FIAC Highlights 2017

After Frieze, the art world is gathering once more for the 44th edition of the International French Contemporary Art Fair (FIAC) in Paris. As the fair drew to a close this week end, we look back at the highlights amongst the 193 modern and contemporary art galleries from 30 countries filling the Grand Palais , like  Flame of Desire  a five meters high golden sculpture by Takashi Murakami featured at Galerie Perrotin.

Jeppe Hein

Andrea Bowers

Tomas Saraceno

John Giorno

Kohei Nawa

Photo Credit: Celine Neveux for Butterfly Art News

FIAC
18-22 October 2017
Paris

The 41 Edition of the French International Art Fair (FIAC) started with a bit of scandal. The ‘Christmas Tree‘ by Paul McCarthy on Place Vendome which was supposed to officially launch the FIAC was destroyed before the opening by vandals as it looked too much like a butt plug.

(photo Bertrand Guay)

While French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin and French Prime Minister Manuel Valls opened the Fair, they bumped into former escort girl turned muse Zahia Dehar for Pierre & Gilles (Galerie Daniel Templon).

      

Berlin-based neugerriemschneider was showing sculptures by Olafur Eliasson including ‘The new planet’, an oloid sculpture made from painted glass and aluminium and halogen. On the Gagosian booth visitors could see a series of sculptures by John Chamberlain. 

          

Many artists were also on site during the VIP opening including UK artists like Tracey Emin, Gilbert & George (at Thaddaeus Roppac),  French artist Orlan or NY based Ugo Rondinone (for Glastone Gallery).

           

Artist Kirsten Pieroth created a brick wall for Galeria Franco Noero, while a marble gas mask by Ai Weiwei was on view at Galeria Continua, and Yayoi Kusuma polka dots sculptures were displayed at David Zwirner gallery and Victoria Miro. 

     

New York’s Nahmad Contemporary and Helly Nahmad Gallery were showing a $20 million oil-on-canvas Picasso from 1972, as well as a drawing by Basquiat priced at $2.4 million. Two more works by Basquiat “Made in Japan”were reunited since a very long time for an undisclosed price.

     

Hauser & Wirth was showing portraits from actress Isabelle Huppet by artist Roni Horn, while French dealer Yvon Lambert was featuring a neon installation by Mounir Fatmi for his last FIAC before closing his gallery.

                         

View the full set of pics here

FIAC
23-26 October 2014
Grand Palais, Paris

Also new this year for the FIAC / (OFF)ICIELLE  Art Fair is a Street Art programme, curated by Nicolas Laugero Lasserre. French and international artists have been invited to paint the walls on the wharf of the Cité de la Mode et du Design. Participating artists include: Bault, Gris1, Katre, Kouka, Lek, Monkey Bird Crew, Sowat, Swoon. 

   

View the full set of pics here

(OFF)ICIELLE
www.officielleartfair.com
Cite de la Mode et du Design
34 quai d’Austerlitz, 75013 Paris

Paris (OFF)ICIELLE Art Fair 2014

After the art week in London ( covered here), Paris is hosting a series of art fairs and events. (OFF)ICIELLE, FIAC’s new event, is held from 22 to 26 October at Les Docks – Cité de la Mode et du Design. The satellite fair is featuring 68 galleries from 14 different countries, specializing in contemporary and emerging art, from young galleries and newcomers to the international art scene.

Some highlights include a flying carpet by Moussa Sarr, a poem within an ice cube by Paula Doepfner, a burnt canvas ‘Bordeline’ by Sonne Kasper,  a taxidermist bear by Abraham Pointcheval and a monochromie series by Esther Stocker.  Artist Ofri Cnaani was doing a non-stop-performance with the participation of the visitors.

                

See the full set of pics here

On the wharf is also a Street Art programmation which we will cover shortly. So stay tuned for more info.

(OFF)ICIELLE
www.officielleartfair.com

COVERAGE FIAC 2011

Following the Frieze week in London (covered here),  we  headed off to Paris to visit the FIAC, the Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain in Paris at the Grand Palais, host to 168 galleries. While Frieze focuses exclusively on contemporary art, the FIAC also combines early 20th century modern art with the contemporary.

Of interest, Karl Lagerfeld designed the booth of Zurich’s Gallery Gmurzynska for the Rebels curated by Isabelle Bscher and featuring Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lucio Fontana, Yves Klein, Andy Warhol as well as Banksy and Scott Campbell. Also, sales were good as reported by Galerie Perrotin who sold a large-scale painting by Takashi Murakami titledAs The Interdimensional Waves Run Through Me, I Can Distinguish Between The Voices Of Angel And Devil! on the first day for over $2 million.

Some pictures from the FIAC:

                  

View the entire set of pics HERE