Sonia Borrell and Galerie Zberro Present "La Vie Est Belle": A Celebration of Ultra-Contemporary Art in Paris
October 15 marks the opening of a vibrant new exhibition in the heart of Paris's 8th Arrondissement. Renowned art curator Sonia Borrell (known as @soniabblondon) and gallerist Géraldine Zberro from Galerie Zberro are set to unveil La Vie Est Belle, a 25-artist group exhibition that spotlights the forefront of the ultra-contemporary art movement. The premiere will take place on October 15, 2024, at 5 p.m., 25 Rue Jean Mermoz, Paris, France, during Paris Art Week. The event will span three weeks, running from October 15th to November 5th.
October 15 marks the opening of a vibrant new exhibition in the heart of Paris's 8th Arrondissement. Renowned art curator Sonia Borrell (known as @soniabblondon) and gallerist Géraldine Zberro from Galerie Zberro are set to unveil La Vie Est Belle, a 25-artist group exhibition that spotlights the forefront of the ultra-contemporary art movement. The premiere will take place on October 15, 2024, at 5 p.m., 25 Rue Jean Mermoz, Paris, France, during Paris Art Week. The event will span three weeks, running from October 15th to November 5th.
As a tastemaker with a 16-year career dedicated to collecting works from living artists, and a dynamic social media presence, Sonia Borrell has become a significant figure in the contemporary art scene. Known for her keen eye for emerging talent and evolving artistic expressions, she views art as an essential part of life that enhances its beauty—an inspiration reflected in the exhibition's title, La Vie Est Belle (Life is Beautiful). The diverse lineup of artists includes Annabel Faustin, Adam Handler, August Vilella, Aico Tsumori, Akitoshi Akamatsu, Camilla Engström, Felix Treadwell, Fandi, Imon Boy, Marria Pratts, Ryo Laksamana (RYOL), Socko, Sol Felpeto, Sol Summers, Tania Marmolejo, Yuri Rodekin, Alexander Guy, Suanjaya Kencut, Young Lee, Taro Yamada, Kristin Moore, Jordan Tran aka Jordan Tran aka KEAN, Pedro Hoz & Johanna Tordjman.
This eclectic mix promises a rich tapestry of styles and perspectives. Both Sonia Borrell and Galerie Zberro plan to unveil additional surprises on Instagram as the opening approaches. On October 15th, 16th, and 17th, there will be a variety of exclusive live paintings for the attending VIPs held from a secret location, and featuring artists Yuri Rodekin, Sol Felpeto, and Tania Marmolejo, respectively. These live paintings will be live streamed at Untitled-gallery.com and on prominent Instagram accounts with millions of followers, but the specifics are currently undisclosed. The paintings will be sold at the end by Hector Vidal, owner of Untitled Gallery. Untitled Gallery, provides a platform for artists and galleries to connect with collectors in a new exclusive way via immersive experiences like live paintings, immersive exhibitions, and fantastic artists-collectors dinners with Michelin star chefs.
The collaboration is further enhanced by the involvement of Carl Kostyál, a prominent gallerist known for bringing international attention to emerging artists since 2010. His network complements the roster of artists curated by Sonia Borrell and Galerie Zberro, promising an impactful experience. Géraldine Zberro, founder of Galerie Zberro, has been in the Parisian art world for over two decades. Located near the Champs-Élysées, her gallery has been instrumental in elevating the careers of numerous international artists. The partnership between Sonia Borrell and Galerie Zberro is rooted in mutual respect and a shared vision. Both are celebrated for their pioneering roles as women in the art industry, navigating and shaping its evolution with finesse and determination.
Adding to the excitement, the event will premiere Sonia Borrell's first published book, Art in Real-Time: Collecting Tomorrow’s Masters. The book is a part-guide, part-memoir aimed towards young collectors and artists to learn how to develop their taste, get involved in collecting, and navigate the industry. It embodies Sonia Borrell’s philosophy of art collecting— viewing art as a way of living and believing that these young artists are, and will be, as impactful as those before them.
The book features numerous contributions from various movers and shakers in the art industry. This includes the CEO of ARTCOLLECTORS inc., Jonathan D. Fakinos, who in Chapter 11 lends his expertise on the importance of fostering relationships and building trust in the art world. In its first week of release, Sonia is celebrating for women everywhere, with Art in Real-Time reaching #1 in the Women in Art and Business of Art book category in Amazon U.S. and Spain.
Art in Real-Time: Collecting Tomorrow’s Masters is a must-read for anyone interested in curating their own ultra-contemporary or future-oriented art collection. If you’re in Paris on the 15th to the 17th of October, buy a copy to get it signed by the author.
If you’d like one now, it’s out on Amazon worldwide. Click here to check it out: Amazon link to the book.
The Athens Biennale has announced a major restructuring of its governance alongside the appointment of Thiago de Paula Souza as curator of its 8th edition in 2027. The new model introduces a formalised structure of trustees, advisors, and curatorial leadership, consolidating the Biennale within a tightly interlinked network of cultural patrons, collectors, and institutional stakeholders. While presented as an “evolving ecosystem,” the shift reflects a broader transformation in contemporary art governance, where cultural legitimacy is increasingly shaped through structures aligned with private capital and strategic institutional management. Against this backdrop, de Paula Souza’s curatorial practice—rooted in institutional critique and transnational experimentation—introduces a productive tension between radical discourse and formalised cultural power.
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