Art-o-rama 2025 : Interview with Suzanne Tarasiève Gallery, Paris

25 juillet 2025

Boris Mikhaïlov From the series Tea, Coffee, Cappuccino, 2000-2010 tirage chromogène Courtesy de l’artiste et de la Galerie Suzanne Tarasieve, Paris

The 19th Edition of art-o-rama brings Together 65 Galleries from 14 Countries and expands Its reach across the City and the Southern Region. This year, Suzanne Tarasiève Gallery, represented by Alice Vagany, Julien Bouharis, Lucas Marseille, Veovansy Veopraseut, and now joined by Jeanne Guillaume, returns to the fair in collaboration with Paris-based gallery Fahmy Malinovsky. Following a previous joint project centered on artist Darius Dolatyari-Dolatdoust, the two galleries now present a compelling dialogue between Ukrainian artist Boris Mikhaïlov and Colombian artist Carlota Sandoval Lizarralde. Despite belonging to different generations and geopolitical contexts, both artists explore shared themes around voluntary migration. The gallery team also reflects on recent exhibitions by Thomas Buswell and Eugène Leroy (in the project room) set to mark the beginning of the new season. Meanwhile, the Paris-based show Les rois morts, still on view, delves into the narratives and imaginaries surrounding nomadic communities. Featuring works by Romuald Jandolo, Charly Bechaimont and Rudy Dumas, the exhibition seeks to challenge and deconstruct longstanding stereotypes.

Finally, the gallery responds to the latest concerning report by the Comité Professionnel des Galeries d’Art, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between emerging talents and more established, historical figures.

Marie de la Fresnaye. Suzanne Tarasiève Gallery partners with Fahmy Malinovsky for Its second Participation at Art-o-rama: How did this collaboration come about ?

Jeanne Guillaume : The idea for this project with Fahmy Malinovsky Gallery emerged last year, when both of our galleries were simultaneously showcasing the work of artist Darius Dolatyari-Dolatdoust. During that time, we co-organized several joint events—guided tours across both venues, a literary talk—which sparked a strong desire to keep the conversation going. As we continued our dialogue, Ludmilla and Alicia, the directors of Fahmy Malinovsky, proposed the idea of a joint booth for Art-o-rama. From the outset, they envisioned presenting the work of Carlota Sandoval Lizarralde, whom they had shown at their gallery in the fall of 2024.

On my end, I wanted to bring in an artist from a different generation, not just to establish a conversation between practices, but also an intergenerational dialogue. I quickly thought of Boris Mikhailov, an artist I have long admired and am thrilled to be working with.

Together, we built this booth around themes that resonate across both artists’ work: the central role of their countries of origin : Ukraine and Colombia and their use of visual strategies (such as shock aesthetics or playfulness) to examine the impact of Western capitalism and globalization on communities and places. For both Mikhailov and Sandoval Lizarralde, references to their native countries do not serve nationalist or protectionist narratives. On the contrary, they point to the ever-evolving, elusive, and fragile nature of identity in a globalized world.

Carlota Sandoval Lizarralde Courtesy de l’artiste, Galerie Fahmy Malinovsky

MdF. Two artists from different generations and national backgrounds, Boris Mikhailov and Carlota Sandoval Lizarralde, are brought into dialogue. What unites and distinguishes them around the shared theme of voluntary migration ?

JG. What brings Boris Mikhailov and Carlota Sandoval Lizarralde together around the notion of voluntary migration is the deep, ongoing connection they each maintain with their country of origin. Throughout his career, Boris Mikhailov has documented the upheavals in Ukraine—most notably in the Tea Coffee Cappuccino series, which we are presenting at the fair. This body of work captures over a decade the effects of the Soviet Union’s collapse, particularly focusing on the arrival of American consumer goods in Ukraine’s markets.

Carlota Sandoval Lizarralde, on the other hand, evokes in her work the memory of a Colombia she left behind, its shapes, landscapes, and lush natural environments reemerge through drawings rich in saturated, vivid color. Both artists portray cultural identities that resist fixed definitions : hybrid, in flux, and constantly evolving.

What sets them apart, however, is primarily their visual language. While Sandoval Lizarralde works with vibrant colors and abstract, organic forms, Mikhailov adopts a raw, unfiltered aesthetic. There is also a significant generational gap : Mikhailov bears witness to the early wave of Western consumerism, the rise of mass advertising, and the gradual Americanization of everyday life. Sandoval, by contrast, was born into an already-globalized world, in a country where U.S. cultural influence was already deeply embedded.

It was precisely these contrasts, and their subtle points of convergence, that we wanted to explore and amplify in crafting the concept for our joint booth at Art-o-rama.

MdF. How do you perceive the energy of the Marseille art scene?

Lucas Marseille:
It’s always a pleasure to come to Marseille, especially during Art-o-rama. There’s a warm and relaxed atmosphere that really encourages meaningful conversations. The city’s art scene feels incredibly vibrant, driven by a younger generation and numerous independent initiatives that shine a light on artists—especially those from the region. Local institutions and art centers also play a strong role, and the exchanges we have with them during the fair are always enriching.

Exhibition view « Les rois morts », Courtesy des artistes et de la Galerie Suzanne Tarasieve, Paris photo © Rebecca Fanuele

MdF. What are you preparing for the upcoming fall season?

LM. This September promises to be especially rich and intense! We’ll kick things off in Lyon with our first participation in Manifesta. It’s a great opportunity for us to present the work of several of our artists, reconnect with our Lyon-based collectors, and engage with new audiences.

Then, on September 13th, we’ll open Thomas Buswell’s first solo show at the gallery. It’s a major moment for us, as Thomas is the first artist to join the gallery since Suzanne’s departure. This exhibition is therefore particularly meaningful and significant.

At the same time, in our Project Room, we’ll present a selection of works by Eugène Leroy. We had already shown his work last year during our exhibition on German neo-expressionism, but this new presentation will offer a deeper look into his practice for our gallery audience.

MdF. The recent report from the CPGA (Comité Professionnel des Galeries d’Art) highlights the growing pressures on the French gallery ecosystem in the face of market-driven dynamics. How do you respond to this, and what solutions do you think should be considered?

LM. The CPGA report is indeed unsettling. It reflects a reality that many of us experience on a daily basis. What’s at stake isn’t just the survival of economic structures, but also spaces for reflection, experimentation, and dialogue between artists, artworks, and the public.

That said, especially since Suzanne’s departure, we’ve been very intentional about focusing on the gallery’s identity and its longstanding audience. What matters most to us is maintaining a balance : taking risks by supporting an emerging art scene while also continuing to champion Suzanne’s program, which includes artists whose established reputations provide crucial economic stability.

I believe that mutual understanding, and more than that, solidarity, among fellow galleries is essential. At the same time, it’s important not to spread ourselves too thin. Our gallery must remain a place for mediation and long-term thinking.

Connected article : my interview with Jérôme Pantalacci, art -o-rama director (link)

Practical Infos :

art-o-rama 2025

Hours

Friday, August 29, 2025

11am – 5pm: VIP Preview for VIP Cardholders

5pm – 8pm: Opening via invitation

Saturday, August 30, 2025

2pm – 8pm

Sunday, August 31st, 2025

2pm – 8pm

Tickets