As an art enthusiast with a penchant for all things contemporary and avant-garde, I am absolutely thrilled about the upcoming exhibition at the Grand Palais! The prospect of Frank Gehry’s shape-shifting design process being encapsulated in a gigantic white fish sculpture is nothing short of intriguing. And let’s not forget the collaboration between Gehry and Louis Vuitton, which promises to be a harmonious blend of architectural icons and fashionable elegance.
Few cities can match the enchantment and creative allure of Paris. Contrary to what social media portrays, Paris is far from the polished, picturesque image often presented; instead, it exudes a grittier, unapologetic charm. Yet, this city has long been a magnet for some of the most influential artists throughout history. It’s no wonder, then, that Art Basel opted to establish an event in the City of Light, complementing its existing fairs in Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Miami Beach.
This year, I find myself standing at the historic Grand Palais for the first time, as I immerse myself in the debut of Art Basel Paris. After its initial opening as Paris+ in 2022, this event returns bigger and better, hosting a grand total of 194 galleries from all corners of the world. Amongst these are no less than 51 fresh faces, eager to share their unique artistic perspectives with us.
In a past conversation, Art Basel Paris’ director, Clément Delépine, expressed that they had been eagerly anticipating this event for quite some time. Notably, a fresh addition to this year’s fair is the Oh La La! initiative, which invites exhibitors to display seldom-seen pieces in their booths for 48 hours, starting on October 18th. This encourages attendees to revisit galleries throughout the weekend to discover new, hidden treasures.
Over the upcoming weekend, the city is expected to brim with energy since Art Basel Paris has commenced and will continue until October 20th. For ticket information, event schedule, and a list of our top recommended booths, be sure to check out their official website.
Almine Rech, Booth A16
At the Almine Rech gallery in Paris, a variety of pieces are being displayed by both well-known and up-and-coming artists. This diverse group includes Pablo Picasso, George Condo, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Inès Longevial, Kenny Scharf, Claire Tabouret, and many more. Of special note is the display of Ali Cherrie’s sculpture, titled Dreamer, which is made from clay and wood. This mythical figure features arms that extend downward and wears an iron-cast mask on its face. Additionally, the gallery will feature a selection of oil paintings by Tom Wesselmann, an American Pop art pioneer. Some of these works include his Sitting Blonde with Tulips from 2001 and Smoker #27 from 1980.
Located just a short distance from the Grand Palais, Almine Rech gallery has recently showcased a new solo exhibition by renowned Light and Space artist, James Turrell. The exhibit features a mesmerizing new Glasswork installation that plays with viewers’ understanding of space. This captivating piece titled Path Taken can be experienced until December 21, 2024.
Almine Rech
18 Av. Matignon,
75008 Paris, France
Perrotin, Booth B35
Galerie Perrotin, set to establish a long-term presence in London, will assemble a vibrant mix of contemporary artists such as Jean-Marie Appriou, Takashi Murakami, and Emma Webster. Notably, each artist is showcasing three individual exhibitions at the Perrotin galleries in Marais and Matignon. Meanwhile, French artist Julian Charrière will present a fresh mural during the fair and his upcoming solo exhibition titled Stone Speakers – Les bruits de la terre, which debuted today at Palais de Tokyo.
Besides the featured artists, you’ll also find works by Ivan Argote, Daniel Arsham, Cristina BanBan, Hernan Bas, Anna-Eva Bergman, Sophie Calle, Chen Ke, Johan Creten, Mathilde Denize, Bernard Frize, Alex Gardner, Laurent Grasso, Hans Hartung, Thilo Heinzmann, John Henderson, JR, Izumi Kato, Klara Kristalova, Lee Bae, Jean-Michel Othoniel, GaHee Park, Paola Pivi, Pierre Soulages, Tavares Strachan, Claire Tabouret, Xavier Veilhan, and Xiyao Wang on display as well.
Louis Vuitton and Frank Gehry Reunite
Last year at Art Basel in Miami Beach, Louis Vuitton astonished art lovers with a unique collaboration with Frank Gehry, who is known for his love of nature. This year, as the fair moves to Louis Vuitton’s home city, Gehry and Louis Vuitton are reuniting to showcase a one-of-a-kind exhibition on the Balcon d’Honneur of the Grand Palais in Paris.
At the summit of the staircase, there’s a large white fish sculpture that embodies Gehry’s innovative shape-transforming design philosophy and the robustness, flexibility, and aerodynamics characteristic of his architectural projects. This piece will be accompanied by Gehry’s latest Louis Vuitton bag collection, including the Capucines Mini Blossom, Mini Puzzle, Capucines MM Concrete Pockets, BB Shimmer Haze, and BB Analog bags – each subtly paying homage to some of Gehry’s landmark buildings like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concrete Hall in Los Angeles.
White Cube, Booth B34
White Cube British gallery aims to foster a conversation between the past and the present by exhibiting iconic 20th-century artworks like Josef Albers’ “Study for Homage to the Square: Terraced (1954-56)” alongside contemporary pieces such as Sir Antony Gormley’s piece “STRAIN III” from 2023, Tracey Emin’s “Ascension” from 2024, and Theaster Gates’ “Dirty Silver, Tight Strata” also from 2024.
Moreover, notable additions include the current issue of Salon showcasing Julie Mehretu’s architectural masterpiece, “Insile” (2013), along with paintings and sculptures by Julie Curtiss, Jean Dubuffet, Isamu Noguchi, the late Park Seo-Bo, among others.
Galerie Max Hetzler, Booth C33
Galerie Max Hetzler, established in Stuttgart, will exhibit an array of artwork predominantly centered around paintings. This collection features renowned artists from the 20th century such as Bridget Riley and Albert Oehlen, along with vibrant compositions by André Butzer, Eddie Martinez, and Katharina Grosse. Notable pieces include “The damaged souvenir (after J-B Greuze)” by Tursic & Mille from 2024, and “This Is How We Play Together, Fig. 2” by Elmgreen & Dragset from 2023 – the latter sculpture displaying a seated boy intently looking through a virtual reality gadget.
Hey fellow gaming enthusiasts! Swing by Galerie Max Hetzler during Art Basel for their incredible lineup of events, and don’t forget to check out their gallery exhibitions spread across Europe too – it’s gonna be a visual adventure you won’t want to miss!
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2024-10-18 03:56