Art Gallery in Paris

Nestled in the intimacy of a small inner courtyard at 3bis Rue des Beaux-Arts, perched on the first floor accessed by a spiral staircase behind a red door, lies the Galerie LOFT. Founded in 1985 in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, this innovative gallery reflects the soul of its founder, Jean-François Roudillon—an art enthusiast in every sense and a true advocate for contemporary art from all backgrounds. Far from creating a conventional exhibition space, he seeks instead to spark a new perspective on art, supporting artists for years throughout their evolution and introducing unprecedented forms of artistic expression within the gallery walls.

From its inception, the gallery has championed some of the most significant artists of their generation, such as those of the Narrative Figuration movement (Erró—since 1985, Klasen, Monory, Rancillac, and Fromanger). It was also the first gallery to incorporate street art and graffiti onto unconventional mediums (wooden hoardings, iron objects, etc.) and to showcase the work of then-unknown artists such as Blek Le Rat (a major influence on Banksy), Daniel Baugeste, Jérôme Mesnager, and Kriki.

For nearly 15 years, Galerie LOFT became the leading European gallery for Chinese contemporary art, presenting solo exhibitions as early as 1999 for major artists such as Liu Xiaodong (2001/2005), Liu Wei (2001/2002/2005), Wang Guangyi (2004), Sui Jianguo (2000), Yang Shaobin (2001), Wang Qingsong (2002), and Zhan Wang (2000). In 2002, Jean-François Roudillon, in collaboration with Belgian collectors and patrons Myriam and Guy Ullens, presented the first large-scale exhibition in France of contemporary Chinese artists. Seventy-two artists representative of this movement were featured at the Espace Pierre Cardin, in a scenography by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Iconic works such as Sui Jianguo’s red dinosaur Made in China (published by the gallery in 1,000 editions) and Qiu Zhijie’s photograph Tattoo, depicting the artist pressed against a wall by the red Chinese character “bù” (no, you must not!), were among the highlights and have since become emblematic of this artistic movement.

Highly active on the international stage in promoting these artists, the Galerie LOFT also began, from the 2000s onwards, to promote major 20th-century sculptors such as Philippe Hiquily and Francesco Marino di Teana. It published the Catalogue Raisonné of their works (PHILIPPE HIQUILY, Works from 1948 to 2011, Paris, 2012 / Marino di Teana, Catalogue Raisonné of Sculpted Work, Paris, 2019) and participated in the production and distribution of their sculptures. As a result, Galerie LOFT gradually became one of the leading French institutions for monumental artworks, contributing to large-scale projects such as the Al Maaden Sculpture Park in Morocco (featuring works by Antonio Segui, Yazid Oulab, Wang Keping, Sunil Gawde, Daniel Hourdé, and Claude Gilli), the Shanghai World Expo (with the permanent installation of 12-meter-high wind vanes by Philippe Hiquily), monumental sculptures displayed in Saint-Germain-des-Prés (e.g., Marathonienne and Épicurienne, each 5 meters tall) and Saint-Sulpice Square in Paris (six 3.5-meter wind vanes), and installations of sculptures by Francesco Marino di Teana (including Université, 3 meters tall) at the Citadel of Sisteron.

While continuing its exploration of monumental works with young artists like Quentin Garel and Yazid Oulab, Galerie LOFT remains committed to championing new aspects of contemporary art. This includes major exhibitions dedicated to young designers such as Olivier Moravik and Guillaume Piéchaud, the latter of whom had a monograph published by the gallery this year, highlighting over 30 years of collaboration.

More recently, Galerie LOFT has embraced a new mission: making art more accessible to the general public. This led to the launch of Art For All, a genuine collection of iconic works by contemporary artists from diverse backgrounds, presented in the form of high-quality editions that are both affordable and desirable. These multiples—created in direct collaboration with the artists or their estates—are numbered in editions of 300 to 1,000, signed by the artist, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. These are genuine works of art aimed at all art lovers and collectors.

Aesthetics are a universal sentiment. That is why Galerie LOFT, its team, and its artists continue more than ever to bring a touch of poetry, parody, or mystery into our everyday lives—and we thank you for being part of this adventure.