After dropping anchor in West Hollywood last February, Hauser & Wirth looks to Paris to open its 17th gallery location. The Swiss mega-gallery, which represents around 60 living artists—including George Condo, Cindy Sherman, Jenny Holzer, and Rashid Johnson (and the estates of another 40, such as Louise Bourgeois, Max Bill, and Alexander Calder)—is settling into a Rue François 1er 19th-century Haussmannian building, which was previously home to French radio station Europe 1.
The opening will take place on Oct. 14, days before Paris+’s second edition kicks off at the Grand Palais Éphémère. When asked about the timing and significance of the new digs, Marc Payot, who was promoted to co-president of the gallery in 2020, responds, “A Paris space has been a dream and a goal since Hauser & Wirth's earliest. We have deep ties to the city and many long-standing relationships here with collectors, curators, and writers.”
It took powerhouse dealers Iwan Wirth, Manuela Wirth and Ursula Hauser a dozen years to find the perfect spot in the city's 8th arrondissement, neighboring market monoliths—Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Artcurial—and institutional titans including the Grand Palais, the Palais de Tokyo, and the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris alike. That competitors including White Cube, Mennour, and Almine Rech have been setting up shop on the nearby Avenue Matignon for the past decade allegedly has nothing to do with the choice of location.
"The wider street around our new address allows incredible natural light to pour into these spaces,” explains Payot. “Our top priority was finding a space that would not restrict our artists … The key feature of these neo-classical buildings is the double height ground floor space, which lends itself perfectly to the presentation of a full range of works, including monumental paintings and sculpture."
Argentinian architect Luis Laplace, who was in charge of the renovation, points to the building’s clean slate. “The space was delivered to us as a large empty shell. There was nothing specific to preserve except for the staircase.” Laplace extended the flight of stairs all the way down to a new dedicated storage, while British artist Martin Creed has painted the surrounding white walls and the underside of the steps with black and golden stripes. Overall, the gallery spans some 8,600 square feet across four floors.
The inaugural show “From Sugar to Shit” spotlights California-based artist Henry Taylor, who spent last June and July completing a residency in the French capital, absorbing its art and culture. “We are already seeing enormous interest in his work in France, so we predict his Paris exhibition will provide a catalyst for much more conversation. If so, we are doing our job well. We want our exhibitions and programs to spark discussions now and in the future,” says Payot.
Taylor’s summer stay, however, does not imply that Hauser & Wirth has planned a residency program for Paris, like the ones in Menorca and Somerset. There won’t be a restaurant or an Education Lab either. Instead, elements of the gallery’s international activities will be exported to the Paris location, including the initiatives of Hauser & Wirth Publishers and Learning programs aimed at community building and arts education.
“We’re already exploring collaborations with local partners in these areas and are looking forward to what comes next,” concludes Payot. What might that be? All sources point to a possible spotlight of artist Hélène Delprat, who joined the gallery’s roster earlier this month.
“From Sugar to Shit” will be on view from October 14, 2023 to January 7, 2024 at Hauser & Wirth in Paris.
