BY ANNABEL KEENAN
Considered the grande dame of art events, The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht brings together some of the rarest and most coveted objects of fine and decorative arts. Each year, chic and sophisticated visitors gather amidst the floral chandeliers eager to enjoy the expertly curated presentations and to nab one of the fair’s signature freshly shucked oysters. For the collectors in attendance, art and antique offerings spanning 7,000 years await.
This year, over 270 exhibitors welcomed visitors to the halls of the fair. “I love this fair, it’s elegant and refreshing,” exhibitor Marianne Boesky said shortly after the event opened to VIPs. “The quality overall is so high, and there’s such a diversity of artworks and objects that it’s even fun for us to see what other dealers bring.”
Indeed, with its multimillennial scope, TEFAF brings together an exceptional assortment of museum-quality finds from antiquities and Old Masters to design treasures and jewelry that would stop anyone in their tracks. Among the ancient and historic offerings this year were a rare ornamental hanging likely intended for a Buddhist temple in Yann Ferrandin’s booth. Made of carved wood, pigments, gilding, and metal, the Heian period (794–1185 AD) object features two deities seated on a lotus.
If Baroque masterpieces are your preference, Jean-François Heim is guaranteed to fit the bill with a dramatic painting by Artemisia Gentileschi. Featuring a woman depicted with beauty, authority, and grace, Self Portrait of the Artist as Cleopatra (circa 1620) demonstrates the artist’s keen ability to convey emotional intensity and strength.
On the design and decorative arts front, TEFAF has endless options to choose from, including a rare roll-top desk by Jean-Henri Riesener (furniture maker extraordinaire to Marie Antoinette) from around 1775–1785 that epitomizes the mechanical ingenuity of the era.
Anchoring the modern and contemporary presentations is White Cube (the global powerhouse impressed with a stunning abstract work by Howardena Pindell and a large, moody piece by Georg Baselitz) and Galerie Lelong (the Paris and New York–based gallery commanded attention with a bronze head by Jaume Plensa and expressionistic painting by Arnulf Rainer in the shape of a cross).
Below, find Galerie’s top picks from TEFAF 2026:
An ethereal pairing of Thalita Hamaoui and Odilon Redon
“Someone described our booth as a palate cleanser,” New York dealer Marianne Boesky said. Indeed, while other dealers opted for maximalist displays, Boesky showcased a carefully curated selection of new paintings by the Brazilian artist Thalita Hamaoui. Inspired by Brazil and featuring fantastical landscapes of abundant, overgrowing flora in saturated, rich tones, the paintings were shown alongside dreamy works by the pre-Surrealist painter Odilon Redon. The thoughtful pairing offers a glimpse of how themes and imagery resonate across generations and art historical traditions.
“For TEFAF, we have developed a strategy of pairing renowned historic artists with artists from the gallery’s program,” Boesky shared. “For artists like Thalita—whose practice is so firmly grounded in art history, conceptually and formally—TEFAF offers an incredible opportunity to illustrate the themes and motifs that link painters to their artistic forebears. By making explicit the historic connective tissue within practices, we’re also able to bring contemporary art into the context of TEFAF.” Hamaoui’s work proved to be particularly appealing to collectors, with over ten paintings priced in the range of $16–60k USD selling in the first hours of the VIP preview.
