Art Partying Abroad

Takashi Murakami Jeff Koons Marlene Dumas Zhang Huan Wang Guangyi Yang Shaobin Yue Minjun Zhang Xiaogang

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In April, New York mega-gallery PaceWildenstein announced that it would open a branch in Beijing — the first such American gallery presence in the Chinese metropolis — in time for the Olympics. True to its word, on August 3, the gallery inaugurated Pace Beijing with its first show, "Encounters." The group show looks at Eastern and Western portraiture side by side, with works by Marlene Dumas, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, and Zhang Huan, to name just a few. The opening was an exciting affair, attended by artists Yang Shaobin, Wang Guangyi, and Zhang Xiaogang; PaceWildenstein founder Arne Glimcher; Pace Beijing president Leng Lin; and even former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Also making headlines, earlier this summer, was French artist Tatiana Trouvé, who was named the winner of the Prix Marcel Duchamp 2007. As her prize, Trouvé won €35,000 ($54,690) and a two-month show at Espace 315 in the Centre Pompidou. "4 Between 3 and 2" kicked off on June 24 with an opening where all the guests were well-dressed and seemed to be having a great time. Art world impresario Emmanuel Perrotin — who represents Trouvé — was there, as were fellow Parisian gallerists Frank Elbaz and Almine Rech. Fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa, artist Jin Meyerson, and French politician Jacques Toubon rounded out the crowd, showing up to celebrate the exhibition, on view through September 29.

Click on the photo gallery to the left for party pictures.