Xavier Eeckhout appointed president of the Fine Arts Paris art fair
Monday 6 October 2025
Xavier Eeckhout takes over as president of Fine Arts Paris, which has just successfully concluded its latest edition (FAB Paris 2025) and will now be held annually at the Grand Palais during the second half of September.
The event is reverting to the more generic and international name of Fine Arts Paris, abandoning the reference to the B for Biennale for this annual event. The next edition will be held from 19 to 23 September 2026 at the Grand Palais, with Le musée du Grand Siècle as guest of honour.
After chairing Fine Arts Paris, created in 2017, for 11 years, Louis de Bayser is stepping down to make way for Xavier Eeckhout, who will take over as chair of Fine Arts Paris.
‘After eleven years as president, I am happily passing the baton to Xavier to preside over the destiny and development of Fine Arts Paris. I will of course remain at his side to assist with the organisation of future salons by the Agence d’Evénements Culturels.’
Louis de Bayser
Xavier Eeckhout
An international specialist in early 20th-century animal sculpture, Xavier Eeckhout opened his gallery in 2018 in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés after ten years in the Drouot district. He presents works by the great masters of the early 20th century, Pompon, Bugatti, Sandoz, but also Artus, Le Bourgeois, Lémar, Petersen, Guyot and Godchaux, for whom he wrote the catalogue raisonné in collaboration with the artist’s grandson (Faton, 2021).
He was the first art dealer to present an exhibition on the forgotten animal sculptors of the 1930s, who were brought to light thanks to him and his reference work Sculptrices (2023). He has been participating in international fairs for over fifteen years, such as TEFAF Maastricht and Fine Arts Paris.
Xavier Eeckhout is a member of the Professional Committee of Art Galleries (CPGA), the French Union of Professional Experts in Works of Art and Collectibles (SFEP), and the Royal Chamber of Antique Dealers of Belgium.
Xavier Eeckhout
President of Fine Arts Paris
© Studio Shapiro
‘I would like to thank my friend Louis de Bayser and the board of directors for the mission entrusted to me. We will continue to develop Fine Arts Paris together in perfect harmony, ensuring that professionalism and camaraderie remain the cornerstones of the fair. Fine Arts Paris will thus become the unmissable event for dealers and collectors alike in the international art market calendar, and will raise Paris’s profile.’
Xavier Eeckhout
About L ‘Agence d’Evénements Culturels
L’Agence d’Événements Culturels, manages the Salon du dessin and Fine Arts Paris.
It is owned by nine dealers and Connaissance des Arts (Les Echos Group). It is directed by Hélène Mouradian.
Fine Arts Paris at the Grand Palais
(FAB Paris 2025)
© Tanguy de Montesson
Le Salon du dessin
at the Palais Brongniart
© Tanguy de Montesson
