This post was originally published on artnews.com
France finally has a fair at the Grand Palais again in the form of Art Basel Paris, which made its debut outing at the iconic structure after two editions in a temporary space. As sunlight shone through the building’s glass roof, crowds of people packed into the aisles, braving long lines to get in.
Dealers reported notable sales during the first day, with many gallerists expecting more to follow throughout the week. A few of the 195 exhibiting galleries did opt to bring more conceptually minded work—a rarity for any art fair—and that caused them to stand out among the crowd. Others sought to introduce their artists to a European audience.
As Mary Sabbatino, vice president and partner at Galerie Lelong & Co., told ARTnews on opening day, “The Grand Palais is magical—you’re bathed in light and in art history. [Art Basel Paris] is more historical than Miami and more up-to-the-minute and diverse than Basel. Paris has its own energy and identity.”
Below, here some of the best booths at the 2024 edition of Art Basel Paris, which runs through Sunday.