For Its Second Edition, Paris’s Offscreen Art Fair Returns at an Unexpected Venue—an Empty Brutalist Parking Garage

The second edition of the Paris art fair Offscreen is slated to return this month from October 18 to 22, 2023, in an unexpected venue: a former garage. The monumental Grand Garage Haussmann in Paris’s 8th arrondissement features an iconic Art Deco façade, emblematic of the city, and an expansive Brutalist interior replete with frosted glass windows.

Offscreen has emerged as a must-see art world event, creating a cross-disciplinary visitor experience by juxtaposing everything from multi-media installations and digital works to sculpture and photography. Coinciding with Paris Art Week, the featured presentations, which will be largely monographic, will be staged by a select group of both French and international galleries that together create a seamless and immersive art experience for visitors.

Following the inaugural edition that was held at the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild, and celebrated British artist Anthony McCall, for the 2023 iteration special guest Rosa Barba will be highlighted. An Italian artist and filmmaker based in Berlin, Rosa will have an entire level of the Grand Garage Haussmann dedicated to her work (2021). The monumental-in-scope piece includes a film made underwater off the coast of Cyprus at the Mazotos shipwreck, as well as the recreation of an outdoor installation where the artist first screened the film between Cyprus and Turkish-controlled territories.

Other highlighted artists to be featured at Offscreen include Columbian artist Leyla Cardenas, presented by Galerie DIX9 Hélène Lacharmoise, whose featured works result in a dialogue between her textiles practice and video. Shown by Galerie Rolf Art, Argentinian artist Graciela Sacco will show a unique portfolio from his “Bocanada interference” series, in addition to an installation from his “Sombras del Sur y de Norte” series from 2022. Emmanuel Van der Auwera, who hails from Belgium and is shown by Harlan Levy Projects, will stage his installation “VidéoSculpture XX” (The World’s 6^th Sense) (2019), which employs thermal imaging and modes of surveillance.

In addition to other exhibiting galleries and featured artists, Offscreen promises to continue its mission of creating a one-of-a-kind fair presentation, centered on boundary-pushing art and an immersive experience.