Travel has long been a valuable tool for the research undertaken by Art Advisory Services. To cover the European art scene, it is essential to meet with gallerists, curators and artists wherever they are based. With this in mind, Thea and Ethan spent time in Paris and Oslo before joining Suzanne and Ashley at the Venice Biennale.

Paris is no longer the center of the art world, yet the high concentration of first class museums ensures its status as an important destination for art. At the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris there was a beautifully installed survey exhibition of work by Danh Vo. Displaying pieces from all bodies of Vo’s work, the exhibition reiterated his status as an artist of great importance. The Centre Pompidou had brilliant exhibitions of the works from French abstract painter Simon Hantaï and American artist Mike Kelley. These historically important artists were given the careful consideration they deserve and it was especially illuminating to have the opportunity to see such an expansive and complete exhibition of the French artist’s formidable work. Visiting the Paris commercial galleries with close friends and colleagues, including Clement Dirier and Michele Barré, highlights included a group exhibition at Galerie Chantal Crousel , sculptures by Italian Arte Povera artist Giuseppe Penone at Marian Goodman and a wonderful small group show at Campoli Presti, a gallery that seldom disappoints.

In the past decade, a number of Scandinavian artists have emerged as leading voices in contemporary art. Many of these artists live and work in Oslo. During a brief two-day visit to the city, Thea and Ethan met with key protagonists in the Norwegian scene. A dinner organized by eminent dealer Eivind Furnesvik of Standard (Oslo) provided the wonderful opportunity to hear from artist and learn of their future plans. Matias Faldbakken talked about his upcoming exhibition at Le Consortium in Dijon, and dinner was accompanied by lively conversations with young artists including Fredrik Vaerslev and Torbjørn Rødland. Exhibitions of interest in Oslo included Antoine Catala at the non-profit space UKS Oslo and a new exhibition at the recently opened Astrup Fearnley Museum. More time with Eivind Furnesvik allowed for a truly in depth look at the dealer’s wonderful program which includes exciting new work by New York based artist Josh Smith.

The Venice Biennale has an impressively international focus and the proliferation of national pavilions, in combination with Massimiliano Gioni’s “The Encyclopedic Palace,” was ample reminder of the expansive nature of contemporary art today. Standouts from the national pavilions included Jeremy Deller’s work at the British Pavilion, Anri Sala curated by Christine Macel for the French nation who were occupying the German Pavilion, an off-site project featuring the dancer Maria Hassabi curated by Raimundas Malasauskas for the Cyprus Pavilion, and works by Hito Steyerl, Rossella Biscotti, Camille Henrot, Melvin Moti, Danh Vo, Helen Marten, Ed Atkins, and Mark Leckey in the Arsenale. Opening alongside were two major exhibitions from the François Pinault Foundation. Rudolf Stingel occupied the Palazzo Grassi with wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling carpets, along with a presentation of paintings from a time period spanning two decades. At the Punta della Dogana was a group exhibition that included works by many of the most important living artists today, including Bruce Nauman, David Hammons, Theaster Gates, and Philippe Parreno.