Paris+ 2023: Top Galleries at Art Basel's Paris Fair

The Paris+ par Art Basel fair, held at the Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris, featured an exceptional selection of contemporary art from leading global galleries despite a cramped and uncomfortable venue. The temporary structure, designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, was densely packed with stands, lacking relaxation areas and charging stations, with a separate annex creating a disjointed experience. However, the quality of artworks was outstanding, with galleries like David Zwirner, Matthew Marks, and Mendes Wood presenting superlative pieces. The fair outperformed London's Frieze, solidifying Paris as the art market capital in Europe ahead of the 2024 Olympics. Notable stands included Anton Kern's wood-slat installation by Martino Gamper featuring Francis Upritchard's sculptures (€175–€17,000), Massimo De Carlo's mix of General Idea and Irma Blank, and Gagosian's label-free display with works by Urs Fischer, Ed Ruscha, and Keith Haring. Other highlights: Neugerriemschneider's barbecue installation by Rirkrit Tiravanija and Olafur Eliasson's colored glass; Emalin's focus on Polish artist Karol Palczak; Pilar Corrias's collaboration between Tiravanija and Vivien Zhang; Christian Berst's Art Brut presentation of Anna Zemanková (€40,000 each, mostly sold); and Dvir Gallery's Douglas Gordon softcore images from lockdown alongside Bri Williams's found-object sculptures.