Now in its tenth year, the event drew collectors and gallery owners globally and included a dedicated yachting section
by Giovanni Gasparini* – photo by © Nicolas Brasseur
As one would expect, the tenth edition of Art Monte-Carlo was a feast for the eyes.
Organised at the Grimaldi Forum by Informa, an international group specialising in luxury events such as the Monaco Boat Service, the fair attracted art lovers and collectors from around the world, who this year were also able to admire floating ‘works of art’. Led by the dynamic Lia Riva, daughter of the unforgettable Carlo and now head of Monaco Boat Service, they had the privilege of visiting the famous Riva tunnel. Built in the early 1960s as a shelter for the famous motorboats during the cold season, the “caveau” remains a destination for anyone wishing to see the legendary Ariston, Aquarama, Tritone and Florida up close…
// Launched in 2016, Art Monte-Carlo has established itself as a premier art event on the French Riviera, catering to the needs
of the region’s many collectors and art enthusiasts. //
Art Monte-Carlo has also brought on board another leading name in yachting, Sanlorenzo. The shipyard, led by Massimo Perotti, hosted the presentation of the One World photography project at its Monegasque headquarters. The project, curated by philanthropist Armelle Martignoni Caumont Caimi, is a powerful book with a foreword by Steve McCurry that captures in images the dignity of women, men and children living in distant and, more often than not, difficult lands beset by conflict and economic crises.
The tenth edition of Art Monte-Carlo hosted twenty-six leading international galleries specialising in modern and contemporary art, set within an elegant venue featuring a meticulously designed exhibition layout.
A total of 26 galleries took part in the 2026 edition, and the Grimaldi Forum was transformed into a truly exclusive gathering: among royalty, museum directors, wealthy entrepreneurs, bankers and business advisers, design giant Ron Arad and internationally renowned photographer Juergen Teller were also in attendance.
“Earthly Delights”, a group exhibition curated by Stefano Rabolli Pansera, formed the centrepiece of a new section at Art Monte-Carlo and featured works by Alvaro Barrington (Emalin), Francis Alÿs (Jan Mot), Leonora Carrington (rossogranada), Marcel Dzama (David Zwirner), Hans Josephsohn (Kesselhaus Josephsohn/Galerie Felix Lehner), Martin Kippenberger (Galerie Layr), Ed Ruscha (Studio Bruno Tonini), and Giovanni Stanchi and Stefania Tejada (Maison d’Art).
// Under the patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco,
the event also featured Riva and Sanlorenzo, both true champions
of the yachting world. //
The exhibition spanned a wide range of styles, periods and cultures. The Parisian Mitterrand Gallery, for example, showcased the intriguing surrealist works of the Lalanne couple, alongside pieces by Lucio Fontana – including the unmissable slashed red canvas – Mimmo Rotella, Josef Albers and Yves Klein. The A&R Fleury gallery focused on the post-war period, exhibiting the abstract paintings of Hans Hartung and the vibrancy of Sam Francis, set against the austerity of Soulages’s black. Italy was also well represented, with galleries including Barovier & Toso, Cortesi, Accademica, Barbara Paci, Secci and Continua.
Opening image Arnaldo Pomodoro, Piramide, 2002.
(Art Monte-Carlo – Monaco, the cultural hub – Barchemagazine.com – Excerpted from Barche, July 2026)
