ART BASEL IS NOT JUST AN EXHIBITION; IT IS A CULTURAL PHENOMENON THAT TRANSFORMS THE ENTIRE CITY OF BASEL. BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE EXHIBITION CENTER, THE CITY COMES ALIVE WITH A VIBRANT PROGRAM OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, TURNING BASEL INTO A HUB OF ARTISTIC EXPLORATION AND INSPIRATION.
Art Basel Switzerland 2023 brings together 284 galleries from 36 countries in the picturesque city of Basel, promising an immersive experience celebrating the power of creativity. With 21 newcomers joining the prestigious lineup, including blank projects, Empty Gallery, Gaga, and Offer Waterman,, visitors can expect a diverse array of extraordinary artworks across various mediums. From June 12 to June 18, the renowned Messe Basel exhibition center will serve as the backdrop for this grand celebration of contemporary art, providing a platform for renowned artists, emerging talents, and passionate collectors to connect and engage with cutting-edge creations.
The fair kicks off with an impressive outdoor installation by Moroccan artist Latifa Echakhch, creating an inviting atmosphere for visitors. At the heart of Art Basel’s program is the main Galleries sector, offering an immersive experience through an extensive display of contemporary art. Exciting additions to the fair include the debut of the Kabinett sector, featuring 13 thematic presentations within galleries’ booths. Additionally, the Unlimited, Parcours, FimFilm, and Feature sections provide unique perspectives and installations that push boundaries and challenge conventional notions of art.
Moreover, here’s a selected a range of highlights from the fair’s presentations that are worth exploring for art enthusiasts.
DESIGN MIAMI/BASEL presents its 17th edition, bringing together 26 galleries in an intimate setting within Hall 1 Süd of Messe Basel. Highlights include Galerie Patrick Seguin’s exhibition of works by design icon Jean Prouvé and Friedman Benda’s exploration of 80 years’ worth of contemporary design through the lens of ten visionary designers.
LISTE returns as a beloved upstart-satellite fair, featuring 88 galleries from 35 countries at Messe Basel. Notable mentions include the return of Jakarta’s ROH Projects and Bangkok’s Nova after pandemic-related delays, as well as Kyiv’s the Naked Room and Voloshyn, and Ukrainian collective Understructures. This year, Liste showcases outward-facing gazes with immersive installations, time-based media, AI, computer-generated images, and strong positions in painting and photography.
PHOTO BASEL, the only dedicated photography fair in the lineup, returns to Switzerland at Volkshaus Basel. This small-scale fair prides itself on bringing a wide range of photographic works to visitors. Special exhibitions include a presentation of works by the late Swiss photographer Alex Kayser, organized by Galerie Esther Woerdehoff in collaboration with the Alex Kayser Foundation, and “Pure Photography: 20th-Century Floral Masterworks” presented by WBB Gallery, featuring works by American photographers spanning 100 years.
JUNE ART FAIR offers an alternative, intergenerational fair-week experience. Taking place in a former concrete bunker revamped by Herzog & de Meuron, this boothless fair provides ample space for each presentation to breathe without partitions or restrictions. Located at Riehenstrasse 90B, visitors can expect a unique and free art fair experience.
VOLTA debuts a new venue designed by architects Suter + Suter in the heart of the Klybeck neighborhood, just a short shuttle ride or stroll from Messe Basel. This collaborative enterprise features a curated selection of 30 galleries from around the world. The fair’s name, meaning “turn” in Italian, signifies a rhetorical shift or dramatic turn of thought, argument, or emotion. Volta aims to inspire exciting pivots in artistic expression.
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