For its 26th edition from 4 to 7 April at the Grand Palais Éphémère, regional and cosmopolitan art fair Art Paris 2024 is truly in Olympic form. Focusing as always on discovery, it will be welcoming a very select group of exhibitors with a stronger international presence that comprises 136 hand-picked modern and contemporary art galleries from 25 countries. This edition will be exploring two themes: Fragile Utopias. A Focus on the French Scene and Art & Craft, led respectively by guest curators Éric de Chassey and Nicolas Trembley. The Promises sector for young galleries and Solo Show will be revealing new talents and featuring historical figures who deserve to be rediscovered. In 2024, Art Paris commits to further support the French scene by joining forces with BNP Paribas Private Bank, the fair’s premium partner, to launch the BNP Paribas Private Bank Prize. A Focus on the French Scene with a total prize award of 30,000 euros.

A rigorous selection process136 galleries were selected for the 2024 edition from a total of 291 applicants. With 42 new arrivals compared to 2023, the 2024 selection is marked by the very first participation of several trendsetting European contemporary art galleries: Esther Schipper (Berlin, Paris), Peter Kilchmann (Zurich, Paris), Meessen De Clercq (Brussels), Michel Rein (Paris, Brussels) and Richard Saltoun (London, Rome). They are joined by Poggi, Frank Elbaz and leading galleries, such as Continua, Lelong & Co, Almine Rech and Perrotin who are returning this year. 60% of the exhibiting galleries are French, which means Art Paris can showcase the entire scope of the French gallery ecosystem, from the prominent modern and contemporary art galleries in Paris to galleries across France, while providing support to young galleries. The remaining 40% comprises a selection of foreign galleries that is boosted by the arrival of New York gallery Bienvenu Steinberg & J, Circle Art Agency from Kenya, Etemad from Iran or London-based Soho Revue.Modern art, which represents 20% of the selection, is characterised by numerous exhibits focusing on surrealism that mark the movement’s 100th anniversary in 2024. First time exhibitors Antoine Laurentin (Paris, Brussels), Boquet (Paris) and Czech gallery Cermak Eisenkraft provide a breath of fresh air.

Art Paris 2024, two themes focusing on Fragile Utopias. A Focus on the French Scene by Éric de Chassey and Art & Craft by Nicolas Trembley

Art Paris 2024, two themes focusing on Fragile Utopias. A Focus on the French Scene by Éric de Chassey and Art & Craft by Nicolas TrembleyFragile Utopias. A Focus on the French Sceneby Éric de Chassey Éric de Chassey, director of the Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art (INHA), teacher at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon and exhibition curator will share his perspective on the French scene with a selection of 21 artists chosen from among the exhibiting galleries on the theme Fragile Utopias. He will also be writing a presentation of each artist’s work. As Éric de Chassey points out: “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.”

Selected Artists: Jean-Michel Alberola (1953) - Templon / Yto Barrada (1971) – Polaris / Cécile Bart (1958) - Galerie Catherine Issert / Alice Bidault (1994) - Pietro Spartà / Pierrette Bloch (1928-2017) - Galerie Zlotowski / Nicolas Chardon (1974) - Oniris.art / Sonia Delaunay (1885-1979) - Galerie Berès / Mathilde Denize(1986) - Perrotin / Nathalie du Pasquier (1957) - Yvon Lambert / Philippe Favier (1957) - Galerie 8+4 / Elika Hedayat (1979) – Aline Vidal Paris / Sarah Jérôme (1979) - H Gallery / Benoît Maire(1978) - Nathalie Obadia / Vera Molnár (1924-2023) – Galerie Verart Véronique Smagghe / Michel Parmentier (1938-2000) – Loevenbruck / Juliette Roche (1884-1980) - Pauline Pavec / Edgar Sarin(1989) - Galerie Michel Rein / Daniel Schlier (1960) - Galerie East / Assan Smati (1972) - Nosbaum Reding / Maria Helena Vieira da Silva (1908-1992) - Galerie Jeanne Bucher Jaeger / Raphaël Zarka