Hold on to your hats art lovers, because Art Basel’s 2023 edition in Basel is shaping up to be an unmissable event! With a line-up of 285 of the world’s leading galleries from 36 countries and territories, this premier art fair is the ultimate destination for anyone seeking the best in painting, sculpture, photography, digital works, and more.
But that’s not all – this year’s edition of Art Basel in Basel promises to be even more exciting than ever, with 21 first-time participants from across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. From Cape Town to Hong Kong, and from London to Budapest, these galleries will bring fresh perspectives and groundbreaking works to the international art scene.
And if you thought that was impressive, wait until you hear about the participatory, site-specific installation by Moroccan artist Latifa Echakhch on Basel’s Messeplatz. Curated by Samuel Leuenberger, curator of Art Basel’s Parcours sector, this expansive installation will feature a sprawling superstructure that provides the backdrop for a series of live concerts and performances, as well as providing spaces for the public to engage in various activities. Echakhch’s work is all about uncovering the possibilities that lie within wreckage and ruins, and with her latest creation on display at Art Basel, visitors can expect to be transported to a world of hope, imagination, and creative exploration.
First-time exhibitors in Feature:
• acb (Budapest)
• David Castillo (Miami)
• Thomas Erben Gallery (New York)
• Gajah Gallery (Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Singapore)
• M77 Gallery (Milan)
• Martos Gallery (New York)
• Jacky Strenz (Frankfurt)
• Galerie Bene Taschen (Cologne)
First-time exhibitors in Statements:
• Broadway (New York)
• Cooper Cole (Toronto)
• Gaga (Mexico City and Los Angeles)
• Hua International (Beijing and Berlin)
• Jhaveri Contemporary (Mumbai)
• LC Queisser (Tbilisi)
• Kendra Jayne Patrick (Bern and New York)
• sans titre (Paris)
• SMAC Art Gallery (Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Stellenbosch)
• Soft Opening (London)
But that’s not all – Art Basel in Basel isn’t just about the fair itself. The event also extends beyond the exhibition, with Basel’s world-class cultural institutions staging a program of exciting exhibitions and events throughout the week. So mark your calendars and get ready to experience the best in contemporary art, music, and cultural programming from June 15 to 18, 2023, with Preview Days on June 13 and 14. This is one event that no art lover should miss!
Art Basel 2023 in Basel, Switzerland: Highlights and What to Expect
Art Basel is a premier international art show that stages exhibitions for Modern and contemporary art in Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Paris. The show was founded in 1970 by gallerists from Basel, Switzerland, and has become one of the world’s most important art fairs. In this blog post, we’ll explore the highlights of Art Basel 2023 in Basel, Switzerland, and what you can expect from the show.
The Main Galleries Sector
Art Basel’s main galleries sector will feature 241 of the world’s leading galleries showcasing painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, photography, video, digital, and editioned works of the highest quality. This year, 21 newcomers and 12 galleries newly entering the principal sector of the fair will participate. Nine galleries that previously exhibited in Feature or Statements will also graduate into the main sector, showcasing the full range of their program.
The Feature Sector
The Feature sector is a newly revamped sector that focuses exclusively on art-historical projects. The sector will feature curated presentations from 16 galleries, including eight first-time exhibitors. Highlights from the sector include a re-staging of Colette Lumiere’s 1977 performance “sleep,” an immersive project by Brazilian artist Ana Amorim from 1991, Jamel Shabazz’s street photography from the 1980s, and a survey of works on paper by artist Sonia Delaunay.
The Statements Sector
The Statements sector is dedicated to emerging artists from across the globe and will feature 18 solo presentations and welcome ten new entries. Highlights from the sector include an immersive sculptural-video installation titled “Rare Tilt” by Chinese artist Stella Zhong, a series of new sculptures by American sculptor and performer Gordon Hall, an immersive installation by Georgian artist Tolia Astakhishvili, and a new, never-before-seen work by South African artist Bonolo Kavula.
The Unlimited Sector
Curated by Giovanni Carmine, Director of the Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, the Unlimited sector will feature around 70 large-scale installations and performances that transcend the dimensions of a traditional art fair booth. The sector will also include a sprawling superstructure situated in the Messeplatz that will act as the backdrop for a series of live concerts and performances organized in collaboration with Luc Meier, Director of La Becque Artist Residency.
The Parcours Sector
Curated by Samuel Leuenberger, founder of the non-profit exhibition spaces SALTS in Birsfelden and Country SALTS in Bennwil, the Parcours sector will showcase about 20 site-specific installations around the Münsterplatz and the city center of Basel. The sector will also feature a site-specific presentation by Moroccan, Swiss-based sculptor and installation artist Latifa Echakhch on the city’s Messeplatz.
The Kabinett Sector
The Kabinett sector is a mainstay section at Art Basel’s shows in Hong Kong and Miami Beach and will be introduced in the Basel edition for the first time. The sector will present exhibitors the opportunity to showcase concisely curated installations within their main booths.
Other Sectors
The show will also feature the Edition sector, which will spread across both floors of Hall 2 and feature ten leading galleries in the field of prints and editioned works. The sector will include “Connections” by Anni Albers on the Spotlight wall facing the Rundhof.
Art Basel 2023 in Basel, Switzerland will offer visitors an exceptional program of events and special projects throughout the fair week. Beyond the fair, the city’s premier museums and