Almine Rech opened her first gallery with an associate in the Marais in Paris in November 1989, presenting an exhibition centered on a James Turrell ‘Space Division’ light piece.
The gallery program was on the axis of Minimal, Perceptual art and Conceptual art, representing artists such as James Turrell, John McCracken and Joseph Kosuth.
Since 1995, Almine Rech has continuously served as the sole director of the gallery.
In April 1997, the gallery relocated to a larger space in the 13th arrondissement in Paris and first presented a solo show by John McCracken, followed by James Turrell's ‘Wedgework Milkrun III’, which is now part of the Aarhus Museum Collection.
Almine Rech believes that art is a space for freedom of expression. It is what she likes most about her work: being in permanent contact with people who enjoy this freedom and use it to contribute to contemporary creativity. In her view, art is thus embodied in history. In this sense, the artists are visionaries who, through their work, write and anticipate history.
For these reasons, in addition to its internationally established and recognized mid-career artists, it has always been the gallery's mission to continually seek out and include new artists to its program.
Throughout the years, Almine Rech has expanded its spaces throughout Europe, United Kingdom, United States and Asia.
In 2006 the first gallery in Paris was relocated to the Marais, opening with a group exhibition curated by French fashion designer and photographer Hedi Slimane.
In 2008 a new gallery space was opened in Brussels.
In 2013 Almine Rech launched its new Paris space in the Marais at 64 rue de Turenne.
In 2014 Almine Rech inaugurated a gallery space in London on Savile Row, Mayfair, then relocated in 2016 to a larger space on Grosvenor Hill, Mayfair, presenting a solo show by American artist Jeff Koons.
In 2016 Almine Rech opened its first gallery space in Manhattan’s Upper East Side with a Calder Picasso exhibition. A second Almine Rech New York gallery space is planned to open downtown (Tribeca) in September 2023.
In 2019 the gallery inaugurated a new space in Shanghai with a group show that featured artists from the gallery’s roster, including John M Armleder, Sylvie Fleury and Günther Förg, in conjunction with an exhibition curated by the gallery at the Song Art Museum, Beijing.
In 2021 Almine Rech opened a second space in Paris on avenue Matignon, and in 2022 expanded the location, doubling its size and presenting a solo exhibition by American artist Alexander Calder.
During the summer of 2021, Almine Rech also settled a temporary location in Aspen, Colorado.
The gallery has held long-standing relationships with artists such as Joseph Kosuth, James Turrell, and De Wain Valentine, and has since started working with artists such as Farah Atassi, Oliver Beer, Andrea Marie Breiling, Genieve Figgis, Daniel Gibson, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, George Rouy, Vaughn Spann, Emma Stern, Claire Tabouret, Genesis Tramaine, Amanda Wall, Chloe Wise, Huang Yuxing to name a few, alongside established artists and Estates, such as John M Armleder, Karel Appel, Alexander Calder, Ha Chong-Hyun, Günther Förg, Jeff Koons, Jannis Kounellis, Pablo Picasso, Antoni Tàpies, Mai-Thu, Richard Prince, Tom Wesselmann, and Kim Tschang-Yeul…
Through Almine Rech Editions, its physical and online presence allows the gallery to present in-house published catalogs and editions, featuring a broad collection of new and rare books. Almine Rech Editions also presents a printed newsletter magazine and collectibles, as well as ceramics, music, goodies and apparel.
Our catalogs and select items can also be found at Almine Rech Paris, Brussels, London, New York and Shanghai.