A2Z Art Gallery Serves As A Cultural Bridge Between Asia And Europe

Based in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris, A2Z Art Gallery, cofounded in 2009 by Anthony and Ziwei Phuong, has long built a bridge between Asian and European contemporary art, representing artists such as Ma Desheng, Bao Vuong, Shiori Eda and Danhôo, whose works explore identity, migration and the complexities of global life. Known for giving artists carte blanche to express their individual universes, the gallery has become a meeting point for cross-cultural dialog and experimentation. Following its 10th participation in Asia Now at the Monnaie de Paris during Paris Art Week, Phuong reflected on how the art fair reaffirmed A2Z’s mission: to champion under-represented Asian artists in Europe, foster connections between collectors and institutions from Asia and the West, and demonstrate that Paris remains a vital platform for conversations around Asian contemporary art.

How many times has your gallery participated in Asia Now, and why did you decide to return this year despite the slowdown in the global art market?

It was our 10th time participating; we have only missed one edition of Asia Now. We decided to participate despite the current economic climate in support of this fair, which is dedicated to a market that is at the heart of our gallery’s focus. It was also important to be present during Paris Art Week, which ran parallel to Art Basel. We welcomed many collectors from Asia.

Which artists did you exhibit at Asia Now 2025?

We presented a selection of Vietnamese artists: Lê Thuy, Oanh Phi Phi, Trần Trọng Vũ and Bùi Công Khánh. We made this choice because I think this scene is underrepresented, even though it has reached a level of maturity that deserves the attention of Western collectors. The secondary market for Vietnamese modern artists has already peaked, and I think we are seeing the emergence of a network of Vietnamese collectors ready to defend the primary market. The international showcase will serve to reassure Asian and Western collectors. I think Vietnam is a promising market with nearly 100 million inhabitants, not to mention the large diaspora in France, the United States, Australia and now pretty much everywhere in Europe.

How does Asia Now compare to other art fairs in terms of pricing and the quality of the relationships you establish with collectors, curators and institutions?

The work of Alexandra and Claude Fain and the entire team led by Wang Qian is based on trust. It involves in-depth work using all the methodologies of a major fair, but with a family feel. I’d like to remind you that it is focused on a niche market in Europe. It is very courageous of this fair to promote artists from all over Asia who are very poorly represented here in France. The idea of bringing together all the international galleries through their Asian selection is a way for Asia Now to set itself apart and offer Western institutions access to essential Asian institutional artists.

I think the fair introduces the public to this other culture that everyone knows without really knowing, so this fair is an invitation to travel. The artists featured in this fair allow the public to see what Asian collectors are interested in without having to visit Art Basel Hong Kong, Kiaf Seoul, Frieze Seoul or Art021 Shanghai. Asia Now brings together a selection of the best works you will find at local fairs throughout Asia. As for the cost of the fair, it remains accessible to emerging galleries and is considerably less expensive than the booth prices charged by the major fairs.

After 10 years of existence, this year marked the 11th edition of Asia Now, which has successfully involved national and international institutions that are more likely to come to Paris than Hong Kong, and have also contributed to its curatorial program, featuring numerous curators specializing in the Asian region, a fact that has been a hallmark of each edition. For foreign galleries exhibiting at the fair, they have the opportunity to connect with a large number of curious or seasoned European collectors.