With sales already on the rise, Art Basel 2024 debuted for VIPs on Tuesday, 11 June, with 285 galleries occupying the soaring convention center, Messe, in the heart of the Swiss city. The Messe Basel complex comprises five generously sized exhibition halls spanning a total area of 141,000 square meters. With a successful attendance of no fewer than 82,000 visitors in 2023, expectations are even higher this year for the public to explore 285 leading international galleries featuring artists ranging from early-20th-century Modern pioneers to emerging contemporary talents.
An early announcement of high sales has promoted a sense of optimism. By mid-afternoon on Tuesday, gallery Hauser & Wirth reported selling Arshile Gorky’s “Untitled (Gray Drawing (Pastoral))” from 1946-47 for $16 million, along with a work by Blinky Palermo for around $4 million and Louise Bourgeois’ sculpture “Woman with Packages (1987-93)” for $3.5 million. Gallery David Zwirner reported selling a Joan Mitchell diptych, “Sunflowers (1990-91),” for $20 million, as well as a 2016 Gerhard Richter “Abstraktes Bild” for $6 million.
As you enter the soaring Messe convention center, an electrifying buzz permeates the air, a palpable hum of excitement shared by art enthusiasts, collectors, and industry insiders alike. The meticulously curated booths showcase a breathtaking array of artistic expressions, from audacious avant-garde installations to masterful contemporary works, fostering an atmosphere of awe and inspiration. Beyond the main fair, Art Basel’s pioneering Unlimited sector redefines boundaries, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in monumental creations and captivating performances that transcend conventional formats. The vibe is one of contagious passion, where intellectual discourse seamlessly blends with celebrations of artistic brilliance, cultivating a delightfully charged ambiance that lingers long after the fair concludes. From the bustling aisles to the exclusive VIP lounges and to the energy in streets, Art Basel in Basel cultivates an unparalleled atmosphere that wholeheartedly embraces the very essence of art — a harmonious convergence of creativity, passion, and global cultural exchange.
(Art Basel: Basel 2024 is open to the public June 13 through 16 at Messe Basel, Messeplatz 10, 4058 Basel, Switzerland. Art Basel Miami Beach 2024 is scheduled for December 6 through 8 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. For more information, visit artbasel.com.)