The first iteration of Galerie Meyer was founded by Oscar Meyer in the mid-1940s in France. Meyer closed the gallery upon his relocation to the United States, where he married Rita Alix Meyer and settled in Los Angeles, opening another gallery there. In 1971 the pair closed the Los Angeles space and returned to Paris. Oscar died in 1979, and Rita Alix opened an antique shop that the couple’s son, Anthony J.P. Meyer, joined as a dealer the following year. It was there, partnered with John Barnett for his knowledge of Himalayan and Indian art, that Anthony developed his specialisation in tribal art, with a particular focus on Oceanic art. 

Rita Alix and Anthony opened the current iteration of Galerie Meyer in the mid-1980s, and in 1986 the gallery became wholly devoted to Oceanic art. Since his mother’s retirement in 1996, Anthony has been the sole figure at the helm, supporting the trade of a range of traditional pieces and the production of detailed catalogues. 

Galerie Meyer - Oceanic Art is currently housed on rue des Beaux-Arts in a building in which André Derain—one of the main proponents of tribal art—and André Dunoyer de Segonzac both lived during the early 20th century. During that period, many other significant artists could also often be spotted entering or exiting the building, including Guillaume Apollinaire and Pablo Picasso. 

Galerie Meyer - Oceanic Art Exhibitions and Art Fairs

In its numerous exhibitions and publications Galerie Meyer presents a range of traditional Art-Forms and practices, such as tattoo art in Tattoo: Inked Identities (17–31 October 2019). The gallery offers Tribal Art in conjunction with the works of Nobuyoshi Araki, Camille van Bredam, Jean Degottex, Joaquin Ferrer, Alberto Guzman, Vincent Guzman, Victor Hugo, Jean Michel Jaudel, Heinz Mack, George Nuku, Georges Papazoff, Martin H. M. Schreiber, Dadi Wirz, Sophie Valient, Patrick Varnier, and early photography.

Galerie Meyer also participates in a range of world-class art fairs, including The Bourgogne Tribal Show, Besanceuil; Frieze Masters, London; Parcours des Mondes, Paris; La Biennale des Antiquaires, Paris; and TEFAF Maastricht.