Art Basel, the world-renowned modern and contemporary art fair, returns with its second edition in Paris from October 20 to 22, bearing the name «Paris+ by Art Basel.» This event unfolds within the iconic Grand Palais Ephémère in Paris’ 7th arrondissement. Backed by prominent fashion and luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Audemars Piguet, Paris+ is set to captivate both art enthusiasts and fashion devotees, creating a hub of industry gatherings, exclusive parties, and exciting happenings.
The Wonderland Exhibition: Where Art Meets Fashion
Simultaneously with Paris+ Art Basel, the Wonderland exhibition takes center stage, curated by Paris-based art critic and curator Nikita Dmitriev. This captivating exhibition is hosted at the Basia Embiricos gallery in the vibrant Marais district. It showcases the works of twenty artists, many with strong connections to the fashion industry. Among them, Nine d’Urso, the daughter of French supermodel Inès de La Fressange, debuts as a visual artist, presenting a collection of enchanting, potion-like bottles. These bottles contain personal secrets shared with Nine, which she transforms into allegorical drawings, offering a unique blend of art and personal expression.
Xavier de Vilmorin, a 22-year-old painter and a «nepo baby» (nepotism baby), is the younger brother of Charles de Vilmorin, the former creative director of Rochas. Xavier’s art, inspired by expressionist and cubist movements, features vividly colored acrylic works. His deconstructed portraits, adorned with oniric symbols like cloud-shaped ears and floral nipples, challenge traditional artistic boundaries.
Other notable artists at the Wonderland exhibition include Rachelle Cunningham, known for her whimsical, Byronesque paintings, with Chanel among her clients. The French socialite sisters Mélanie and Sissy de Pourtalès and designer Charles Anastase, who operates his eponymous fashion brand, contribute to this fascinating fusion of art and fashion.
Fashion Meets Art: The Imaginary Museum x TATRAS
The Imaginary Museum gallery, described as a «museum without walls,» draws inspiration from André Malraux’s «Le Musée Imaginaire» and offers an immersive experience that seamlessly connects the digital and physical art realms. Visitors can simply scan a QR code to access virtual art installations through their mobile devices, making art more accessible and interactive. This groundbreaking concept is generously supported by the Japanese luxury outerwear brand Tatras, which presents its latest collection in conjunction with the art exhibition. Visitors can explore minimalist, yet stylish puffer jackets.
Digital artist Geoffrey Lillemon contributes two digital puffer jacket artworks, one of which comes to life on the screen, introducing a dynamic element to the event. Exhibition curator Mehdi Dakhli underscores the importance of the collaboration between fashion and art in enriching the global artistic and cultural landscape.
Louis Vuitton and Jean-Paul Gaultier: Uniting Fashion and Art
Luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton collaborates with Paris+ Art Basel to unveil a curated collection of artists’ collaborative works with the brand. The impressive display includes commissioned trunks by masters such as Henri Matisse and Francis Picabia. This year, within the Grand Palais Ephémère, visitors will encounter a Louis Vuitton booth inspired by Pharrell Williams’ Spring/Summer 2024 debut collection. It features an extensive collection of works from the Artycapucines handbag collection, reimagined by contemporary artists such as Daniel Buren, Alex Israel, Paola Pivi, Damien Hirst, and Urs Fischer.
In addition to these captivating handbags, the LVMH powerhouse showcases art collaboration masterpieces, including a custom trunk by artist Yayoi Kusama, rose-stamped Louis Vuitton handbags by Stephen Sprouse, and the portrait painting of a young Louis Vuitton by Yan Pei-Ming. All of this unfolds within the grand Paris+ Art Basel fair, graced by world-famous galleries such as New York’s White Cube and Paris’s Gallerie Perrotin. With renowned artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, and Jeff Koons, the discerning art lover will find an array of modern and contemporary masterpieces.
For those seeking relaxation after a day of art exploration, Jean-Paul Gaultier collaborates with Paris+ Art Basel to host a vibrant party at the brand’s headquarters, located in the heart of Paris’s creative district. This grand event transforms the 19th-century building into a colossal dancefloor, where fashion and art’s elite can revel to the tunes of popular DJs and a special guest rapper.
Dates and Venue Information:
- Paris+ Art Basel: October 19-23, 2022, at the Grand Palais Éphémère, 2 Place Joffre, 75007 Paris.
