Following a successful inaugural edition last year, FAB Paris will return to the city of light this month with a range of new developments, from a new name to a new location—at the Grand Palais Ephémère—and numerous new exhibitors. The Result of Fine Arts Paris and La Biennale merging in 2022, FAB Paris will run November 22–26, 2023 and host 110 exhibitors, 41 of which are showing with FAB Paris for the very first time. The presentations together will account for upwards of 4,000 years of art and design history spanning 6 continents, and represent the work of no less than 20 disciplines, from fine art and furniture to sculpture and interior design.
Robert Robin, directoire gilt and patinated bronze rectangular alcove clock (cartel d’alcôve) (ca. 1795). Courtesy of Pascal Izarn, France.
Speaking of the expansion, President of FAB Paris Louis de Bayser said, “As FAB Paris continues to grow, with new categories (e.g., design) and new galleries enriching the offering in disciplines such as tribal arts, antiquities, and Asian art, our focus is to maintain the highest level of quality. One of the main virtues of the fair is its selective nature and this will remain at the core of its development.”
Attributed to Hubert Le Sueur, Hercules and Telephus (ca. 1630). Courtesy of Benjamin Proust, France.
Recently, FAB Paris released a preview of some of the highlights of the forthcoming editions—which promises to be a veritable jewel box of high caliber work. From Old Master paintings by the likes of Pieter Brueghel the Younger and Rembrandt Van Rijn to pioneers of Impressionism like Claude Monet and Joan Miró, FAB Paris will also see strong representation of women sculptors, who have oft been overlooked when considering the art historical canon.
Maria Pergay, Chaise Anneaux / Ring Chair (1968). Courtesy of Demisch Danant, New York.
One of the most exciting facets of the 2023 edition of FAB Paris is the emphasis on design, both historical and modern. An alcove clock made my French Queen Marie Antoinette’s favorite clockmaker and sculpture that was once housed in the palace of Versailles offer visitors a look back into the grandeur of bygone eras, while the debut of 20th century design will see important and influential pieces by designers such as Joseph-André Motte and Maria Pergay.
Joan Miró, Untitled III (1970). Courtesy of Mayoral, Spain.
Beyond the visual and historical allure of the pieces themselves, the provenances of many exhibited works are equally intriguing. With items hailing from the collections of Karl Lagerfeld, Hubert de Givenchy, and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as some that can trace their origins to the royal courts of France, the homes of the Medici, and the master craftsman of the Qing Dynasty—also known as the “Great Qing”—FAB Paris offers a comprehensive look at millenniums worth of creative achievement and artistic innovation.
FAB Paris will run November 22–26, 2023, at the Grand Palais Ephémère.