Entrée to Black Paris Blog

Thursday, January 13th, 2022

Two New Art Galleries in the 8th Arrondissement

Cover image: Ferrari Sheppard's From Moth to Flame (detail)
© Entrée to Black Paris

Avenue Matignon in Paris' 8th arrondissement recently welcomed two hot new spaces into its repertoire of fine art galleries. Both are champions of contemporary artists of color.

Through her Paris and Chicago locations, Mariane Ibrahim is dedicated to cultivating strong connections between art scenes in the U.S. and Europe. The French-Somali gallery owner launched her 400-square-meter Paris facility in September 2021 with a group show (15 artists) inspired by Josephine Baker's iconic song, "J'ai deux amours, mon pays et Paris." In the exhibition catalog, Ibrahim explains that this tune echoes her vision for representing artists from multiple countries and cultures.

Mariane Ibrahim gallery - façade
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The gallery is now exhibiting the work of Carmen Neely and Ferrari Sheppard in a show called Where to Begin.... Both artists have contributed large scale abstract works and consequently, the show is comprised of relatively few pieces.

Carmen Neely is an African-American woman based in Chicago, IL. Her Abstract Expressionist works are displayed in the exhibition room at the rear of the ground floor.

Mariane Ibrahim gallery - Carmen Neely works
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Ferrari Sheppard is an African-American man based in Los Angeles, CA. The gallery describes his work as "celebrating the humanity of Black people in the Americas and within the diaspora." His One Way Ticket greets visitors at the door, while the rest of his works are displayed on the first floor.

Mariane Ibrahim gallery - One Way Ticket by Ferrari Sheppard
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Paris Premier (left) and From Moth to Flame (right) by Ferrari Sheppard
© Entrée to Black Paris

Where to Begin... is on display through January 15, 2022.

Mariane Ibrahim Gallery
18, avenue Matignon
75008 Paris
Telephone: 01.81.72.24.60
Metro: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Lines 1 and 9); Miromésnil (Lines 9 and 13)
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11 AM - 6 PM

Cécile Fakhoury opened her gallery at 29, avenue Matignon in October 2021. Here, and at sites in Abidjan, Ivory Coast (opened in 2012) and Dakar, Senegal (opened in 2018), she showcases the work of contemporary African artists.

Cécile Fakhoury gallery - façade
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Fakhoury's current exhibition, entitled Guiss Guiss (The Vision), features the work of Senegalese artist Kassou Seydou.

Seydou lives and works in Keur Massar, Senegal. His allegorical works are instantly recognizable due to the delicate lace-like marks that virtually cover his canvases.

Eight paintings, three of which are diptychs, are displayed on the gallery's two floors.

Though the information in the window indicates that Guiss Guiss was to have ended on January 8, the Website shows the final day of the show is January 29, 2022.

Cécile Fakhoury
29, avenue Matignon
75008 Paris
Telephone: 06.62.42.74.54
Metro: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Lines 1 and 9); Miromésnil (Lines 9 and 13)
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11 AM - 6 PM