Art Basel 2024
Messe Basel, Basel, Switzerland
June 11th-16th, 2024
Art Basel opens in Basel, Switzerland on June 13th, with preview days on June 11 and 12, featuring over 200 leading galleries and over 4,000 artists. Founded in 1970 by gallerists from Basel, Art Basel is the world’s premier art show for modern and contemporary art. At this year’s event, 22 of the galleries will be joining for the first time. Art Basel in Basel will feature artworks across all media, from painting and sculpture to photography and digital works, from artists from the early twentieth century until now, and promises a new city-wide expansion.
The show will be led by Maike Cruse, for the first time since she took the position of Director, Art Basel in Basel, in July 2023. Cruse stated that she is excited about the expansion of the city-wide Art Basel program, which now includes the public art sector Parcours curated by Stefanie Hessler. The historic art show will also expand its presence within Basel, using the Hotel Merian as a venue for events and showcases in addition to other satellite art locations. Additionally, the city of Basel will offer visitors a program of cultural events and special projects throughout the fair week, including exhibitions including Fondation Beyeler’s ‘The Summer Show’ and shows at the Museum Tinguely and the Vitra Design Museum.
Of the 22 galleries joining Art Basel in Basel for the first time, five will enter directly into the main sector of the show: Karma (Los Angeles, New York), Tina Keng Gallery (Taipei), Madeln Gallery (Shanghai), Mayoral (Paris, Barcelona) and Yares Art (New York, Santa Fe). In addition, the Feature sector, which is dedicated to art-historical projects, will welcome 11 first-time participants, and the Statements sector, which exhibits solo presentations by emerging artists, will welcome six galleries that have not yet participated in Art Basel in Basel.
Highlights from the art-historical Feature sector include a retrospective of artist Jean Tinguely by newcomer Galerie Mueller (Basel), works by American artist Peter Halley presented by newcomer Maruani Mercier (Brussels, Knokke, Zaventem) and a presentation of Senegalese artist Viyé Diba by OH Gallery (Dakar). Likewise, the Statements sector will feature an installation titled Safe to Visit (2024) by Angolan artist Sandra Poulson, presented by Jahmek Contemporary Art (Luanda) and a video installation by Hong Kong artist and filmmaker Tiffany Sia, presented by first-timer Felix Gaudlitz (Vienna).
This year Unlimited will present 70 large-scale installations by distinguished and emerging artists, including three live performances. Unlimited is Art Basel’s pioneering exhibition platform for projects that transcend the classical art fair stand. It provides exhibitors the opportunity to present monumental installations, colossal sculptures, boundless wall paintings, comprehensive photo series, expansive video projections, and live performances. The works may be created in situ, especially for Unlimited. Works are selected by the Art Basel in Basel Selection Committee, and curator Giovanni Carmine is responsible for their presentation. The infrastructure is then adapted to the needs of each work of art, and the overall layout is planned by the curator in consultation with the galleries. Displayed in a 16,000-square-meter hall, contemporary works and historical projects in this sector are exhibited and sold under optimal conditions.
