Art Paris has established itself as an essential event for artistic discovery in the European cultural landscape, balancing a deep commitment to the local French creative scene with a vibrant, cosmopolitan outlook. For the 2026 edition (held 9–12 April), Art Paris made a triumphant return to its historic home inside the Grand Palais, reclaiming its place beneath the iconic glass nave following the landmark building's extensive multi-year renovation.
The two central curatorial axes of this year’s fair revolved around two powerful concepts: Babel, curated by Loïc Le Gall, and Reparation, curated by Alexia Fabre. Both themes drew immediate attention to modern social rhetoric, systemic memory, and cultural dialogue.
Simultaneously, the 28th edition of PAD Paris (Pavillon des Arts et du Design) took place nearby in the Jardin des Tuileries, where contemporary designs leaned heavily into a 1970s aesthetic revival. Together, these complementary Parisian events offer a clear window into upcoming international design fairs, including PAD Saint-Tropez and PAD London.
Established in 1997 by Patrick Perrin, PAD Paris remains strictly dedicated to fostering a rich dialogue between historical craftsmanship and cutting-edge contemporary design. Over the past three decades, the fair has evolved from a boutique gathering into a globally renowned benchmark for international designers, architects, and private collectors alike.
At Art Paris, the experience extends far beyond viewing gallery walls. Returning for another high-profile partnership, premier French furniture house Roche Bobois designed the exclusive VIP lounge positioned directly on the Balcony of Honor. Offering breathtaking views overlooking the grand nave of the restored Grand Palais, the lounge delivered an immersive, high-end environment featuring key sculptural pieces and new collections.
Renowned worldwide for celebrating French Art de Vivre (the art of living well), Roche Bobois has a rich history of artistic collaborations with fashion icons like Jean Paul Gaultier, Missoni, and Christian Lacroix.
Roche Bobois’ scenography included their iconic pieces, such as their Bubble Sofa, designed by Sacha Lakic, known for its organic, padded shape created with a unique, three-directional stretch fabric, undeniably recognisable even within the magnificent setting of the Grand Palais.
Hot off the press from Milan Design Week, Roche Bobois showcased their striking new collaboration with acclaimed Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar. The collection focuses on vibrant, saturated colourways inspired directly by Almodóvar’s iconic cinematic universe. By applying these expressive hues to signature pieces like the Lounge and Bubble sofas, the collaboration highlights a shared commitment to bold, emotive design.
Roche Bobois’ lounge embodied the role as a bridge between modern art and interior design, encompassing the ethos of Art Paris itself. It’s safe to say that Paris was the place to be for both designers and collectors last week. If you missed it, here’s a round up of some of the highlights from Art Paris.
Jean Dubuffet, L'Algèbre de l'Hourloupe (1968)
As part of Loïc Le Gall’s curation of the theme Babel, Dubuffet’s work engages the discourse of the shaping of artistic practice as a result of viewing language as a system of signs and symbols.
L'Algèbre de l'Hourloupe is a 52 card set of playing cards that features Dubuffet’s graphic composition of interlocking, puzzle-like shapes. Created between 1962 and 1974, this design marks a notable departure from Dubuffet’s earlier work, with the shapes evoking an expression of an inner monologue.
Jean Dubuffet’s Hourloupe alphabet was positioned alongside other works that span across generations. The dialogue between these pieces, and conceptual dimensions of language, consciously explored the artists’ engagement with linguistic expression.
Juliette Agnel, La main de l’enfant (2023)
Another piece that took our attention within Le Gall’s selection was Agnel’s La main de l’enfant. Fuelled by an interest in anthropology and archaeology, Agnel’s photography features site-specific projects such as prehistoric caves and celestial shots.
Agnel’s photography is an exploration of nature that captures telluric and primary forces. Rather than explicitly displaying visible text, Agnel’s work uses symbolism to evoke the connection between the origins of language and art.
Le Gall’s inclusion of Agnel within the curation set a precedent that the theme of Babel is deeper than the visual representation of signs and recognisable symbols and considers the conceptual dimensions of language in art.
Sarfo Emmanuel Annor, Paralleled Paths (2024)
Annor was featured by The Bridge Gallery, as part of The Promises of Tomorrow, a selection of young galleries under 10 years old.
This section of the fair falls under Alexia Fabre’s curation of the theme Reparation, which challenges the ideas of the singularity of repair and considers it instead as a long-term process of care and resistance. The theme incorporates artwork from artists who approach historical trauma alongside identity, memory, and healing.
Annor is a portrait artist, whose work presents a cross-cultural dialogue of African culture to a global audience, using his colour palette that reflects the soul of his subjects.
Notably, Annor began by using his smartphone to capture contemporary African identity. In 2022, he was on i-D Magazine’s list of hottest creatives, and it’s not hard to understand why. Annor’s work is not just colourful, his use of symbolism within the portraits adds narrative and depth to his subjects.
The key takeaway from this year's edition of Art Paris and PAD Paris is that fine art and high-end design can no longer be viewed in isolation. They function as interconnected visual languages that define how we inhabit modern spaces.
Whether examining prehistoric cave imagery through Juliette Agnel’s photographic lens or relaxing on a vibrant Pedro Almodóvar sofa, the boundary between gallery artwork and domestic living continues to dissolve.
The integration of bold, sculptural furniture, such as Roche Bobois's organic silhouettes, into historic venues like the Grand Palais illustrates the power of spatial contrast.
By placing smooth, futuristic fabrics and saturated hues against 19th-century ironwork and glass naves, interior architects create a dynamic tension that honours historical preservation while celebrating contemporary creative innovation. As the 2026 design calendar continues with upcoming fairs in Saint-Tropez and London, this dialogue between heritage settings and forward-thinking design remains the defining trend of the modern era.
Image credits: Foundation Beyeler, Art Paris, Juliette Agnel, Roche Bobois
