The art world was shaken when the longstanding Parisian art fair FIAC was booted from its space at the Grand Palais Éphémère to make space for Art Basel’s new fair, Paris+. Meanwhile, Paris Internationale (sometimes stylized at Aaaahhh! Paris Internationale), a fair for emerging artists, still thrives.
In its eighth year, Internationale opened its first edition at 35 Boulevard des Capucines, the former studio of the 20th century photographer Nadar. It was also the site of the crucially important Impressionist Exhibition in 1874, the first of its kind. The building now is sparse and industrial inside, but in a collaboration with the architects Christ & Gantenbein, the exhibition space was designed to generate an organic flow throughout the four floors of the fair, which hosted 59 galleries, 16 more than in past years.
Anastasia Krizanovska, gallery manager at the Paris based gallery Crèvecoueur, said that though the space was as large as the previous International space near the Bois de Boulogne, a sprawling park on the edge of Paris, the fair didn’t feel cramped at all. “We have more galleries this year than before, but it really feels like everybody has the space to exhibit beautifully,” Krizanovska told ARTnews.
Krizanovska also said that there was better communication between Internationale and Paris+ than there had been in years past with FIAC, which is not completely surprising given that the director of Paris+, Clément Delépine, once co-directed Internationale with its longtime director Silvia Ammon.
During the press preview, it was clear that Internationale was doing better than ever. Below is a selection of ARTnews’ top five booths.