New Realism

New Realism is in favour this year: following the tribute to Yves Klein at the Georges Pompidou centre which closed last February, the whole movement is the subject of an exhibition in the Paris Grand Palais, running until 2 July, 2007. Prices for the New Realists have risen by more than 120% since 2000. However, these artists’s works are still valued some 30% below the price levels achieved in 1989-1990.

The contemporary drawing market

Paris traditionally welcomes the Drawings Fair in March. This year, for the 19th event, 31 galleries presented more than 1000 papers from the Renaissance up to the 1970s in the Palais de la Bourse; there was a notable absence of more recent work because, for the first time, the Contemporary Drawings Fair took place March 22-26: forty or so French and foreign galleries took over a six-storey building on Avenue d’Iena for a show entirely dedicated to contemporary drawings.

THE ART SCENE IN NICE

I am alive, I am in Nice.
Ben 1993

If you were to look for the geographical heart of French art, you would naturally turn to Paris, the country's artistic capital. But the south of France, particularly the area around Nice, has also been a fertile cradle of artistic creation. Masters such as Pablo PICASSO , Henri MATISSE , Fernand LÉGER and Joan MIRO were all seduced by the côte d’Azur and left major works in the region. Following in their footsteps came Yves KLEIN , Fernandez ARMAN , Martial RAYSSE , then BEN , Bernar VENET , CÉSAR , Claude VIALLAT , Noël DOLLA and others spawning the great movements of French contemporary art : Fluxus, Supports/Surfaces, and the New Realism.

The market in Arman sculptures

Arman died Saturday at his home in New York after a battle with cancer. Fernandez ARMAN , born in Nice in 1928, is the French contemporary sculptor whose works most frequently come up at auction. In 2004, when more than 400 works were put up for sale and EUR 2,8 million generated in turnover (and EUR 2 million for sculpture), he came 20th in Artprice's ranking of sculptors.

FIAC 2005: The French contemporary art market

From 6 to 10 October, Paris will celebrate the 32nd edition of the FIAC (Foire Internationale d'Art Contemporain). The giant Porte de Versailles exhibition complex will house 227 gallery stands, 99 of which are due to be French. In addition, a number of Parisian auctions houses have organised sales of excellent selections of contemporary art to coincide with the event. The day after the Fiac's opening celebrations, Sotheby's will be offering part of a collection belonging to the Durand-Dessert gallery. On 8 October, the auction house Cornette de Saint-Cyr will be selling 179 works, including an important selection from the Fondation Veranneman Collection.

The market in Arman sculptures

Fernandez ARMAN , born in Nice in 1928, is the French contemporary sculptor whose works most frequently come up at auction. In 2004, when more than 400 works were put up for sale and EUR 2.8 million generated in turnover, he came 20th in Artprice's ranking of sculptors.

Contemporary Art Auction in Paris focused on New Realists

On 19 April, the auction house Cornette de Saint Cyr well be the venue for a major auction of contemporary art dedicated to the New Realists and entitled "The 'New Realists', Contemporary Art, Banque Worms Collection". This is not the first time.

The Nouveaux Réalistes: auction prices take off

The artists lauded by critic Pierre Restany were in great demand at Piasa on 4 December 2003. All lots were sold, often going for more than their estimates, which was good news after several lacklustre weeks for the French market and confirms that many growth segments of the market remain strong.

POP ART made in France

Although pop art has so far only reached its full potential in the United States, the movement also has roots in Europe. Now, the market is starting to remember.