A look at our favourite artists from Paris+par Art Basel 2022
All eyes were on Paris as the inaugural Paris+par Art Basel launched in Paris with all the style and panache expected of the prestigious art fair. Paris+ par Art Basel is the fourth event of its kind in the portfolio of Art Basel.
Image: Paris+par Art Basel, Grand Palais Éphémère, Paris, October 2022
Fresh off the heels of Paris Fashion Week and Frieze London. The fair saw over 156 galleries from 30 countries and territories flocking to Grand Palais Éphémère to showcase their collection, attracting 40,000 guests and strong sales the quality and diversity of works on show certainly lived up to expectations. Besides from art collections that impressed, what this Parisian version also brought was style, with a sea of stylish art lovers swanning the Grand Palais Éphémère to see the incredible line-up of artwork. From flamboyant hats and chic suits to elegant dresses with shoes to kill, the apple didn’t fall far from the Pairs Fashion Week tree.
Image: Courtesy of Paris+par Art Basel
Beyond the fair at the Grand Palais Éphémère, Pairs+par Art Basel presented an active weeklong cultural program throughout the city that saw collaborations with Paris’s cultural institutions and its citywide sector Sites. Sites featured over 20 publicly accessible works throughout the city, including the Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendôme, musée national Eugène-Delacroix and Chapelle des Petits-Augustins des Beaux-Arts de Paris. With installation by Polish –German contemporary artist Alicja Kwade on show.
Image: Alicja Kwade, courtesy of Paris+par Art Basel
Just a short Eurostar trip away, which was jam-packed with fellow art enthusiasts flocking to the Parisian capital, we went to preview the art fair. Here are some of our favourite artists on show at the fair.
Ludovic Nkorth
Image: Ludovic Nkorth, Paris+par Art Basel, October, 2022, MTotoe
#FLODown: The Cameroon-born, New York-based artist takes inspiration from his own experiences. His paintings reflect family history, tradition, and the legacy of colonialism. Taking inspiration from his family photo albums, Nkorth paints truthful portraits which he calls ‘honest paintings’, where his subjects are free from exaggeration and embellishment. Click here for more.
Doug Aitken
Image: Doug Aitken, Paris+par Art Basel, October 2022, MTotoe
#FLODown: Doug Aitken is an American artist widely known for his innovative, outstanding installations. Utilising a wide array of artistic approaches, his body of work ranges from photography, film and installations to sculpture and architectural interventions. Click here for more.
James White
Image: James White, In Pieces (twice), 2022, Paris+par Art Basel,October 2022, MTotoe
#FLODown: James White is a British contemporary artist known for his photographic, monochrome paintings. His flawless black and white paintings at first glance appear to be photographic images. On closer inspection it's apparent they are incredibly detailed paintings. Click here for more.
Jim Lambie
Image: Jim Lambie, Paris+par Art Basel, October 2022, MTotoe
#FLODown: Jim Lambie is a Scottish contemporary visual artist. His work frequently makes references, sometimes metaphorical or ironic, to popular culture, art history and music, often incorporating neon colours and music paraphernalia such as posters and album covers in his sculptures and installations. Click here for more.
Rachel Harrison
Image: Rachel Harrison, Paris+par Art Basel, October 2022, MTotoe
#FLODown; Rachel Harrison is an American visual artist known for her sculpture, photography, and drawing. Her work draws from a wide range of influences, combining art historical and pop cultural references into dialogue with one another. Click here for more.
Click here for the full list of exhibitors at the fair.
Image: Courtesy of Paris+par Art Basel
Paris+Art Basel will undoubtedly become a staple on the Parisian art scene and we are excited to see the next step in this new era of art.
What sold?
Healthy sales were reported at the art fair including Sixteen Gallery showcasing a booth of solo work by Patrick Goddard reportedly selling the entire collection to a single collector by 2pm on the opening day for VIPs. Other items that sold include according to Hauser & Wirth reported having sold at least nine works including George Condo’s The Dream, 2022 and Free Fall, 2022 by Avery Singer for $800,000. Other sales reported include Sadie Coles who sold a painting by Alex Da Corte for $100,000 and work by Jonathan Lyndon Chase for $55,000. This was just the tip of the iceberg, several other gallerist reported healthy sales from the fair.
Image: Courtesy of Paris+par Art Basel
What is Art Basel?
Art Basel was founded in 1970 by the Swiss gallerist Ernst Beyeler, Trudl Bruckner and Balz Hilt. Today, Art Basel is a leading global platform connecting collectors, galleries, and artists. Art Basel's fairs in Hong Kong, Miami Beach, the Swiss town of Basel and now Paris. The Paris edition has replaced the contemporary art-fair FIAC. Date: October 20 to 23, 2022, Location: Grand Palais Éphémère, Paris, France. Click here for more.
Grand Palais Éphémère was a temporary site for Paris+Art Basel, whilst the Grand Palais was being renovated. In 2024, the fair is set to take centre stage at the spectacular Grand Palais and we can't wait!