Art Fairs
Take a Sneak Peek at Riches of Paris Photo 2014
Photographs up to $1.5 million will be showcased at the Grand Palais.
![Valie Export, VALIE EXPORT - SMART EXPORT. Self-portrait with cigarette kit] (1968/1970)Photo: Courtesy Richard Saltoun](https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2014/11/Valie-Export.jpg)
![Valie Export, VALIE EXPORT - SMART EXPORT. Self-portrait with cigarette kit] (1968/1970)Photo: Courtesy Richard Saltoun](https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2014/11/Valie-Export-256x256.jpg)
Michael Schnabel, Rhinoceri, Basel (2001)
Photo: Courtesy Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, Paris
This week, the Grand Palais will host the 18th edition of photography’s top art fair, Paris Photo.
“The fair turns 18 years old this year, so it’s a time of maturity,” Paris Photo director Julien Frydman told artnet News. “Paris Photo has played a big role in integrating photography in the history of art, putting it in relation with other artistic disciplines, such as writing, moving image, painting, and performance. This year is going to be really representative of the diversity of approaches and the vitality of artists using the medium.”
One hundred and forty-three galleries hailing from 35 countries will offer a unique survey of photographic practices, both contemporary and historical. Among the 105 returning exhibitors, David Zwirner, Filomena Soares, Gagosian, Frank Elbaz, Klemm’s, Pace/MacGill, and RoseGallery stand out. This year’s 31 new additions include Carlier|Gebauer, Richard Saltoun, Thaddaeus Ropac, Selma Feriani, and Zilberman.
Two important exhibitions will complete this photographic panorama: MoMA will present a selection of recent acquisitions, and there will be a display of highlights from the Alkazi Collection of Photography, a private collection focused on ornamented and painted photography from India and Southern Asia.
“Until recently, photography stood quite separate from contemporary art,” Frydman continued. “This had to do with photography being a reproducible medium which served many functions: as part of journalism, fashion, documentation, art … Traditionally, there’s been specialized publications, specialized museum departments and galleries, even specialized collectors. But I think this is changing. In the last few years we are observing an increasing crossover in all these aspects. Photography is becoming integrated in the contemporary art realm.”
Tellingly, it seems that photography is also catching up with contemporary art’s sky-high prices. In last year’s edition, August Sander’s Baker (1928) sold at Feroz Galerie for a whopping €1 million. In this year’s edition, Irving Penn’s Woman in Moroccan Palace (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn) (1951), which will be on offer at Hamiltons Gallery, has a price tag of $1.5 million.
With books playing such a key role in the dissemination of the photographic medium, it comes as no surprise that a showcase of 26 prestigious publishers and art book dealers, such as Apeture, Hatje Cantz, Jeu de Paume, Steidl, and Taschen, is also included in the fair’s program.
“What distinguishes this fair from others, apart from, obviously, the focus on the medium, is its great conviviality,” Frydman told artnet News. “Our audience includes specialized photography collectors, contemporary art lovers, general public … Everyone can find something that they like here. Also, as part of our Photobooks section, we have organized around 200 artist book signings. Artists want to come and spend time here, meet their audiences, and exchange points of view. I think that is a fantastic sign!”
Paris Photo opens on Thursday, but you can browse a selection of this year’s highlights in the slideshow above.
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