The 2026 Art Show
77TH DRAWING & WATER PAINTING SALON
Part of Art Capital GRAND PALAIS
February 12 to 15, 2026: over 300 artists representing all techniques and trends of our time.
2026 Guest of Honor:
IBEX Collection
WARNING: MASTERPIECES
Always supported by its faithful partner (over 20 years), Le Géant des Beaux-Arts, the Salon Dessin Peinture à l’Eau has honored great artists every year since 2018.
After Beksinski, Dufy, Derain, de Vlaminck, Van Dongen, Verlinde, Brayer,
Chapelain-Midy, Carzou then Di-Maccio, R. Cat, M. Henricot, Michel Ciry, among others.
This year, it is IBEX’s turn…
Presentation of artists considered among the best hyper-realistic painters in the world.
Unstoppable technique, great personality in themes, with great ambition in dimensions despite the long and meticulous work of the technique called: hyperrealism. (Some artists spending up to 2 or 3 years on a single painting).
One of the fundamental ambitions of IBEX is to build a sustainable and long-term support system for artists. This includes the time, freedom, and mentorship necessary for them to fully develop their talent;
The origin of the IBEX Masterpiece project, Albrecht VON STETTEN: « From 2015 to 2020, I traveled the world, from major capitals to isolated villages, met thousands of figurative artists, visited hundreds of studios, and discovered hidden talents. In the end, only twenty were selected — free from any financial constraints, to create their personal masterpiece. »
This year, once again, the works of our guests of honor will be exceptional, but the dimensions (2 to 3 m wide or high for some), added to their pictorial qualities, will make it an extremely spectacular event.
« An artistic continuum »…
Daniel GALLAIS, exhibition curator, explains to us:
« This year, once again, the works of the guests of honor will be exceptional, but the dimensions (2 to 3 m wide or high for some), added to their pictorial qualities, will make it an extremely spectacular event.
In Germany, near Munich, I selected 25 major works out of the 300 in Mr. Albrecht VON STETTEN’s collection, for which he financed, for certain artists, the 2 or 3 years taken to create an exceptional work.
It was important to me that all the works presented be well in line with what I have been proposing at the Grand Palais since 2018 and defending for 40 years:
The personality of the IBEX collection in a logical and leading « artistic continuum » is well within my guideline: major work of exception, discovery, and pedagogy for the visitor of the Grand Palais or elsewhere.
Thanks to Albrecht VON STETTEN (founder of IBEX) and Stéphanie DEBELS (General Manager), all these criteria are well met to make an exceptional exhibition! »
One of the fundamental ambitions of IBEX is to build a sustainable and long-term support system for artists. This includes the time, freedom, and mentorship necessary for them to fully develop their talent;
The origin of the IBEX Masterpiece project:
Albrecht: « From 2015 to 2020, I traveled the world, from major capitals to isolated villages, met thousands of figurative artists, visited hundreds of studios, and discovered hidden talents. In the end, only twenty were selected — free from any financial constraints, to create their personal masterpiece. »
The IBEX collection at the Drawing & Water Painting Salon at the Grand Palais:
… « A new way of looking at art » …
In Germany, near Munich, I selected 25 major works out of the 300 in Mr. Albrecht VON STETTEN’s collection, for which he financed, for certain artists, the 2 or 3 years taken to create an exceptional work. It was important to me that all the works presented be well in line with what I have been proposing at the Grand Palais since 2018 and defending for 40 years: The personality of the IBEX collection in a logical and leading « artistic continuum » is well within my guideline: major work of exception, discovery, and pedagogy for the visitor of the Grand Palais or elsewhere.
Thanks to Albrecht VON STETTEN (founder of IBEX) and Stéphanie DEBELS (General Manager), all these criteria are well met to make an exhibition that will go down in history! »
“A new way of looking at art”
The IBEX collection at the Drawing & Water Painting Salon at the Grand Palais:
Albrecht VON STETTEN: « My first meeting with Daniel Gallais was both surprising and enlightening. His perspective sometimes differed from ours – at first, we didn’t always understand his choices, but through his explanations, we learned to see through his eyes. Daniel opened up a new way for us to look at art. But what struck us the most was the spatial arrangement. Daniel imagined the layout and fluidity of the works in the space reserved for IBEX with quasi-scenographic precision. For us, it was hard to let go. At first, his choices seemed curious, even bold. But once confronted with the plan, everything made sense. His decisions, stemming from years of experience, were both bold and refined. We were intrigued – then convinced. »
