Paris' Top Art Galleries
Discover our selection of what's hot on the contemporary art scene
Dan Flavin, 'Four Red Horizontals (to Sonja)', 1963 © 2011 Stephen Flavin / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Courtesy L&M Arts et Galerie Perrotin, Paris
Gone are the days of 'take the mick' white-on-white expos, or mirrors on walls that make you the interchangeable work of art: Paris's contemporary art scene is robust, inventive and well and truly cutting-edge. This is our list of the top ten art galleries, whether you're looking for the next Damien Hirst, or just fancy cerebral stimulation.
Galerie Jérôme de Noirmont
- Critics choice
- Free
In a chic space near the Elysées Palace, Noirmont puts on eye-catching shows featuring big names such as AR Penck, Jeff Koons, Shirin Neshat, Bettina Rheims, Fabrice Hyber, kitsch duo Pierre et Gilles, and art-world personalities Eva and Adële.
- 36-38 avenue Matignon, 8e
Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin
- Critics choice
- Free
Now installed in an elegant Marais hôtel particulier, Perrotin is one of the sharpest figures in town: not content with owning a gallery in Miami and a glossy magazine, he has recently jumped on the design bandwagon with shows by Robert Stadler and Eric Benqué. As well as the quirky Japanese set of Takashi Murakami, Mariko Mori et al, and big French names such as Sophie Calle, Xavier Veilhan,...
- 76 rue de Turenne, 3e, Paris, France
Polka Galerie
- Critics choice
- Free
“Every photo has a tale to tell”: such is the leitmotif at Polka Galerie in the Marais, where Adélie de Ipanema and Edouard Genestar have entirely devoted their art space to photojournalism, thus turning their triple-roomed gallery into one of the only places in Paris to mix art, journalism and politics. Works on display are signed by photographers like Ethan Levitas, Marc Riboud, Reza and Daido...
- Cour de Venise, 12 rue Saint-Gilles, 3e
Galerie Kamel Mennour
- Critics choice
- Free
After bursting on to the St-Germain art scene with shows by fashion photography crossovers David LaChapelle and Ellen von Unwerth and filmmaker Larry Clark, and introducing emerging artists Kader Attia and Adel Abdessemed, Mennour has confirmed his presence on the gallery scene with a move to these grand new premises in a hôtel particulier. Recent shows by an impressive cross-generational stable...
- 47 rue Saint-André des Arts, 6e, Paris, France
Galerie Yvon Lambert
- Critics choice
- Free
Lambert celebrated 30 years in the business in 2006, and remains a powerhouse of the French scene, with plenty of big-name stuff, a New York offshoot and a personal collection granted museum status in Avignon. The gallery includes a dedicated area for video installations, and the main space shows leading international names - American bigwigs Andres Serrano, Sol LeWitt, Nan Goldin and Jenny...
- 108 rue Vieille du Temple, 3e
Art:Concept
Despite its cramped conditions, Art:Concept manages to present some interesting, eclectic work. Look out for constructions by Richard Fauguet, as well as installations by Michel Blazy, whose favourite materials include the likes of shaving foam, spaghetti and dog biscuits.
- 13 rue des Arquebusiers, 3e
Galerie Polaris
- Free
Polaris occupies an old gym and shows artists mainly working in photo and video, such as Stéphane Couturier, known for his stunning, flattened perspective images of building sites.
- 15 rue des Arquebusiers, 3e
Air de Paris
This gallery shows experimental, neo-conceptual and chaotic material. A hip international stable of artists includes Liam Gillick, Carsten Höller, Sarah Morris and Philippe Parreno.
- 32 rue Louise Weiss, 13e
Russian Tea Room
- Critics choice
- Free
The Russian Tea Room was set up in 2004 to promote Russian art in Europe and opened its gallery space in 2007. Exhibitions focus mainly on the young post-perestroika generation with an emphasis on gritty photography.
- 42 rue de Volta, 3e
Galerie Marian Goodman
- Critics choice
- Free
The veteran New York gallery owner can be counted on to pull out the stops with impressive shows from a roster of big international names, such as Gerhard Richter, William Kentridge and Steve McQueen.
- 79 rue du Temple, 3e