Spera: the new Urban Art Fair that awaits you in Montrouge

From October 2 to 5, the city of Montrouge will host its first edition of the Urban and Contemporary Art Fair: Spera. A brand-new fair in the Paris region which positions itself differently, inviting visitors to discover an immersive experience, creating connections between galleries, artists and art collectors. This first edition will open with Brazil in the spotlight!

The calendar of international Urban art fairs in Paris now extends into the autumn, with the creation of a new fair. Following District 13 and Urban Art Fair, Spera will set up its canvases for its first edition at the Beffroi de Montrouge, from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 October 2025. While the first day is reserved for the press and VIPs, Friday morning will be dedicated to schools and associations working with people with disabilities or elderly people. The fair will be open to the public from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening. Interview with Gary Laporte, one of the founders of this new ambitious event.

Why creating a new Urban and Contemporary art fair in the Paris region?

After wandering around different fairs with my agency, I felt trapped. The booths became boxes, exchanges were limited to transactions, and the magic of art got lost behind the numbers. I dreamed of a place where the experience goes beyond simple sales, where you can breathe and engage in dialogue. Because my deep bond with Latin America makes me want to open windows. I wanted to offer a space to the artists of this vibrant continent, who are far too invisible here. But also to broaden perspectives: to give a voice to the French scene, to put the spotlight on international talents who have been unfairly overlooked. And above all, because I believe in dialogue. The one between Urban art and Contemporary Art, which are too often opposed as if they spoke two different languages, while in fact they share the same breath, that of being connected to the same moment. A dialogue between established and emerging artists, between galleries and the public. A dialogue that takes place not only on the walls, but also in the eyes, in the words exchanged, in unexpected encounters. I want this fair to be lively, open, filled with voices and energy. Not a closed box, but a space in motion. Spera’s DNA is based on the notion of encounter. Encounters between artists, galleries, artists from all over the world, the city and the public. All of that brought together in one and the same event.

The fair will take place at the Beffroi de Montrouge. Why this venue?

I am originally from Montrouge, and one day, after undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia, I went home with a taxi but was unable to give my own address. I was dropped off in front of the Beffroi and in that moment I knew this was where I had to organize Spera. This large Art deco building is a cultural centre of around 3000 m2 which hosts the contemporary art fair of Montrouge, internationally renowned. The ideal venue for such an event. So I immediately called Nizia and Agathae Montecinos from Terrart and Pixo Asso to collaborate and build this new project together. Besides, Montrouge is a city that breathes art, personalities like Fernand Léger, Coluche, Pablo Picasso or even Robert Doisneau once lived here. But also the illustrator Moebius whose latest artwork is showcased in the room named after him at the Beffroi.

What was your background before creating this first event?

Art has always been in my life since the very beginning. I grew up in the movie industry. My godfather was Jacques Tati’s son. I spent my childhood in cinemas and theatres, and was also involved in humanitarian and social causes. Thanks to my mum, I developed a strong interest in the visual arts. Then, in 2015, I had a revelation when I went to live in Brazil. There, I discovered a large-scale painting and created the NAGA project, which objective was to provide education and culture to underprivileged children in Brazil. But I lacked knowledge. So I went back to Paris, and enrolled in evening classes at the Ecole du Louvre to study art history. I created an Instagram page, Nagaculture, where I search and share the artistic and cultural history of different countries, a way to educate myself while educating others. Thanks to this project, I met brazilian artists who became friends. I then created a non-profit agency, NAGA Creativo, to represent them. All profits were entirely donated to social and artistic projects. Next to that, I worked for more than 10 years as a Financial Director, before dedicating myself at 100 % to the organization of Spera last February and dedicating myself entirely to what I love.

What sets the Spera fair apart?

