Last year, FIAC–the Parisian Contemporary art fair that takes place right after Frieze–was where all the action took place and reminded the world that there was still an art market in the face of financial doom. This year, FIAC is adding more galleries and making a bid to steal the limelight again a week after Frieze. FIAC runs from October 22-25 in Paris:
- FIAC 2009 brings together 196 modern and contemporary art galleries, from 21 different countries. 75 galleries or 39 % are from France; next is Germany with 21 galleries, the United States with 18 galleries, Italy with 16 galleries, and Belgium with 14 galleries…. Newly represented countries include Finland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. 61 galleries are exhibiting at FIAC for the first time.
- The Modern Project: The participating galleries are: Acquavella Galleries (New York), Thomas Amman (Zürich), Galerie Beyeler (Basel), Galerie Louis Carré (Paris), Gagosian Gallery (New York – Los Angeles – London –Roma), Richard Gray (New York, Chicago), Galerie Krugier & Cie (Geneva – New York), L&M Arts (New York), Malingue (Paris), and PaceWildenstein (New York). Each gallery will exhibit two or three exceptional works from the modern period, composing an ensemble of approximately twenty works of undisputed museum quality and historic significance.
- 115 galleries are presented at the Grand Palais, 30 of which are new exhibitors. In addition to the galleries participating in the Modern Project, listed previously, the new arrivals are: Anhava (Helsinki), Guido W. Baudach (Berlin), Daniel Buchholz (Berlin), Pilar Corrias (London), Gabinete de Arte Raquel Arnaud (Sao Paulo), Klosterfelde (Berlin), Magazzino d’Arte Moderna (Rome), Minotaure Galerie (Paris), Mitchell-Innes&Nash (New York), Jan Mot (Brussels), Skarsdtedt Gallery (New York), Sprüth Magers (Berlin, Cologne, London), The Approach (London), Thomas (Munich), Toninelli (Monaco), Thomas Zander (Cologne). Claude Bernard (Paris), Jean Brolly (Paris), Ditesheim (Neuchâtel), Martine and Thibault de La Châtre (Paris), Catherine Issert (St-Paul de Vence) are returning to FIAC.
- Among the many exciting exhibition programmes announced by the galleries, of particular note are the numerous special projects, solo and thematic exhibitions which will be on view: Noteworthy solo presentations include Tony Cragg at Buchmann, George Condo at Simon Lee, Rachel Whiteread at Luhring Augustine, Balla at Toninelli, Peter Blake at Claude Bernard, Erwin Blumenfeld at Minotaure, Gérard Deschamps at Martine and Thibault de la Châtre, John Armleder at Catherine Issert…
