The Paris Biennale, a little light with some good finds and Sam Szafran’s last paintings

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The Prix de La Commission Biennale 2019 was awarded to Kent Antiques, for an important Talismanic Shirt (Jama), with Qu’anic Verses and Shia, Protective Prayers Giving the Names of the Twelve Imams, North India or the Deccan, 17th Century

La Biennale de Paris which now takes place every year, was a light affair with some good finds and a very sad news. It ends on Tuesday after only five days: the only traditional French 18 th century antique dealer was Steinitz with a very exceptional mirror (ca 1720) which belonged to Elisabeth Charlotte d’Orléans, duchesse de Lorraine and should soon return to Château de Lunéville., the Versailles of Lorraine. Steinitz has now moved to spectacular premises on 6 rue Royale.Read More

Matei Negreanu’s precious glass sculptures

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Matei Negranu with two of his works at the opening (photo Hervé Claude)

When he left Rumania and arrived in Paris in 1981, Matei Negreanu already had a career as an artist. It took him very little time to exhibit his glass sculptures which were made of thin layers of glass, cut out, sanded and assembled in his modest room. His works have evolved over the years but his style remains very identifiable and he continues to use green as a color, which I love. He has a new show at Galerie Clara Scremini until October 12.Read More

Galerie J. Kugel surprises us again!

parisdiaArt, Furniture

Desk by Roentgen which belonged to Catherine II of Russia, photo Guillaume Benoît

The yearly invitation from Galerie J. Kugel is always a cheerful moment in the middle of the summer and this year again, Nicolas and Alexis managed a coup. The acquisition of a music room painted by Catalan artist José Marie Sert (1874-1945) for Corina Kavanagh  in the tallest (120 m) building of Latin America built in 1936 in Buenos Aires. It is the most modern piece in their collection of treasures (1938) and a striking series of panels painted on gold. Do not miss it!

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In Quimper, happiness at the Breton museum and trendiness in Landerneau

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Charles Cottet, “Femmes de Plougastel au Pardon de Sainte-Anne-la-Palud”, 1904. Dépôt de M. et Mme Hardy au Musée des Beaux-arts, Quimper © Cliché Musée des Beaux-arts, Quimper

When I decided to lengthen a little the summer until Labor Day and to go and visit the Fonds pour la culture Hélène et Edouard Leclerc in Landerneau (near Brest), I did not expect to see the marvelous exhibition at Musée départemental breton de Quimper. One is a trendy center for Parisians who like to see their friends’ art collections, the latter is a true delight of all Breton art, set in a medieval building, formerly Palace of the Bishops of Cornouaille. Guess which one I liked best?Read More

Pierre Yovanovitch, the Book!

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Two armchairs Papa Ours Py, Oops collection, lamp by Paavo Tynell ca 1940 and painting “We shall share our chemistry with the Stars” by Marc Quinn on Central Park West

It was the first book signing of the Rentrée and at Galignani’s, Danielle Cillien-Sabatier, the grande Prêtresse of the bilingual bookstore, was in full steam. Interior architect, designer and art collector Pierre Yovanovitch was chatting to all his friends while dedicating a superb 365 page album of his work, published by Rizzoli in English and in French. Everyone was glamorous, tanned and relaxed by their vacations in Greece or in Provence. What a relief to be back in Paris, to its intense social life and celebrations of artistic friendships!Read More

Templon, old artists and new ones in two spaces

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Valerio Adami, Ascension, 1984

Daniel Templon celebrated the 50 th anniversary of his gallery three years ago and Valerio Adami is one of the artists he has shown for fifteen years, on rue Beaubourg. When Théâtre du Châtelet commissioned a whole balcony painted by the Italian artists in 1989, he had been influential. 34 year old Prune Nourry is a more recent guest and she is shown in the newest gallery on rue du Grenier Saint Lazare. Both openings took place last Saturday, for the elite Parisians who were back in town.Read More

Woody Allen is back, at his best

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Elle Fanning is the most attractive Ashleigh

At the press screening in July, journalists were laughing out loud and came out commenting on “the mother scene”. With  “A Rainy Day in New York” Woody Allen brings out one of his excellent films, a color version of “Manhattan” without Gershwin but with a much better version of Mariel Hemingway, Elle Fanning, who looks stunning. All actors are surprising, including Jude Law who plays a screen writer whose wife (Rebecca Hall) cheats on him, and Timothée Chalamet, wearing Woody’s usual tweed jacket, who looks like a girl most of the time. The sceneries of New York are outstanding from Soho to Central Park and of course the dear Carlyle bar, where Woody still plays the clarinet every Monday night. The film reads like an ABC of Woody’s life including his love for rainy days.Read More