ART FAIRS: Paris Internationale 2025

The 11th edition of Paris Internationale marks not only a return to its roots but a reaffirmation of its founding ideals: independence, experimentation, and community. Celebrating ten years of what can now be described as a fully realised utopia, the fair continues to embody the spirit of a global, committed, and collaborative contemporary art scene.

By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Paris Internationale

A few steps away from the “hôtel particulier” that hosted its first edition in 2015, Paris Internationale enters a new decade with renewed purpose. In a city vibrating with cultural effervescence, the fair reasserts its vow to remain a space for dialogue and discovery, free from the hierarchies and constraints of the traditional art market. To commemorate this milestone, Paris Internationale launches “♡PI 10”, a celebratory parcours honouring a decade of collective experimentation and shared vision. The project will activate unexpected spaces throughout the venue with large-scale interventions by artists from past editions, alongside collaborations with alumni galleries. Accompanying the event is a special publication revisiting the conversations, discoveries, and ideas that have shaped the fair’s unique trajectory since its inception. From 36 galleries representing 13 countries in 2015 to 66 galleries from 19 countries in 2025, Paris Internationale has more than doubled its initial ambitions. Yet it has preserved the human scale that defines its strength. This year’s edition includes no fewer than 52 solo or duo presentations, underscoring a focus on immersive projects that invite deeper engagement with the artists’ practices. Beyond the commercial, Paris Internationale continues to foster a community built on shared vision. By welcoming non-profit spaces and independent initiatives, the fair maintains its commitment to inclusivity and experimentation. Its ongoing partnerships—with the Ministry of Culture, Fondation Pernod Ricard (which oversees the public conversation program), and Lab’Bel, the Bel Group’s artistic laboratory—reinforce a spirit of collaboration that transcends institutional boundaries. The fair’s new home, a 5,000m² Haussmannian building at the Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées, reflects both continuity and transformation. Its elegant façade recalls the conviviality of 18th-century salons—spaces of intellectual exchange that inspire the fair’s ethos—while the interior, designed by architects **Christ & Gantenbein**, offers vast, open areas for exploration. Here, galleries from across generations and continents coexist, fostering encounters that are both intimate and expansive. Crucially, Paris Internationale has remained faithful to its non-profit model: 100% of its proceeds are reinvested into future editions. Its non-hierarchical selection process—where galleries nominate their peers based on shared values and the strength of their projects—ensures that the fair remains discerning, independent, and forward-thinking. The result is a vibrant dialogue between emerging voices, established figures, and sometimes overlooked historical artists. Free since its inception, Paris Internationale has become an essential fixture in both the Parisian and international art ecosystems. It attracts audiences ranging from curious newcomers to seasoned professionals. The fair’s public programs—the “Talks”, organized with Fondation Pernod Ricard, and the Daily Dérives, guided walks led by art-world figures—contribute to an atmosphere of lively exchange and intellectual generosity. Curated by publisher and exhibition curator Alice Dusapin, this year’s “Talks With and About” cycle reflects on the practices of publishing, exhibiting, and collecting in “non-institutional” contexts. The program offers a timely meditation on independence—not just as a condition, but as a form of action, a means to rethink how art circulates and how communities of meaning are built. Ten years on, Paris Internationale stands as proof that an alternative model is not only possible but sustainable. Rooted in collective energy and a belief in art’s capacity to connect, it continues to evolve—an ever-growing constellation of artists, curators, and gallerists shaping the future of contemporary art together.

Photo: Artwork from Paris Internationale 2025, Courtesy Paris Internationale

Info: Paris Internationale, Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées, Paris, France, Duration: 22-26/10/2025, Days & Hours: Wed-Thu (22-23/10) 12:00-19:00, Fri-Sat (24-25/10) 12:00-20:00, Sun (23) 12:00-18:00, Admission: Free with accreditation here, https://parisinternationale.com/