This theme’s title, curated by art critic and independent exhibition curator Nicolas Trembley, takes its name from the pioneering Arts and Crafts movement that saw the light of day in Great Britain at the end of the 19^th century. The theme will address the way in which modern and contemporary artists have taken – and continue to take - the world of crafts (ceramics, glass, tapestry, etc.) and make it their own, combining in so doing thought and gesture. Around twenty international artists will be chosen from among the exhibiting galleries to comprise a themed tour of the fair. Nicolas Trembley will also write a text with a presentation of each artist’s work.

To quote Nicolas Trembley: "Although it is true that the visual arts at the beginning of the 20^th century incorporated practices more often associated with the applied arts, the emergence of a more conceptual form of contemporary art put an end to this historical way of doing things. Since the beginning of the 21^st century and the development of a globalised art market that pushes minority practices and groups to the fore, we are witnessing the emergence of artworks whose techniques are traditionally related to artisanship. Furthermore, we are rediscovering works by historical and contemporary artists whose approach borrows from the world of craft.”

^{Nicolas Trembley is an art critic, exhibition curator and contemporary art advisor who shares his time between Paris and Geneva. He is currently artistic director of the Syz contemporary art collection. He has worked with various cultural institutions, such as the MAMCO (Geneva), Centre Pompidou (Paris), Le Consortium (Dijon) and Musée Guimet (Paris). One of his interests is in the connections between contemporary art and artisanship. He has organised numerous exhibitions on the subject, notably the touring exhibition Sgrafo vs. fat lava - ceramics and porcelains made in West Germany, 1960-1980, five different exhibitions between 2013 and 2022 exploring the Mingei (folk crafts or art of the people) movement in Japan, Expanded Craft in Vienna and Craft at Galerie Francesca Pia (Zurich) in 2023. His book Keramikos published by Buchhandlung Walther König was awarded the Most Beautiful Swiss Book prize in 2021.}

Selected artists:

Magdalena Abakanowicz (1930-2017) - Richard Saltoun
Joël Andrianomearisoa (1977) - Almine Rech
Jean-Marie Appriou (1986) - Perrotin
Thomas Bayrle (1937) - Galerie East
Karina Bisch (1974) - Lahumière
Saloua Raouda Choucair (1916-2017) - Saleh Barakat
Michele Ciacciofera (1969) - Galerie Michel Rein
Daniel Dewar and Grégory Gicquel (B. in 1976 and 1975) - Loevenbruck
Elizabeth Garouste (1946) - Galerie Ketabi Bourdet
Ge Ba - Galerie Françoise Livinec
Josep Grau-Garriga (1929-2011) - Galerie Claude Bernard
Sheila Hicks (1934) - Galerie Claude Bernard
Jérôme Hirson (1984) - Galerie Le sentiment des choses
Patrick Kim-Gustafson (1986) - Marguo
Jacqueline Lerat (1920-1992) and Jean Lerat (1913-1992) - Capazza
Barbara Levittoux-Świderska (1933-2019) - Richard Saltoun
Oceania – anonymous sculpture made in 1920 - Galerie Jeanne Bucher Jaeger
Shiro Tsujimura (1947) - Galerie Le sentiment des choses
Jeanne Vicerial (1991) - Templon
Jane Yang-D'Haene (1968) - Bienvenu Steinberg & J

Download the Art & Craft by Nicolas Trembley.

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