The central theme of the fair will unfold across three levels, inviting visitors to discover, interact, understand and explore. First, on the ground floor, the space will be all about discovery. The fair will bring together nearly 40 galleries showcasing more than 170 artists in total. The requirement for exhibitors is clear: not to show what can already be seen everywhere else, but instead offer a greater visibility to emerging artists, in order to reveal the depth of the movement. Artists from all over the world will be represented, with a diversity of forms, styles and palettes aimed at showcasing the richness of urban and contemporary art.

Which visibility is offered to Latin American artists?

Among the galleries presented, 4 are Brazilian, including Galerie A7MA and Alma da Rua, both highly respected across the continent. Around 25% of the exhibiting artists will be Brazilian and we will have the honor of welcoming 12 artists traveling especially from São Paulo. Among them, Enivo, a pioneer of Brazilian graffiti who has already exhibited at the Petit Palais and at the Galerie Itinerrance, and who is a major player of the local scene, well established in Brazil and in the US, as well as André Mogle, Fefe Talavera, Mari Pavanelli, Tche Ruggi and Lobot. While we wanted to put a focus on Brazil because of the year of Brazil in France, other Latin American countries will also be represented, such as the artists Vic Oh and Ruben Carrasco (Mexico), Cristian Laime (Bolivia), Fio Silva and Lucas Ninin (Argentina) or also ZelvaUno (Peru).

How do these interactions take shape?

On the first floor, the theme is embodied in a single word: dialogue. First, a symbolic dialogue, carried by the magnificent Art Deco Room. It will host an unprecedented installation between Seth and Tinho, two major players of the urban movement, one from France, the other from Brazil. Two paths, two artistic universes that meet and intertwine, like an open-air conversation between continents. But dialogue also takes on a deeply human dimension. In the Moebius Bar, the artist Appie reinvents the space: here, the public does not only look, it participates. Visitors are invited to color furniture prepared by the artists, to sit down, to exchange while having a drink, to cross paths with the words of gallerists and the stories of the creators. It is a space for breathing, conviviality, where art steps down from its pedestal to return to what it truly is above all: a connection between people. In this way, the first floor becomes a crossroads. A place where the artworks converse not only with each other, but also with those who look at them, touch them and live them. A space of resonance, where urban and contemporary art stop being a boundary, and become an invitation to encounter instead. We will also host two festive moments, on Friday evening, a concert by DJ Dee Nasty will celebrate Hip-Hop, while Saturday evening will be dedicated to rockabilly, whose connection with Graffiti is often forgotten, but which comic book author Margerin depicts so well!

Still more to explore and understand…

The second floor is dedicated to understanding, with rooms designed for children, run by Posca, where they can discover Graffiti and drawing. LAB Galerie will invite families to try their hand at painting techniques. Another room will be dedicated to SPParis, a Brazilian brand that celebrates pixação. This practice born in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro consists of marking buildings with cryptic styles, those wild and politically engaged graffitis, that represent the cry of the favela residents, a way for them to say “Look at us! We are alive!” SPParis brings pixação into dialogue with haute couture and will position itself as the event’s trouble-maker with happenings throughout the fair. Finally, a space of 110 m2, Off Spera, will offer visibility and a place for emerging artists looking for a greater visibility, particularly from galleries. Outside, the exploration continues with a visit to La Cale’s workshop, along with happenings on the Beffroi square, with a live coloring session by Enivo, who will invite visitors to paint with him, and also live painting hosted by Asso Art’Murs and Urban Frisbee.

How did the partnership with Urbaneez come about?

I met Greg at different art fairs in Paris over the last few years and, like him, I share the same values: promoting urban art and discovering new talents. I really love his curations and his constant ability to reinvent himself. Urbaneez is one of the most dynamic players in the urban art world. For the occasion, the online gallery will present a powerful duo show featuring the work of Joachim Romain, a key artist on the French scene, and Valé, a French artist who has been living in Mexico for over 10 years. Both artists perfectly fit the fair’s theme of building a bridge between Europe and Latin America.

Discover the full programme on Spera fair’s website