Design Miami / Paris takes root in the capital

Buoyed by its successes in Miami and Basel, and recognising the growing importance of Paris as an art market, the fair moved to the French capital last year. The 2nd edition, which runs from 15 to 20 October, is one of a host of events surrounding Art Basel Paris, held at the Grand Palais at the same time, and just a week after London’s festivities (including Frieze). “Admittedly, this creates an extensive offer between Paris and London, but it also gives American, Asian and Middle Eastern collectors the best possible deal in just 12 days, “ says Parisian dealer Thomas Fritsch. For the second year in a row, Design Miami.Paris will be hosted at the Hôtel de Maisons, an 18th-century mansion nestling in the heart of the Saint-Germain district. The eighteenth-century decor of this historic residence, once occupied by Karl Lagerfeld, serves as an ideal backdrop for the twentieth- and twenty-first-century works displayed by the selected galleries. This year, 24 will participate, slightly down on the 27 that took part last year. While dealers such as Jousse Entreprise and Jacques Lacoste will not be returning this year - although they are still taking advantage of collectors’ visits to their Paris galleries - others were already present in 2023, including Hostler Burrows (New York), Morentz (Waalwijk), Friedman Benda (New York, Los Angeles, Paris), Pierre Marie Giraud (Brussels) and Éric Philippe. “The Hôtel de Maisons is an exceptional venue. We were thrilled with our first participation last year, so it was natural for us to take part once again. We know the organising team very well, and have worked with them for many years in Miami and Basel, ” says the Parisian dealer, who will be exhibiting a set of American walnut furniture with abalone mother-of-pearl tops, designed by the American architect Paul László (1900-1993) in 1952 for the Weir Residence in Atlanta. Five new galleries are joining the event, including the Galerie Gastou, Nilufar, the Thomsen Gallery and the young Parisian dealer Maxime Flatry, who is presenting a salon with impressive pieces by Paul Dupré-Lafon (1900-1971), a major figure in Art Deco. Contemporary art is well-represented by galleries such as Friedman Benda, Carpenters Workshop and Kreo. Kreo is offering pieces at prices ranging from €8,000 to €150,000, including three major pieces: Guillaume Bardet’s Trait d’Union-Hyphen, which doubles as a ladder and a light, in bronze - the designer was chosen to create the new liturgical furniture for Notre Dame - Virgil Abloh’s Tower Hills chair, also in bronze, and Alessandro Mendini’s Poltrona White Gold armchair, in glass mosaic. For fans of historic pieces, stands by Downtown- Laffanour, Patrick Seguin (showcasing a selection of Jean Prouvé chairs), Meubles & Lumières and the Chastel-Maréchal gallery, which is showing mirrors by Line Vautrin - whose work it fervently promotes - and a Sphère (see above) coffee table by Jean Royère, circa 1948, from a large set commissioned from the designer that has been in the same family ever since (between €350,000 and €400,000). Several galleries specialising in ceramics will also be participating. In addition to Monaco-based Lebreton, which is showing an anthropomorphic Pichet by Jean Derval, circa 1950, Thomas Fritsch also returns for his second year. Just like last year, he is sharing his space with the Downtown-Laffanour gallery. “I haven’t brought many pieces, but I’ve included some historical ones, most of which are unique and large format”. Among the creations on show (from €8,000 to €200,000), including those by André Borderie, Georges Jouve and Jacques and Dani Ruelland, are two unique pieces by Guidette Carbonell (1910-2008), Lion fantastique, 1944, in green-glazed ceramic, and Lion debout, from the same year, in patinated terracotta. Two Parisian galleries will be exhibiting jewellery: this year, Karry Berreby, who was present last year, is joined by Galerie MiniMasterpiece (Paris), which opted for a unique set design made entirely of raw cardboard. It consists of a monumental 4 m-long table displaying a collection of fifty pieces of jewellery designed by eleven contemporary artists and designers, including Wang Keping, Walid Akkad and Mathilde Bretillot (prices: €1,500 to €40,000). Next year, the fair plans to move to a new venue. Indeed, the organisers are seeking a temporary space, which they were unable to find this year because of the Olympic Games. While the venue is a beautiful one, according to the dealers, “it would be more suitable because the current space is too restrictive for logistical reasons, the fact that we’re sharing space and we can’t hang anything on the wall”.