibly good atmosphere and interesting conversations, and we are happy to report positive sales, as well as connecting with many interesting French collections that have strong links to the fashion industry.’

Emanuel Layr, Founder, Layr (Vienna)

‘A great success for the first edition of the Art Basel fair in Paris. We were able to witness a profusion of international clients from all over the world, an audience rarely seen at an event of this type in Paris. This first edition probably announces the comeback of Paris at the center of the art market.’

Benoît Sapiro, Founder, Galerie Le Minotaure (Paris)

‘With this first edition of Paris+ by Art Basel, we have seen a real improvement in the quality of the works exhibited, with collectors coming from all over the world: this has resulted in a real emulation which allowed us to say, on Friday afternoon, that the fair is already a success.’

Nathalie Obadia, Founder, Galerie Nathalie Obadia (Paris, Brussels)

‘It was a thrill for us to have such a positive reception during the opening hours of the inaugural Paris+ par Art Basel from international collectors and curators. Having done FIAC for a decade, I am thrilled to keep the gallery’s French presence alive with Paris+.’

Jessica Silverman, Founder, Jessica Silverman (San Francisco)

‘We are very pleased with our participation in Paris+. There is a strong dynamic at the fair; we notice the presence of many collectors, and notably of a new generation, which is very interesting. And there was no slowdown in transactions, even three days after the opening. All in all, an excellent edition!

Pietro Spartà, Founder, Galerie Pietro Spartà (Chagny)

‘I am thrilled to have taken part in the first edition of Paris+ par Art Basel. This is another exceptional platform that the organizer provided, allowing me to showcase our Japanese artists to a wider group of European and international audiences. The fair has already proven to be a key meeting point for the art community globally. I am glad to connect and engage with the sophisticated and emerging collectors in this city and beyond.’

Atsuko Ninawaga, Owner and Director, Take Ninagawa (Tokyo)

‘We were surprised by the number of First Choice guests and the number of collectors, which is exceptional per square meter. We had visitors from the United States, Latin America, China, but also from Turkey. We have never had such a rush, such excitement around the former FIAC. ’

Anne-Claudie Coric, Executive Director, Templon (Paris, Brussels)

Galeries Émergentes

'We were thrilled to participate in the inaugural edition of Paris+ par Art Basel, which has brought greater attention and visibility to our gallery presentation, programme, and artists. We are even more delighted that Akeem Smith showing at our booth has been selected to carry out a special commission as part of the fair’s partnership with the Galeries Lafayette group and whose work will be supported through the production of a new piece in the workshops of Lafayette Anticipations.'

Pauline Seguin, Founder, Heidi (Berlin)

‘We are absolutely delighted about the first edition of Paris+ par Art Basel, which we think was incredibly well organized. We had a lot of insightful conversations, and participating in the fair was a decisive step in the development of the gallery.’

Oswaldo Nicoletti, Founder, Nicoletti (London)

‘We are very proud we were able to show Jessy Razafimandimby in such an important context for the Paris art scene. The fair went very well for us; we sold works from the booth and our inventory to a lot of foreign collectors we were meeting for the first time.’

Marie Madec, Director, sans titre (Paris)

‘The fair vastly exceeded our expectations. Our booth by London-based Patrick Goddard sold out within hours on the first day. We have had incredible conversations about the artist’s practice. Crucially, the impressive quality of engagement with Goddard’s work is a testament to what Paris+ is offering.’

David Hoyland, Founder and Director, seventeen (London)

‘Paris+ par Art Basel is one of the best fairs we've participated in since opening the gallery. The emerging section in particular, which we were a part of, was small but very strong, and we were honored to be present.’

Beatrice Beugelmans, Assistant Director, Chris Sharp Gallery (Los Angeles)

Galeries

The main sector of the fair featured 140 of the world's leading galleries which presented the highest quality of painting, sculpture, works on paper, installation, photography, video, and digital works. 

Galeries Émergentes

Dedicated to emerging galleries across the globe, Galeries Émergentes featured 16 solo presentations. Exhibitors included Antenna Space from Shanghai, Instituto de visión from Bogotá and New York, LC Queisser from Tbilisi, Marfa' from Beirut, Parliament from Paris, Galeria Dawid Radziszewski from Warsaw, sans titre from Paris, and Veda from Florence.

Supported by groupe Galeries Lafayette, artist Akeem Smith, represented by Heidi in the sector, was selected by a specially appointed jury to produce a new piece in the workshop of the Lafayette Anticipation - Fondation Galeries Lafayette. The new work will be exhibited at Lafayette Anticipations in 2023. As part of the initiative, Heidi will be reimbursed its fair participation fee.

The jury was composed by Guillaume Houzé, Rebecca Lamarche-Vadel, Myriam Ben Salah, Agnes Gryczkowska, and Jean-Marie Appriou.

Sites

The show's city-wide sector Sites featured publicly accessible works in emblematic settings throughout the city, including the Jardin des Tuileries – Domaine national du Louvre, as well as Place Vendôme, musée national Eugène-Delacroix, and Chapelle des Petits-Augustins des Beaux-Arts de Paris.

Organized in collaboration with the Musée du Louvre and curated by Annabelle Ténèze, Director of Les Abattoirs, Musée - Frac Occitanie Toulouse, the exhibition titled ‘La Suite de l'Histoire’ brought together large-scale works in the scenic grounds of the Jardin des Tuileries and a solo project by Thaddeus Mosley in the landscaped garden at the musée national Eugène-Delacroix. The exhibition marked the artist’s first solo museum exhibition in Franceand was presented by Karma.

At Place Vendôme, Alicja Kwade presented ‘Au cours des Mondes’ (2022) – the artist's largest installation to date – curated by Jérôme Sans. The work is presented by kamel mennour and will be on display until November.

Omer Fast's multi-layered installation ‘Karla’ (2022) presented by gb agency was on view at Chapelle des Petits-Augustins des Beaux-Arts de Paris.

The Sites sector was supported by David Yurman, an American jewelry company founded in New York. 

Conversations

Curated by Pierre-Alexandre Mateos and Charles Teyssou, and located in the atmospheric Bal de la Marine, the Conversations program featured nine panels with 32 speakers, including leading artists, gallerists, collectors, curators, museum directors, and critics. Topics ranged from what erotic counter-readings of art history the queer art scene can offer to a discussion on how Pan-Africanism as an aspiring poetic and decolonial movement is being revitalized by a new generation of DJs, fashion designers, and artists. Held in English and French with simultaneous translation, the Conversations program was free to the public and was livestreamed on Art Basel's Facebook channel.