Everyone knows that the best way to stimulate the market is to maintain confidence no matter what. So it’s not surprising to see Paris Photo conclude its 17th edition Sunday with an extremely positive recap. “Gallerists, photographers, publishers, and collectors all recognized the immense quality of the fair and emphasized that it’s an unmissable event,” the event’s press release proclaimed.
If we look at the numbers, the fair saw increased attendance again this year, with 55,239 visitors compared to 54,000 in 2012. This increase was also seen with groups of collectors and museum donors, which rose from 58 to 65 and also became more international. “The first edition of Paris Photo Los Angeles [April 26-28, 2013] greatly encouraged the American public’s interest in the original Paris Photo,” the press release stated. There was also a greater Italian presence with the participation of the National Museum of 21st Century Arts (MAXXI).
The dealers, however, remain typically reticent regarding the details of their transactions, with a few exceptions. For the Gagosian Gallery, the 2013 edition of the fair was the “most successful” since 2010. Dealers manning the booths of New York’s Cheim and Read (who participated in the fair for the first time), France’s Xippas, and Germany’s Klaus Kleinschmidt all praised the attendees for their sophistication and knowledge. Many gallerists echoed the conclusions of Paris Photo regarding the increased presence of American collectors.
More generous with information, Les Filles du Calvaire confirmed the “crazy” success of photos by Gilbert Garcin, while Galerie Toluca, which specializes in Latin American and Japanese art, said that it sold a piece to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At Nathalie Obadia’s booth, three works by Valérie Belin sold for €30,000 ($40,500) each to private collectors, and a polyptych by Egyptian artist Youssef Nabil was snapped up by a French foundation. The only gallery from India at the fair this year, Tasveer, was pleased with the €18,000 ($24,300) sale of a recent work by Karen Knorr (“A Place Like Amravati, Sarus Crane,” 2012) and also sold three out of four vintage prints by Indian photographer Jyoti Bhatt, whose work was shown for the first time in France. French gallery Lumière des Roses, which was celebrating its 10-year anniversary, sold two-thirds of its booth, while Bernard Bouche sold 40 percent. Galerie Particulière, which featured photos by David Hilliardand other artists at its booth, reported that 85 percent of its clients at the fair were new to the gallery.
The Aperture Foundation PhotoBook award went to Brazilian artist Rosangela Renno for “A01 (COD 19.1.1.43) – A27 (S/COD.23)” and the first PhotoBook prize was awarded to Spanish artist Oscar Monzon for “Karma.”
