Galerie d’Art Contemporain

“A razor blade against glass,” I begin, a mischievous glint in my eye. “Can you imagine the audacity?” We stand before the Galerie d’Art Contemporain, but our minds travel back in time, to the Rue Burq. There, a young Marc Dachy, art historian and Dada enthusiast, carves a ‘W’ onto the window of Galerie W Landau, a precursor to our current location. This ‘W’, a tribute to Kurt Schwitters’ poem, becomes a symbol, a mark of rebellion and artistic freedom, carried through the gallery’s history. The Galerie d’Art Contemporain, while not directly descended from Galerie W Landau, shares that same spirit of innovation and challenge to the status quo. The Galerie W Landau, originally situated on the Rue Burq and later on the Rue Lepic within the “Baguette de Bois” framing shop, built its legacy on embracing contemporary art in all its forms. Eric Landau, the driving force behind Galerie W, carried with him the wisdom of his great-great uncle, “The Prince of Antique Dealers,” who taught him that even the most ancient treasures were once contemporary. This perspective shaped Landau’s vision, influencing his understanding of art and its evolution. He spent time with Nathalie de Noailles, soaking in the atmosphere of artistic display at the Ermitage Pompadour de Fontainebleau. He walked the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Près with Juliette Man Ray, absorbing the energy of the art world. Landau’s life was a tapestry woven with influential encounters. A chance meeting with Raymond Hains, the artist known for his torn posters and décollages, solidified his path. He even spent two years in the vibrant 1980s New York art scene, befriending the likes of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Returning to Paris, his collaborations with figures like Pontus Hultén further cemented his place within the art world. Now, the spirit of Galerie W, with its passion for the contemporary and its eclectic mix of emerging and established artists, lives on. The Galerie d’Art Contemporain stands as a testament to this lineage. Here, in this space, we find ourselves surrounded by works that push boundaries and challenge conventions, echoing the ‘W’ etched on a window so long ago.