New design festival Contributions is Paris Art Week’s alternative to blue chip fairs

It’s getting harder and harder for up-and-comers to break into the gallery scene. Contributions (on view until 22 October 2023) is a new initiative providing fresh exposure to talents who, until now, haven’t had the chance to showcase their work in Paris (or anywhere for that matter).

Industry expert Anna Caradeuc – an established publicist working with choice designers and platforms in both the French capital and New York – developed this new format project with consultancy Bilung. Together, they planned a series of site-specific showcases and installations mounted in select venues throughout town.

Running concurrent to heavyweight Paris Art Week fairs like Art Basel/ Paris Now and Design Miami/ Paris, the new tightly-curated festival champions artists and designers—working primarily in collectible and limited edition sectors—who align in their appreciation for idiosyncrasy, DIY experimentation, collaboration, and autonomous practice.
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Highlights from Contributions’ debut

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Georgian textile artist Mariana Chkonia is showcasing with local gallery Sinople for the first time. The platform also pulled rare pieces from its roster of emerging designers. Everything was staged in an untouched, century-old artist atelier.