ST-ART 2024: Elevating the Regional Art Scene in Strasbourg

Pauline Loeb in Kraemer Gallery’s booth at ST-ART Strasbourg 2024. Outfit by Tara Jarmon © artfairmag

Last year, I visited ST-ART Strasbourg for the first time, known to be the best regional art fair in France. I was pleasantly surprised by the hidden gems I found there, and clearly, I’m not the only one who appreciated it, given the 13,600 visitors in 2023, among whom was Kamel Mennour, scouting the talents of tomorrow! So, with great enthusiasm, I hopped on an early train on November 28 to attend the press preview of this 28th edition, held at the Exhibition Park.

Finally, the fair gave prominence to Strasbourg galleries, providing good visibility to local players. Among them, Kraemer Gallery had a particularly appealing booth. In this very large space, several works really stood out to me, including a humorous sculpture by Combas titled ‘Self-portrait with four legs plus feet’, but it was a large canvas by Philippe Pasquat, a large portrait of ‘Constance’ measuring 200 x 250 cm, that impacted me the most. This oil on canvas depicts a young girl in a loose tank top and panties, in a nonchalant pose. The look she gives the viewer is detached, and the large size of the painting imparts an air of superiority. The character exudes a great sensuality, almost unintentional. The painting was priced at €39,000.

Just a few meters away, in Mhaata Gallery’s booth, the scene shifted dramatically with the works of Roman Minin, one of the most popular and brilliant artists in Ukraine. Roman Minin’s work is rich in color and often outlined in black. Each of his compositions is complex, featuring today’s actors: workers, laborers… A choice of protagonists that can be explained by his background, as the artist comes from a family of miners. Roman’s work echoes stained glass, both in its colors and style. The booth displayed works created by him alone, but also others in collaboration with Bernard Tirtiaux, a Belgian master glassmaker who is also a theater actor. On one of the external walls, a large tufted wool tapestry, ‘Heart Explosion’, was another of my favorites.

Mhaata’s booth featuring Roman Minin & Bernard Tirtiaux at ST-ART Strasbourg 2024 © artfairmag

But one of the main attractions of ST-ART is its commitment to young talents. “ST-ART has always been a place of discovery,” emphasizes Christophe Caillaud-Joos. “Our ambition is to contribute to the art market by identifying the artists who will shape the future artistic scene. To this end, we work closely with art schools, encouraging students, even after graduation, to present their works, thereby reflecting the vitality of creation in our region.” This year, the fair launched the “Prix de la Jeune Création Européenne” (European Young Creation Award), valuing artists under 35 who are working, residing, or have studied in Europe, and rewarding one artist and their gallery. It was French artist Karine N’Guyen Van Tham, represented by the Espace Constantin Chariot Gallery in Brussels, who won the coveted prize, receiving a glass trophy made by Meisenthal, a €2,000 prize, and a dedicated exhibition space for a solo show at the 2025 edition of ST-ART.

Another award presented at the fair, also in partnership with the Société des Amis des Arts et des Musées de Strasbourg (SAAMS), was the Théophile Schuler Prize, awarded this year to Yoshikazu Goulven Le Maître, who displayed a fabulous bestiary made from recycled materials—primarily textiles. In addition to a fox lying on a step ladder and a stork (a humorous nod to Alsace) sitting down, it was the imposing donkey skin—a clear reference to Jacques Demy’s film—that drew all the curiosity.

Yoshikazu Goulven Le Maître featured in the booth of the Société des Amis des Arts et des Musées de Strasbourg (SAAMS) at ST-ART Strasbourg 2024.

Art Dealers Interviews

Various works were featured for interviews—photography, painting, sculpture—with gender parity among the dealers. At the Guy Pieters Gallery, Tom Raemdonck introduced me to the incredible tête-à-tête chair by Niki de Saint Phalle that I mentioned earlier. I must admit, I was thrilled to be able to sit comfortably on it! At Kraemer Gallery, Marie-Pascale Engelmann discussed the amazing canvas by Philippe Pasquat that I also mentioned earlier. At the Spanish gallery Pigment, its founder Ferran Josa enlightened me about the incredibly precise and poetic work of Diego Benéitez. Finally, at the Jardin d’Hiver Gallery, the director Elodie Rebuffe presented photos by MALO, featuring the invisible man in life scenes inspired by the 1950s in the USA.

How Much Does It Cost?

My visit to this 28th edition confirmed my memories from 2023: ST-ART is a very good regional fair. Of course, I was not drawn to every proposal or every booth. But I saw many wonders there, both modern and contemporary, that absolutely justify the trip. I think it’s a must-attend event for French and German collectors—both seasoned and first-time buyers.