Post-Fair brings its curator-led model to Paris during Art Basel week

A curator's vision crosses the Atlantic

What began as an experimental addition to Frieze Los Angeles week is now making its European debut. Post-Fair, founded by gallerist Chris Sharp, will open in Paris from 19 to 25 October, positioning itself during the same week as Art Basel Paris.

Sharp's connection to the French capital runs deep – he spent ten years there as a writer and curator, and previously organised Place des Vosges, a modest fair in the historic square. This background informed his decision to bring Post-Fair's approach to Paris, where the art market has been steadily strengthening since Brexit.

Challenging the commercial fair model

The fair's pricing structure sets it apart from major commercial events. Exhibitors pay $6,000 to present either solo or two-person shows, a fraction of typical fair costs. Sharp argues that high fees at corporate fairs limit programming to safe commercial choices, while lower costs enable more adventurous curatorial decisions.

An invitation-only selection of approximately 34 galleries will participate, with dealers from Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Tokyo, Paris and across the UK. The exhibitor list will be announced in September, featuring many galleries familiar from previous Los Angeles editions.

Architecture as exhibition space

Post-Fair has distinguished itself through its use of architecturally significant buildings rather than conventional fair layouts. In Los Angeles, the fair occupies the 1938 Santa Monica Post Office, an Art Deco landmark. This approach continues in Paris, where the fair will occupy two contrasting structures on Rue du Temple.

At 74 Rue du Temple stands a traditional hôtel particulier sharing a courtyard with Marian Goodman Gallery's Paris space. Opposite it, 79 Rue du Temple houses a French Art Deco building. Both offer intimate settings that encourage museum-like viewing experiences rather than traditional booth presentations.

Programming highlights

Sharp's own gallery will present a solo exhibition of Chicago sculptor Richard Rezac, whose intimate, handcrafted works blur abstraction with subtle references to everyday objects. At 74, Rezac represents the kind of thoughtful, challenging work that Post-Fair aims to showcase.

"On first glance, he has an ostensible relationship with functional design, but the longer you spend with it, the stranger it gets," Sharp notes. This focus on contemplative work aligns with the fair's broader programming philosophy.

Audience and access

Admission to Post-Fair Paris will be free with advance registration, reflecting Sharp's emphasis on quality over quantity. Rather than maximising visitor numbers, the fair seeks to concentrate artists, curators, collectors and art professionals in meaningful encounters.

This European expansion follows another American satellite crossing the Atlantic – the Dallas Invitational will stage its London edition during Frieze week, suggesting growing appetite for alternative fair models beyond traditional commercial circuits.

Paris's position as a European art hub continues strengthening, with increasing numbers of commercial galleries and strong attendance from American and Asian collectors at Art Basel Paris. Post-Fair arrives at a moment when the city offers both established infrastructure and emerging opportunities for experimental programming.