Miu Miu was founded in 1993 by Miuccia Prada, who took over her family’s luxury fashion business, the renowned Prada, in 1978. Given this choice, it’s perhaps unsurprising that women take center stage in the brand’s Art Basel Paris project, which will be held at the Palais d’Iéna.
Designed by Polish artist Goshka Macuga, “Tales & Tellers” draws from Miu Miu’s biannual commissioned film series, Women’s Tales, in which filmmakers like Mati Diop, Miranda July, and Agnès Varda explore themes of “vanity and femininity.” Since 2021, female artists have collaborated on video and set installations for Miu Miu’s runway shows, and these projects will also be represented in this new initiative. Among the presentations at the fair are videos featured at Miu Miu’s runway shows, including media works by Sophia Al-Maria, Cécile B. Evans, and Geumhyung Jeong. The “Tales & Tellers” preview will debut on October 15, and will be open to the public from October 16 to October 20. “Inspired by collaborations across the spectrum of filmmaking, art, and fashion, the project showcases countless narratives and storytelling that explore continually evolving ideas of femininity,” the company stated.
The third edition of the fair, previously known as Paris+ par Art Basel, will feature 195 galleries at the Grand Palais from October 18–20. The event has expanded to five new locations, including the Domaine National du Palais-Royal and the Petit Palais. Nine galleries will focus specifically on classical works created before 1900, in the fair’s new Premise sector, while 31 booths will present works exploring themes such as love, eroticism, surrealism, and queer art. A wonderful retrospective collection of key works by surrealist Leonor Fini is already on display at the Minsky Gallery. The Palais de Tokyo will dedicate an exhibition titled Quand un noeud est délié, un dieu est libéré to the latest works of Barbara Chase-Riboud, an 84-year-old American sculptor, poet, and novelist, on view until January 5, 2025. The exhibition also addresses African civil rights struggles. Until January 5, the exhibition The Borders Are Nocturnal Creatures will also be on display, featuring artists from Lithuania and other post-socialist countries. This exhibition, situated between poetry and geopolitics, explores the forgotten histories of Eastern Europe in light of current upheavals such as the war in Ukraine. It is a reflection on borders, resilience, and the future, and is part of the Lithuanian season in France.
Clément Delépine, Director of Art Basel Paris, stated that the partnership with Miu Miu “marks an important milestone in the fair’s history, highlighting Art Basel Paris’ role as a platform that bridges and fosters fruitful exchanges between creative industries.”