Show Director Clément Delépine shares the highlights of the fair's third edition, and how he plans to redefine the contemporary art experience at Art Basel Paris 2024.
Art Basel Paris 2024 marks the dawn of an exciting new era with a fresh venue, a innovative sector, and a renewed identity. Under the adept leadership of Clément Delépine, who is guiding the fair into its third year, this edition promises to be a transformative celebration of contemporary art. Set in the iconic and newly renovated Grand Palais from October 18 to 20, the fair, whichhas been renamed to Art Basel Paris, will showcase an impressive roster of 194 distinguished galleries from 42 countries and territories, including 64 galleries operating spaces in France—an increase of 40 galleries compared to the 2023 edition.
One of the most eagerly anticipated innovations is the introduction of the Premise sector, designed to offer unparalleled curatorial freedom and push the boundaries of traditional art presentation. Delépine’s vision for Art Basel Paris 2024 is once more full of surprises and driven by his inventive spirit. In this conversation, Delépine shares his insights and aspirations for this year's fair, exploring the unique elements that will distinguish Art Basel Paris 2024 and the innovative features that attendees can eagerly anticipate.
Show Director Clément Delépine, Art Basel Paris
Photo by Matthieu Croizier
Courtesy of Art Basel
Could you elaborate on your vision for Art Basel Paris 2024 and how it aims to differentiate itself from previous editions?
Everything we do relies heavily on the context and response to architecture and the venue. This year, we have the privilege of changing venues, which means more space for exhibitors and a chance to conceptualize a more inclusive fair. We are expanding our geographical reach and showcasing new, underappreciated practices. For instance, we're increasing visibility for regions like Japan by adding Japanese galleries to our contingent, including Take Ninagawa, Taka Ishii Gallery, Misako & Rosen, Fergus McCaffrey and KAYOKOYUKI in both our main and themed show sectors.
Our new venue, the iconic Grand Palais, allows us to reinvent the fair. After two years of experimentation, we can see which concepts have taken root in Paris. Shifting from the Grand Palais Éphémère to the Grand Palais, we have the opportunity to rethink hospitality and the overall concept of the fair, adding a new sector and more. This year’s fair will be bolder, more affirmed, and will truly embody the essence of an Art Basel event, maintaining high expectations and excellence while being both similar and extremely different from previous editions.
What new features or advancements are being introduced at Art Basel Paris 2024 to enrich the experience for galleries and attendees?
We wanted to create a space for curatorial freedom within the fair, which is the purpose of the new Premise sector. The word "premise" signifies the beginning of an argument or the inception of an idea. We wanted to celebrate this by making space for themed projects of particular interest and expanding the typologies of artworks and objects presented at Art Basel.
In the Premise sector, we can showcase a wide range of objects and artworks, including those created before 1900. This is new for Art Basel, as the equivalent feature in Basel is limited to artworks created after 1900. This year, it allows us to feature a work by Henri Rousseau realized in the late 1800s, for instance.
How has hosting Art Basel helped solidify Paris' role as a pivotal player in the global art market?
Art Basel fairs are renowned for attracting important collectors and institutions, people with the means to buy masterpieces and high-value artworks. We’ve observed an increase in the average price point of artworks shown at the fair. Our commitment is to provide galleries with the best service possible, making it an elevated event.
This effort supports the work of Parisian galleries, which have shaped the Parisian and French markets into what they are today—the fourth largest market globally. Our role is to support these efforts and reposition Paris as a true cultural capital in Europe and beyond. It’s a collective effort and an alignment of stars rather than something we can claim full credit for.
More information: https://www.artbasel.com/paris
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