About us - Art Plus

THE NEW CONTEMPORARY ART MEETING POINT

Art+ Outstanding Art Fair ushers in a new era for contemporary art in Le Touquet Paris-Plage. With 40 carefully selected galleries occupying 2,400 m² of exhibition space, the fair promises an exceptional diversity of works: painting, sculpture and original contemporary expressions.

Driven by a demanding curatorial approach and a strong editorial line, Art+ goes beyond the simple exhibition, offering an immersive and enriching experience. This event is a privileged meeting place for artists, gallery owners, collectors and art lovers, encouraging discoveries, exchanges and acquisitions.

A REINVENTED ARTISTIC HERITAGE

Art+ is a continuation of Art Touquet, an event that has marked the art scene for over 40 years. By reviving this tradition, the emblematic town of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage regains its status as an artistic and cultural crossroads.

At the crossroads of the expectations of established collectors and amateurs in search of new discoveries, Art+ aims to bring together generations and artistic sensibilities to write a new chapter in the history of contemporary art in the region.

PALAIS DES CONGRÈS

The Palais des Congrès of Touquet Paris-Plage: an ideal setting for ART+

Located in the heart of the seaside resort of Le Touquet-Paris Plage, the Palais des Congrès benefits from a prestigious and easily accessible environment, popular with both national and international clients. Its architecture, designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, blends the elegance of the 1930s with a confident modernity, giving the complex an atmosphere that is as refined as it is functional.

With over 4,400 m² of modular spaces spread over several levels, the venue offers excellent circulation and natural light, conducive to artistic discovery. The quality of the volumes, the simplicity of the lines, and the versatility of the layout create the ideal conditions for a contemplative and challenging stroll.

As the cultural and event epicenter of the Opal Coast, the Palais des Congrès is the obvious setting to host a high-level contemporary art event. It contributes to showcasing an ambitious program, in a spirit of dialogue, aesthetics, and encounter.

By setting up shop there, ART+ affirms its positioning: to offer an immersive experience where contemporary art interacts with the elegance of an iconic venue.

AN EXCEPTIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MUSEUM OF LE TOUQUET PARIS-PLAGE – ÉDOUARD CHAMPION

One of Art+’s major strengths lies in its collaboration with prestigious institutions, including the Musée du Touquet Paris-Plage. For this first edition, a unique exhibition will be organized in tribute to the event’s patron, offering visitors a complementary and enriched perspective on the works and artists featured.

A RICH AND VARIED PROGRAM

In addition to the exhibitions, Art+ will offer a dynamic program of conferences, roundtable discussions, and exclusive meetings with major figures in the art market. These events will address contemporary issues such as market developments, the promotion of collections, and new artistic dynamics.

BENJAMIN MARTEL AND THE ICONE GROUP: EXPERTISE SERVING THE ART MARKET

Art+ is the culmination of the ambitious vision of Benjamin Martel, founder of the ICONE Group, renowned for his ongoing commitment to artists, collectors, and institutions. Driven by a desire to redraw the contours of the contemporary art market, Benjamin Martel relies on an innovative and demanding approach, combining passion, rigor, and market insight.

Since its inception, ICONE has established itself as a unique player in the artistic landscape, combining the traditional expertise of art dealers with a contemporary and proactive strategy. The group is distinguished by its cutting-edge expertise, a strong international network, and personalized strategic support. It supports emerging talent, assists established artists, and responds effectively to the expectations of collectors seeking rare works of art, meaning, and value.

In just two years, ICONE has established itself as a leading art fair, thanks to a bold offering combining major exhibitions, acquisition consulting, and custom scenography. The group also organizes international events, confirming its ability to reach far beyond France.

The creation of Art+, a new contemporary art fair, is fully in line with this dynamic. It demonstrates the ICONE Group’s commitment to rethinking traditional fair standards by placing the artistic experience at the heart of the process. Art+ aims to showcase the artists and galleries shaping the future of the contemporary art scene, through an approach that is at once demanding, inclusive, and visionary.

THE SELECTION COMMITTEE

Our selection committee brings together a panel of recognized experts from the world of contemporary art. Their keen eye and high curatorial standards will ensure a rigorous and consistent selection of participating galleries, thus ensuring the artistic quality and relevance of the Art+ Outstanding Art Fair program.

BENJAMIN
MARTEL

Founder of Icone Group and Art+

CHRISTOPHE DELAVAULT

Exhibition curator

CÉDRIC BACQUEVILLE

Director at Galerie Bacqueville France

JEAN-BERNARD GRUBIS

Collector and patron

FRANCK LEMAITRE

Delegate Advisor for Culture in Le Touquet Paris-Plage

WHY CHOSE L'ATLAS AS FRONT FIGURE OF ART+ 2025 ?

A strong, symbolic and committed choice

The appointment of L’Atlas as patron of the first edition of ART+ is no mere ceremonial choice. It embodies an ambitious curatorial vision: that of a fair that takes a demanding look at the contemporary scene and asserts its role as a cultural player as much as a distribution platform.

A singular work, between writing and geometry

For over twenty years, L’Atlas, Jules Dedet has been building an immediately identifiable body of work, at the crossroads of coded language and urban calligraphy, mental cartography and geometric abstraction with an almost archaeological rigor
His approach questions our perception of reality, interrogates codes of reading, and invites us to reorient ourselves in a world saturated with images.

A natural fit with ART+'s mission

The world of L’Atlas echoes the DNA of our fair:

Opening up artistic practices
Building bridges between institutions and street expression
Promoting plural readings of the contemporary world

Like its works, ART+ seeks to redraw boundaries, to combine structure and spontaneity, order and chaos.

A unifying figure, between high standards and accessibility

Recognized on the international museum scene as well as in the field of urban art, L’Atlas embodies the dual legitimacy we’re looking for: a figure who is at once critical, accessible and inspiring.
His sponsorship gives ART+ an aesthetic and intellectual anchor, international legitimacy and a strong point of reference for partner artists, collectors and institutions.

A founding impulse

Far from being a symbolic gesture, this sponsorship is a commitment. It places ART+ in a demanding dialogue with contemporary art issues: hybridization of languages, reconfiguration of formats, renewal of audiences.
We are proud and honored to be able to count on the presence of L’Atlas to accompany this first edition. We want it to be bold, sustainable and resolutely forward-looking.