Papier 2022: a summer edition that sparked excitement!

The fair, which took place from August 25 to 28 at the Grand Quay in Montreal's Old Port, wrapped up under the sun.

The Contemporary Art Galleries Association (AGAC) is very pleased with the enthusiasm that this 15th edition of the event has generated. The elegance of the Grand Quay and the summer vibe of an August edition charmed visitors, who were able to enjoy an airier layout and a huge terrace offering a spectacular view of the city and the St-Lawrence river.

Although these new summer dates were appreciated, they presented a challenge for the organizer who had to deal with new timeframes imposed by the pandemic. In this context, AGAC is very proud to have welcomed more than 8,000 visitors, who were able to discover, admire and acquire the works presented by 39 Canadian galleries.

In addition to these numbers, 20,000 unique visitors experienced the virtual fair on papiermontreal.com from August 19 to 28, a figure that keeps growing as the virtual fair continues until September 11, 2022.

From left to right: Julie Lacroix, Director, AGAC; Karine Vanasse, spokesperson for the fair; Abdelilah Chiguer, Co-Chair of AGAC's Board of Directors, Co-owner and Co-director of Galerie 3 ; Sophie Ducharme, Vice President, Brand & Distinctive advice offer, National Bank Private Banking and Commercial Banking

Papier 2022 in numbers

8 000 visitors at the Grand Quay
$1.5 M in sales
39 Canadian galleries

20 000+ unique online visitors
over 400 artists
9 panels et 6 guided tours

AGAC is delighted to have surpassed $1.5 million in sales of artworks at the close of the fair last Sunday. Considering that the event was overlapping vacation season, the Association is proud to have reached an amount identical to the sales made in November 2021. For AGAC, these figures attest to the importance of Papier as a significant driving force in the Canadian contemporary art market.

Following trends observed since 2018, the Association notes that 75% of acquisitions were made by private collectors, while acquisitions made by corporations and museum institutions respectively accounted for 14% and 11% of sales.

A new chapter in 2023

AGAC is thrilled to announce that Papier will change its name in 2023 to better reflect the event's evolving focus in recent years.

"Originally, the fair was dedicated exclusively to art on paper, in order to present works at a lower price to attract a novice public," explains Dominique Toutant, co-chair of AGAC's board of directors and director of Blouin Division. Over time, the fair has grown in popularity and prices have risen... In addition, since 2019, the fair has opened up to all mediums; this has allowed galleries to showcase a wider range of artists and artistic practices. So we are going to reflect on a name that more accurately represents the fair as we know it today."

"Over the past 15 years, Papier has become increasingly well recognized and prestigious," says Julie Lacroix, AGAC's Director. Today, the fair is a fixture on the agenda of Canadian collectors, who come to discover new talent as well as works of museum caliber. While fostering this growth, AGAC is determined to keep its most important commitment: to present an accessible and inclusive event where art lovers from all walks of life are welcome to discover and admire the best of Canadian contemporary art."

The Association is very excited to continue with this dual approach of remaining accessible while positioning itself as a key player for major Canadian collections, whether they are private, corporate or museum collections. AGAC will unveil the new name of the fair in 2023.

Bradley Ertaskiran's booth at Papier 2022 I Photos: Jean-Michael Seminaro

The National Bank Collection on display

AGAC warmly thanks its presenting partner, National Bank Private Banking 1859. This partnership, which has been growing for more than a decade, has undoubtedly contributed to making Papier the major event that it has become today.

"National Bank Private Banking 1859 is proud to present the Papier Fair for the eleventh consecutive year. The event, which brings together art lovers and seasoned collectors alike, is an exceptional showcase for contemporary art. We are delighted to be associated with Papier to highlight the excellence of our artists and galleries," said Sophie Ducharme, Vice President, Brand & Distinctive advice offer, National Bank Private Banking and Commercial Banking.

The Espace Banque Nationale Gestion privée 1859. From left to right: Sorel Cohen, Veronika Pausova and Ian Wallace, National Bank Collection

As in previous years, visitors had the opportunity to discover and admire works from the National Bank Collection in the Espace Gestion privée 1859 located at the entrance to the fair. This was a unique opportunity to see works that are often unavailable to the general public. With over 7,500 original works, the National Bank Collection is one of the largest corporate collections in the country.

Panel discussions and guided tours for all

Presented by the Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Family Foundation, the educational program contributed to the dynamic nature of the fair by providing visitors with an opportunity to learn about several current topics in contemporary art. During the three days of the event, the public was in attendance at the 9 panel discussions and 6 guided tours that were part of the event.

It will be possible to view the recordings of the panels in a few weeks on the fair's website and on AGAC's YouTube channel.

1. A guided tour with Post-Invisibles x Papier, in Pangée's booth. Featured artists: Delphine Hennelly and Rose Nestler. 2. Conversation between artist Moridja Kitenge Banza and curator Mark Lanctôt.

The virtual fair online until September 11

The virtual fair and the artworks are available until September 11, 2022 at midnight on the papiermontreal.com website.

AGAC would like to remind the public that in order to discover the works online and experience the virtual fair, visitors must create an account. This is free and the account allows visitors to bookmark favorite artworks, as well as perform various searches using filters.

Access the artworks and the virtual fair

Save the date for spring 2023!

Like many events, Papier has had its agenda disrupted by the pandemic over the past two years. While AGAC and visitors are delighted with this summer edition, it is faced with the fact that the Grand Quay has now returned to its post-pandemic schedule as a cruise terminal from May to November. The Association is therefore pleased to announce that the fair will return to its usual time frame at the end of April in 2023.

Papier 2022 in the media

Papier is made possible thanks to the support of our precious partners. AGAC thanks them warmly!

About Papier 

Created by AGAC in 2007, Papier is the largest art fair in Québec. The event is a key driver for Canadian contemporary art, as well as a unique meeting ground for the greater public, enthusiasts and visual arts professionals alike.

Papier 2022 took place at the Grand Quay and online, giving visitors the opportunity to discover a wide range of contemporary art practices.

About AGAC

The Contemporary Art Galleries Association is a non-profit organization that actively contributes to the dissemination and promotion of Canadian artists through its different online platforms, projects and events. The Association's primary mandate is to further develop the recognition and prosperity of the contemporary art market in Canada. The Association also fosters the public's interest in visual arts and encourages the emergence of new contemporary art collectors.

Media requests

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Press Relations
maité@rugicomm.ca

Information

AGAC - Simone Rochon
Communications manager
simone@agac.ca