The Salon Dessin Peinture à l'Eau exhibition will be held at the Grand Palais from 12 to 15 February 2025 and will present IBEX, a cultural movement in the field of contemporary figurative art, exclusively in Paris

This is a first for IBEX in Paris and a major ambition for this unique movement and innovative model of patronage, ‘Chefs d'œuvres en vue’ (Masterpieces in Sight)
 

Daniel Gallais, President of the Salon Dessin Peinture à l'eau, presents IBEX as Curator of the Exhibition

As a cultural movement in the field of contemporary figurative art, IBEX pursues clear and ambitious goals rooted in cultural preservation, artistic excellence and innovation. IBEX aims to advance artistic mastery through a modern model of patronage. Rather than viewing art as a commodity, IBEX treats it as a living culture — to be preserved, nurtured and passed on from generation to generation.

One of IBEX's fundamental ambitions is to build a sustainable, long-term support system for artists. This includes the time, freedom and mentoring they need to fully develop their talent. The IBEX Apprenticeship programme plays a key role in this mission, enabling young talents to emerge under the guidance of experienced Masters, with rigorous educational support in both technical and conceptual terms.

IBEX envisions a future where artistic mastery will not be lost to time or trends, but will be continually nurtured and passed on. Through patronage, education, preservation and a refined cultural lifestyle, IBEX ensures that Masters and IBEX Masterpieces will always have a place — and a meaning. This is what Sustainable Patronage is all about.

On the initiative of IBEX, a man who was more than a visionary and who made a difference: ALBRECHT.
 

Who is Albrecht? The birth of a masterfully executed project

"As a child, I dreamed of being an engineer, inventor and artist — all at once. But when I turned eighteen, reality caught up with me: “You have to take over the farm,” my parents told me. So I put my dreams aside — and for more than 35 years, I built one of the largest grain farms in Europe. At the age of fifty-five, I sold everything.

I suddenly found myself in a large empty office, facing a white wall. No paintings. No books. Nothing that moved me. And that's when the idea came to me: maybe I should buy a painting. Instead of going to a home decor shop, I sat down at my computer and started looking for art. That was the beginning of IBEX Masters."
 

Albrecht and painting

"A new chapter began — returning to my true passion: art. One evening in Spain, during an intense conversation with Gabriel Picart, I realised a difficult truth: many masterpieces never see the light of day because artists lack the time and resources to create them. I then made a radical decision: to support Picart until his full potential could be realised.

The resulting painting was a revelation — and the origin of the IBEX Masterpiece project. From 2015 to 2020, I travelled the world, from major capitals to remote villages, meeting thousands of figurative artists, visiting hundreds of studios and discovering hidden talents. In the end, only twenty were selected — freed from all constraints, to create their personal masterpiece. 
Today, I know that only a few rare geniuses exist in the figurative field. With them, IBEX is now writing art history. »

IBEX at the Grand Palais – February 2026, Guest of Honour

Expectations for the exhibition

IBEX sees this exhibition as a major opportunity to share its mission with a wider audience — and as a discreet revival of the tradition of apprenticeship in contemporary figurative art. The aim is to raise awareness of the preservation of artistic mastery and the role of Sustainable Patronage today. By presenting the IBEX Masterpieces, IBEX wishes to demonstrate that new Masters still exist — made possible by a structure that offers them time, freedom and support.

Vlad Yashin, selected as IBEX Apprentice of the Year, will be presented as the living embodiment of this vision. His presence marks a visible milestone in the apprenticeship programme and affirms a return to long-term, guided and supported artistic development.

This exhibition is also part of a broader strategy for IBEX. The movement is preparing partnerships with major international art competitions, which will serve as platforms to discover future IBEX Apprentices and continue to support the next generation of talent.

To ensure this vision is sustainable, IBEX incorporates participatory models into its cultural mission: co-investment, limited editions, strategic visibility — inviting patrons to become not only supporters, but partners committed to the continuity of artistic excellence.

See the Biographies of the “Masters” Artists >

See Artist Biographies “Collection” >

See the list of works > 

Discussions between the Exhibition Curator and Albrecht A new chapter has now begun at the Salon Dessin Peinture à l'eau

The genesis
First meeting with Daniel Gallais

The first meeting between Daniel Gallais, Albrecht (founder of IBEX), and Stéphanie (Managing Director) was both surprising and enlightening. His perspective sometimes differed from ours — at first, we did not always understand his choices, but as he explained himself, we learned to see through his eyes. Daniel opened up a new way of looking at art for us.
 

The turning point 

Second meeting in Paris

The second meeting in Paris marked a symbolic and decisive turning point in the collaboration. It was during this exchange that the contract was officially signed, confirming IBEX's role as Guest of Honour at the Salon. It was also a key planning session: together, we discussed the schedule, communications and scenography for the exhibition.

But what struck us most was the layout. Daniel designed the arrangement and flow of the works in the space reserved for IBEX with almost theatrical precision. It was difficult for us to let go. At first, his choices seemed strange, even daring. But once we saw the plan, everything made sense. His decisions, based on years of experience, were both bold and refined. We were intrigued — then convinced.