Paris 2024 Art Week must-sees

Paris comes alive like never before for the 2024 Art Week, transforming the City of Light into the global capital of creativity. From the monumental Art Basel Paris fair to outdoor exhibitions, avant-garde performances, and satellite fairs, there is something to satisfy every taste. Here are five events not to be missed this week.

The Grand Return of Art Basel at the Grand Palais

The Grand Palais, freshly renovated after hosting the Olympic Games, is finally reopening its doors for Art Basel Paris from October 18 to 20. This edition promises a dazzling lineup under its iconic glass ceilings, unveiled for the first time in years. 195 galleries from 42 countries will showcase captivating works, including 53 galleries participating for the first time. Divided into three main sections – “Galleries,” “Emerging” (for young galleries), and “Premise” for unexpected dialogues between contemporary and ancient art – this fair stands out for its richness and boldness. The highlight? A special exhibition titled Oh La La! exploring desire and eroticism, along with an exclusive shop featuring ultra-limited editions. Food lovers can also stop by the Hong Kong Tourism Board booth to savor local specialties in a traditional cha chaan teng café setting.

Art Basel also heads to the Palais-Royal

This year, Art Basel’s outdoor group exhibition leaves the Tuileries for the Palais-Royal from October 15 to 26, in collaboration with the Centre des Monuments Nationaux. In this majestic setting, sculptures by renowned artists such as Thomas Schütte, Ghada Amer, César, and Heinz Mack will be on display. Contemporary art enthusiasts will also find works scattered throughout the city: a giant mushroom by Carsten Höller will stand in Place Vendôme, while Jean-Charles de Quillacq will take over the Petits-Augustins chapel at the Beaux-Arts de Paris. Around the Petit Palais, artists like Yayoi Kusama, John Chamberlain, and Niki de Saint Phalle will beautify public spaces. This year, two new locations join the lineup: the Hôtel de Sully and the courtyard of the Hôtel de la Marine, hosting works by Lynn Chadwick and Takis, respectively. Best of all, these exhibitions are entirely free!

Satellite fairs: A whirlwind of creativity

The satellite fairs take advantage of the Art Basel Paris buzz to carve out a prominent place in the city’s art agenda. Offscreen, a notable newcomer located in the former Grand Garage Haussmann, offers an immersive dive into image art, featuring works by Carmen Calvo, who explores the female condition in post-Franco Spain. Another must-see: Paris Internationale, showcasing 75 galleries in a former telephone exchange on rue du Faubourg-Poissonnière. For modern art lovers, head to the Champs-Élysées for the Moderne Art Fair, while African art can be discovered at AKAA at the Carreau du Temple, and Asian art at Asia Now at the Monnaie de Paris. Design Miami/Paris also returns with an avant-garde design exhibition on rue de l'Université in the 7th arrondissement.

Performances and immersive experiences across the capital

Art this week is also about experience. On October 15, the Chaillot Theater will host a series of captivating performances by emerging artists from the Poush collective, based in Aubervilliers. On October 18, don’t miss the ¡Viva Villa! festival at La Gaîté Lyrique, showcasing international artists who have completed residencies at the Villa Medici, the Casa de Velázquez, and other prestigious institutions. For a more intimate project, the Église Saint-Eustache will serve as the backdrop for an in-situ installation by Charlotte Simonnet, winner of the 2024 Rubis Mécénat prize, in collaboration with the local community. Finally, the Guerlain boutique on the Champs-Élysées will present an enchanting Good Morning Korea exhibition, unveiling 17 Korean artists in the iconic perfume house from October 15 to 20.

Major exhibitions in Parisian museums and galleries

Parisian institutions and galleries are taking full advantage of this week to unveil major exhibitions. The Bourse de Commerce is hosting an ambitious retrospective on Arte Povera, while the Centre Pompidou honors Surrealism and presents the finalists of the Marcel Duchamp prize. For those seeking contemporary talent, the Perrotin Gallery is hosting Takashi Murakami, Jean-Marie Appriou, and James Turrell, offering an exceptional luminous immersion in the Gagosian space at Le Bourget. The Louis Vuitton Foundation presents a bold retrospective on Pop Art with Tom Wesselmann, while the Palais de Tokyo explores works by Myriam Mihindou. Finally, lovers of historical art and literature can enjoy a true marathon of exhibitions on Barbara Chase-Riboud, held in eight institutions, including the Louvre and Orsay, a monumental tribute to a prolific and unique artist.

In sum, the 2024 Art Week in Paris is a whirlwind of creativity that offers a multitude of unique experiences, from the most classic to the most avant-garde. A golden opportunity to experience Paris through the lens of contemporary art.