Clément Delépine, the director of Artwork Basel Paris for the reason that spring of 2022, will depart after the conclusion of this yr’s truthful (22-26 October) to develop into the director of Lafayette Anticipations. He’ll succeed Rebecca Lamarche-Vadel, who has been Lafayette Anticipations’ director for six years; his first day within the new position will likely be 17 November, in keeping with The Artwork Newspaper France.
Delépine was appointed to guide Artwork Basel’s French truthful in March 2022, shortly after it was revealed that the art-fair franchise belonging to the Swiss expo firm MCH Group can be taking up the October slot on the Grand Palais that beforehand belonged to the Foire Internationale d’Artwork Contemporain (Fiac). The truthful was named Paris + par Artwork Basel for its first two editions, which happened within the Grand Palais Éphemère, a brief construction erected on the Champ de Mars whereas the Grand Palais underwent a €466m renovation. The truthful switched to the extra typical title Artwork Basel Paris forward of final yr’s version, when it moved into the Grand Palais.
This previous Could, Artwork Basel revealed the greater than 200 galleries collaborating within the 2025 version of its Paris truthful. “The distinctive high quality of this yr’s initiatives is highly effective proof of Artwork Basel Paris’s magnetism—and of the central position Paris and France proceed to play on the worldwide artwork market and the world of tradition at giant,” Delépine mentioned on the time.
“We’re actually completely happy for Clément as he embarks on this new journey,” Vincenzo de Bellis, the chief inventive officer and international director of Artwork Basel festivals, mentioned in a press release. “He introduced not solely imaginative and prescient and creativity but additionally a generosity of spirit that helped make Artwork Basel Paris a spot of discovery and dialogue. Whilst we start the method of discovering the suitable successor to proceed this journey, our focus is firmly on presenting a 2025 Paris version that can encourage artists, galleries, our companions and audiences alike. Clément’s imprint will stay a long-lasting a part of that story.”
An Artwork Basel spokesperson confirms {that a} search is already underway to search out Delépine’s successor. Following his departure, De Bellis will function the truthful’s interim director.
Based in 2012, Lafayette Anticipations is the non-profit up to date artwork and tradition department of the well-known French division retailer Galeries Lafayette. Since 2018, it has been positioned within the Marais neighbourhood a couple of blocks from the Centre Pompidou, in a former industrial constructing that was renovated by the architect Rem Koolhaas and the agency OMA.
Lafayette Anticipation has hosted exhibitions by buzzy artists together with Martine Syms, Issy Wooden, Cyprien Gaillard, Wu Tsang, Rachel Rose and extra. It’s at the moment getting ready solo exhibitions by the Rabat-born, Brooklyn-based artist Meriem Bennani and the American artist Steffani Jemison, who’s creating a mission throughout a residency there.
