Hot on the heels of Frieze Week, the focus of the contemporary art world quickly shifts to Paris, where Art Basel takes over the freshly renovated Grand Palais to present its biggest and grandest Parisian edition yet. Featuring presentations by 195 galleries from 42 countries, including 53 newcomers to Art Basel Paris, there are 3 themed sections titled Galeries, Emergence and Premise. The iconic Grand Palais hosts Art Basel Paris from 18th to 20th October.
Meanwhile at another historic location, the Monnaie de Paris, Asia NOW – the only art fair dedicated to presenting historic and emerging artists from Asia – is celebrating its 10th Anniversary and at the stunning Hotel de Maisons in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Design Miami returns to Paris for a second edition.
Here are some FAD Favourites from Art Basel Paris, Asia NOW and Design Miami Paris selected by Lee Sharrock.
Art Basel
Galerie Sultana
Galerie Sultana presents an intriguing wooden arachnid sculpture by Jessie Darling, who is also exhibiting opposite the Grand Palais at the Petit Palais. One of Darling’s sculptures is installed outside the Petit Palais as part of the Art Basel Paris public program, while her solo exhibition VANITAS takes over a vast exhibition space inside the Petit Palais. VANITAS is a reinterpretation of Darling’s 2023 Turner Prize exhibition ‘Come on England’, and features glass cases of gradually decaying flower arrangements, and contorted metal barriers.
Galerie Sultana’s eclectic Art Basel Paris booth also features painting, sculpture and installation by Benoit Pieron, Justin Fitzpatrick, Matthias Garcia and P Staff.
Loft Art Gallery
Colourful abstract paintings by Moroccan modernist Mohamed Melehi are given a solo booth at Loft Art Gallery in the Premise section of Art Basel Paris.
Loft Art Gallery is the first Moroccan gallery to exhibit at Art Basel Paris, which represents a major moment for North African art. Mohamed Melehi is a pioneer of Moroccan modernism and founder of the Casablanca Art School, and the booth includes three works on display for the first time. Melehi’s iconic waves and his radical geometric experiments were pivotal in shaping the aesthetic of post-Independence Morocco. Loft Art Gallery was founded by Yasmine Berrada to promote contemporary and emerging north African art on a global stage. The booth is featured in “Premise”, a new section of fair aiming to challenge the conventional art historical canon.
Art Basel Shop
Art Basel Shop debuted at the OG Art Basel in Switzerland earlier this year and makes it Parisian debut at Art Basel Paris. Curated by Colette co-founder Sarah Andelman, Art Basel Shop presents exclusive and special-edition collectibles and collaborations with artists, designers and publishers such as Parley for the Oceans who have teamed up with artists including Marcel Dzama, Claudia Comte and Ed Ruscha on tote bags and limited edition scarves made from upcycled Parley Ocean Plastics. The Art Basel Shop in Paris also sells a new collection created by collective Claire Fontaine based on their series of neon signs ‘Foreigners Everywhere’ (2006), which lent its title to this year’s Venice Biennale.
Design Miami Paris
SCAD
The Savannah College of Art and Design is official university partner for Design Miami Paris. SCAD spotlights four alumni artists from its leading fibers, furniture design, industrial design, and interior design programs. SCAD’s specially curated showcase at the L’Hôtel de Maisons debuts new commissions and works by alumni Trish Andersen, Bradley Bowers and Eny Lee Parker. Andersen, Bowers and Parker elaborating on the residence’s grand architecture with playful installations. Andersen has created a sweeping floor covering, Lillelund exhibits a hand-made, jellyfish-like sculptural installation suspended from the ceiling above the grand staircase, Bowers reimagines a vintage sofa and Parker presents richly textural tables in wood and ceramic.
Gaetano Pesce at Salon 94
Salon 94 showcases contemporary and historical works by Italian designer and architect, Gaetano Pesce, who died in April this year at the age of 84. His vision merged design with art and architecture and significantly impacted contemporary design. Adjacent to Design Miami Paris is a collaborative solo show by Marina Adams at the Devals space in Jardin du Palais Royal in collaboration with Salon 94.
Louis Vuitton ‘Objets Nomades’ by Estúdio Campana
Louis Vuitton celebrates its long-standing collaboration with Estúdio Campana on the occasion of the Brazilian design studio’s 40th anniversary this year with an eye-catching installation at Design Miami Paris. Unveiling 2 new designs, the Cocoons Couture and the Kaléidoscope Cabinet. Louis Vuitton launched the Objets Nomades collection in 2012, and the ongoing initiative invites renowned international designers to create experimental yet functional objects for home and travel.
Asia NOW
Marcos Kueh
Galerie Ron Mandos is presenting ‘Kenyalang Circus’, a breathtaking installation created by Malaysian contemporary textile artist Marcos Kueh, which greets visitors to Asia NOW as they ascend the dramatic staircase of the Monnaie de Paris. Kueh’s installation fits with the 2024 Asia NOW theme of ‘Ceremony’, curated by curatorial cooperative ‘Radicants’ with Nicholas Bourriaud as artistic director. Kueh’s narrative-based textile works continue a Malaysian visual tradition of storytelling through textiles.
NIKA Project Space
NIKA Project Space are showcasing new works by Palestinian artist Mirna Bamieh from her Sour Things series. The gallery has outposts in Dubai and Paris, and recently opened a new space in Paris in the Komunuma arts district. Sour is the tang of citrus and of fermentation that makes our mouths pucker with delight, but for Lisbon-based Palestinian artist Mirna Bamieh, sour is also the sharp taste of grief and loss. Bamieh’s multi-media installation “Sour Things: The Pantry” (2024) references displacement and loss, and features a series of ceramic wall pieces ‘Grieving in Colours’. As well as the presentation at Asia NOW, the gallery is presenting a solo exhibition of Mirna Bamieh at the Paris gallery until 27th October.
Biscuit Gallery presents a dual exhibition of Miyu Yamada and Kosuke Ajiro at Asia NOW, with a live painting session by Miyu Yamada on the opening day of the fair.
Miyu Yamada was born in Tokyo in 1994 and graduated with a law degree from Aoyama Gakuin University before becoming an artist. She creates paintings featuring creatures inhabiting the gaps of time periods and society, capturing the floating feeling and evasiveness of contemporary life.
