ART FAIRS:FIAC 2021

One of the oldest and respectable Art Fairs, FIAC (founded in Paris in 1974), opens for its 47th Edition at the Grand Palais Ephémère and the Galerie Eiffel, which has been specifically installed for FIAC as an extension of the structure on the Champ-de-Mars. A major event for artistic creation, FIAC 2011 continues its development and confirms its status as a leading international Art Fair. Remaining attentive to the evolutions and concerns of contemporary creation, questioning the transformations of the careers of gallery owners and exhibition organizers as well as artistic practices themselves.

By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Fiac Archive

The 47th edition of FIAC takes place for the first time at the Grand Palais Éphémère on the Champ-de-Mars, from October 21st to October 24th 2021. Designed to host exhibitions, fairs, fashion shows and sporting events usually held at the Grand Palais until the reopening of the Nave and the adjoining galleries for the Olympic Games in 2024. Designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte as the expression of urban challenges of the 21st century, the Grand Palais Éphémère is the example of a new, sustainable, agile and eco-responsible architecture. It blends harmoniously into the surroundings of the Champ-de-Mars, and reflects the history of this site, in direct continuity with the role it fulfilled during the great World Exhibitions of the 19th and early 20th centuries. As an extension of the Grand Palais Éphémère, FIAC is delighted to invest the Galerie Eiffel, an additional wing, installed on the Champ-de-Mars on the Eiffel Tower side. Together, the Grand Palais Éphémère and the Galerie Eiffel form a prestigious setting, combining tradition and modernity, to host this great celebration of international creation.

Participants in the General Sector were selected by a committee consisting of internationally renowned gallerists, representing complementary fields of expertise, geographic zones, and generations.Among the French galleries, FIAC hosts major figures in the field of modern art such as: Galerie 1900-2000, Applicat-Prazan, Le Minotaure, Galerie Zlotowski; contemporary art, such as: Air de Paris, Art : Concept, Chantal Crousel, gb agency, Lelong & Co., kamel mennour, Nathalie Obadia, Perrotin, Almine Rech, TEMPLON, Georges-Philippe & Nathalie Vallois, Jocelyn Wolff, High Art, Balice Hertling or Marcelle Alix, to mention but a few; or Art Brut, with the arrival this year of the christian berst – art brut. We also note the presence of Galerie Karsten Greve, Thaddaeus Ropac, Marian Goodmann, Gagosian, Max Hetzler and Fitzpatrick Gallery. The 2021 edition of FIAC also hosts leading galleries from the American continent (United States, Mexico, Brazil), such as: Paula Cooper, Andrew Edlin, Gagosian, Gladstone Gallery, Marian Goodman, Anton Kern, Nahmad Contemporary, Pace, Skarstedt, Rachel Uffner, Van de Weghe or David Zwirner. Many galleries from the young generation will also be present, notably: Bel Ami, C L E A R I N G, François Ghebaly and Mendes Wood DM.

10 galleries have been selected to join the Young Galleries Sector of FIAC 2021 edition. These exhibitors were chosen on the basis of a specific project, presenting one or more emerging artists. Since 2009, FIAC has supported young international galleries to enable them to participate in this major event on the contemporary art calendar. They receive financial support from FIAC to the level of 50% of the price of their stand and their accommodation is also covered for the duration of the event. For this 47th edition, the Young Galleries Sector hosts galleries from 8 countries: Bel Ami, Noah Klink, Öktem Aykut, Dawid Radziszewski, sans titre, Chris Sharp Gallery, Martina Simeti, Soft Opening , Sweetwater and Weiss Falk. Artists featured in the Young Galleries Sector are: Soshiro Matsubara and Lauren Satlowski at Bel Ami, Charlotte Dualé at Noah Klink, Dorian Sari at Öktem Aykut, Joanna Piotrowska and Serban Savu at Dawid Radziszewski, Agnes Scherer at sans titre (2016), Isabel Nuño de Buen at Chris Sharp Gallery, Real Madrid at Martina Simeti, Wai Kin Sin at Soft Opening, Kayode Ojo at Sweetwater, Urban Zellweger at Weiss Falk.

FIAC Hors les Murs is an exhibition of outdoor artworks presenting sculptures and installations to the widest possible audience in emblematic public spaces throughout the city. Providing a unique opportunity for artists to enter into a dialogue with Parisian heritage sites, the programme favors ease of access to contemporary creation and encourages broader knowledge by on-site cultural mediation.FIAC Hors les Murs is housed in  Parisian venues including the Jardin des Tuileries, the musée national Eugène Delacroix and the Place Vendôme.

FIAC present its first “hybrid” edition the second edition of FIAC Online Viewing Rooms, bringing together all of the galleries present at the Grand Palais Ephémère as well as a selection of galleries exhibiting exclusively online. Together, over 210 galleries participate in FIAC Online Viewing Rooms in October. The platform has been designed to create new connections between exhibitors and FIAC’s wide audience of collectors and art lovers. During the physical edition of the fair, the participating gallerists and audience can rediscover its ease of use, elegant interface, and design, bearing the hallmark of FIAC spirit.

Photo: Carl Andre, 5VCEDAR5H – 2021, 10 units, each: 91.4 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm; overall: 91.4 x 91.4 x 304.8 cm – Western red cedar, © 2021 Carl Andre / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York

Info: Fiac 2021, Grand Palais Éphémère, Plateau Joffre, Paris, France, Duration: 21-24/10/2021, Days & Hours: Thu (21/10) 1200-29:00, Fri (22/10) 12:00-20:00, Sat-Sun (23-24/10) 12:00-19:00, Admission: Full-fare ticket: 40 €, Reduced fare: 27 €, Admission is free for children under 12 accompanied by a ticketed adult and upon presentation of a valid ID, www.fiac.com