'Chez Sotheby's': Auction house merges dining and fine art during Art Basel Paris

PARIS.- Now open through 24 October, during Art Basel Paris, Sotheby’s and _POLIMENO present Chez Sotheby’s, a living environment bringing together art, dining and cultural exchange within an extraordinary Parisian apartment. Neither an exhibition nor a restaurant in the conventional sense, Chez Sotheby’s brings exceptional works of Modern, Post-War and Contemporary Art into a setting designed for gathering, discovery and dialogue.

Located at 242 Rue de Rivoli, overlooking the Jardin des Tuileries and steps from both Art Basel Paris and Sotheby's Paris, Chez Sotheby's reimagines a long European tradition in which collecting is as much about gathering as it is about acquiring. For one week only, it will become part of the rhythm of Paris: a destination between openings and appointments where connections are forged and discoveries happen naturally.

Conceived collaboratively by Sotheby's and _POLIMENO, Chez Sotheby's brings together Sotheby's expertise in sourcing exceptional works of art with the creative vision of Valerio Polimeno, whose distinctive approach to hospitality and cultural programming has informed the experience throughout.

"Great art is best experienced in good company. Chez Sotheby's brings art and people together in a setting that feels natural, social and distinctly Parisian." --- David Rothschild, Head of Contemporary Art, Private Sales, UK & Global Lead Private Sales Exhibitions, Sotheby’s

"Art and food have the same magic: they bring people together. More than an exhibition, Chez Sotheby’s was imagined as a place to gather, spend time and discover art in a memorable setting. It has been a deeply personal project to develop with the Sotheby’s team, and I hope visitors feel that sense of connection when they visit." --- Valerio Polimeno, Founder, _POLIMENO

Visitors will be invited to dine, linger and encounter exceptional works in an atmosphere inspired by Europe's storied cultural addresses. With nearly $150 million of works available for private sale, spanning masters of Modern and Contemporary art including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, Francis Bacon, and more, alongside a special presentation of works by Alexander Calder, Chez Sotheby's will be the most valuable private sales exhibition ever presented by Sotheby's in Europe. A full catalogue of works will be released in due course.

Chez Sotheby's draws on many of the renowned homes, restaurants and hotels whose legacies were shaped not only by the works they displayed, but by the artists, collectors and cultural figures they brought together. From the celebrated salons of Marie-Laure de Noailles, Jacqueline de Ribes and Charles de Beistegui to legendary Parisian institutions such as Le Palace and Le Mathis, these were places where conversation, creativity and cultural life flourished in the company of exceptional art and design.

"With extraordinary works by some of the greatest artists of the last century, Chez Sotheby's is our most ambitious private sales exhibition ever presented in Europe." --- Olivier Fau, Head of Private Sales, Continental Europe, Sotheby’s

At the heart of Chez Sotheby's is a restaurant, designed by Tarek Shamma, where guests can gather over lunch or cocktails amid works rarely seen outside the auction room. Open throughout the exhibition, it offers a setting for collecting, conversation and cultural exchange. A menu by chef Erika Blu of Atelier Renata pairs classic Italian dishes and French desserts, complemented by a drinks program from legendary bartender Colin Field, former head barman of the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz Paris, spanning ice-cold martinis to fine champagne.

Open daily from 10am to 6pm from 19–24 October, Chez Sotheby’s is free and open to all, with no reservation required for general admission. Visitors are invited to drop in, enjoy a coffee or cocktail, engage in conversation and discover the artworks on view. The daily lunch service is by reservation only and is now fully booked.