Rémi Lécussan, Exhibition view «ANT/BUG», Glassbox Sud, Montpellier, 2023. © Nassimo Berthommé, Prix Région Sud Art-o-rama 2025
The 19th edition of Art-o-rama brings together 65 exhibitors from 14 countries.
This year, 30% of the participants in the « Galleries » section are French, while the « Publishing » section features 60% French publishers. The « Design » section stands out with a lineup that is entirely Marseille-based.
A special tribute is paid to pioneering gallerist Roger Pailhas, founder of ART DEALERS.
Director Jérôme Pantalacci reflects on the fair’s prizes, its support for emerging talent, and key highlights, as an extensive satellite program echoes and enriches the main event.
Art Dealers 2005, vue du montage, Jan Hoet Junior, galerie Hoet Bekaert, Gand
A special tribute is being paid this year to Roger Pailhas, not only through a dedicated prize, but also through a revival of his original vision by several galleries. What inspired them?
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Roger Pailhas’s passing, and I remain deeply attached to his legacy. I spoke with Gabrielle Bryers, who moved to Marseille a few years ago after many years in New York, where she ran a gallery and later worked as an art advisor. Gabrielle was close to Roger and collaborated with him for a long time.
With the support of his family, we felt it would be a meaningful tribute to bring together some of the galleries that participated in Art Dealers, the fair Roger founded. Each year, it brought together eight international galleries within his 1,000-square-meter space on Marseille’s Vieux-Port.
Gabrielle reached out to eight of those galleries, each of which will present a single work on a dedicated Art Dealersstand. We are grateful to Air de Paris, Art : Concept, Catherine Bastide, Esther Schipper, Galleria Continua, Les Filles du Calvaire, Loevenbruck, and Mennour for immediately agreeing to take part in this homage.
Art-o-rama is committed to supporting emerging talent through several awards—among them, the Région Sud prizes. Can you remind us of what’s at stake?
A range of prizes have been designed to support galleries—some through acquisition funds, others, like the Roger Pailhas Prize, by reimbursing stand fees for the most daring project.
The Région Sud Prizes in art and design aim specifically to support and guide young artists and designers who are either trained in the region or currently based here. These awards provide them with the opportunity to present their work in a professional and international context, helping boost their visibility and expand their networks.
While many opportunities exist in the Paris region, access remains limited elsewhere in France. That’s why this kind of support is so vital—especially now, as Marseille is becoming a growing hub for young artists and designers. There’s a real need to structure our efforts to ensure they have the means to stay and thrive here.
Art-o-rama 2024 © Margot Montigny
What other highlights are planned in terms of programming ?
Alongside the main fair and exhibitors’ projects, a rich program of talks and film screenings is planned in collaboration with several partners committed to supporting artists.
Mécènes du Sud and the Pernod Ricard Foundation are joining forces to spotlight the work of Pauline Ghersi. FRAC Sud will present a project by Éléonore False, and we’ll also take a closer look at the AfAlula residency program, featuring artists Hugo Schiavi, Sara Favriau, and Abdesamad El Montassir.
Several prize announcements will take place over the three days, and numerous visits are scheduled with cultural partners across Marseille and the surrounding region.
Have there been any changes among your partners this year ?
There haven’t been any major changes on that front. Our public partners remain fully committed, and the Art-o-rama Patrons’ Circle, led by Danièle Fournier-Sicre, continues to bring together local businesses that support the fair. The year-round relationships we build with them reflect a growing interest from the business community in backing cultural initiatives.
Our cultural partners across the South of France are also staying involved—and their number is slowly growing. This year, for instance, we’re pleased to include the Hartung-Bergman Foundation and the Dragon Hill project, which will be part of our program of visits.
Has the fair been affected by the current climate of global instability ?
The entire art market is feeling the impact, and it’s clear that galleries are approaching things with greater caution. However, for us, the effect has been relatively limited. From the outset, we’ve prioritized artistic vision and artist support over overly commercial proposals. We actively encourage our exhibitors to embrace bold curatorial choices.
To ease financial pressure, we maintain a deliberately low pricing policy, allowing exhibitors to focus on developing ambitious artistic projects. We also benefit from the continued support of a loyal network of collectors and institutions.
As a result, the price range of works shown at Art-o-rama remains accessible—without compromising on quality. Many artists have been discovered by visitors through the fair. Our focus on artistic integrity and discovery likely makes us more resilient in the face of market volatility.
List of participating galleries :
https://art-o-rama.fr/fr/type/galerie
Practical Infos :
Art-o-rama 2025
August, 29 – 31
La Tour 3ème étage, La Cartonnerie, le Petit Plateau
Friche La Belle de Mai
