PARIS.- Hauser & Wirth today announced plans to open a new gallery in Paris, situated on the right bank of the River Seine close to the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement. Occupying an entire hôtel particulier dating from 1877, the gallery at 26 bis rue François 1er will cover 800 square metres over four floors. The neo-classical building formerly housed La Maison Decour, a decorative arts gallery, until the 1940s. The conversion of the space will reinstate the double-height, six-metre-tall ground floor gallery with a further exhibition space on the first floor. As in Hauser & Wirth’s existing locations, the gallery will establish meaningful partnerships to create an inclusive learning programme as an integral part of the programme in Paris.
Hauser & Wirth continues a longstanding commitment to supporting the cultural and architectural heritage of the communities where it is present. Hauser & Wirth’s new Parisian space will be designed by Paris-based architect Luis Laplace, a principal of Laplace, who has worked closely with the gallery since 2013 on several projects that have sensitively restored architecturally significant buildings. Collaborations between Hauser & Wirth and Laplace include the current creation of a new London flagship gallery in the former Thomas Goode building in Mayfair, the creation of an art centre on Isla del Rey in Menorca from disused former naval buildings and the conversion of a listed 18th-century farmstead into Hauser & Wirth Somerset that opened in 2014.
Iwan Wirth, President, Hauser & Wirth says: ‘We have made no secret that we have been looking for the perfect home for Hauser & Wirth in Paris for some years and I’m delighted that the search is now over. We have a deep respect for the incredible cultural community in Paris. The city’s importance for artists is undisputed over the centuries and we look forward to adding to this rich history. Our love for Paris extends beyond the gallery’s 30 years and matches that of our artists, many of whom have already been embraced by the Parisian art community, institutions and collectors who are very supportive of our programme. In this respect, the city is a natural fit for the gallery and we can’t wait to present the first exhibitions in our beautiful new space.’
Hauser & Wirth was founded in 1992 in Zurich by Iwan Wirth, Manuela Wirth and Ursula Hauser, who were joined in 2000 by partner and co-president Marc Payot. A family business with a global outlook, the gallery’s artists and estates have been instrumental in shaping its identity over three decades and are the inspiration for Hauser & Wirth’s diverse range of activities that engage with art, education, conservation and sustainability. Hauser & Wirth is committed to inclusive learning programmes that create a dialogue between art, artists and diverse audiences. Ongoing global projects are centred on three core pillars to engage with communities; enrich academic courses; and foster better access to art careers through a series of meaningful partnerships.
