The show
Our European edition takes place in Basel, a historically important city situated at the borders of Switzerland, France and Germany. During our show week, the city welcomes art lovers from all over the world, coming to view 20th and 21st century artworks from Modern masters and newly emerging stars worldwide. Over six days, the show attracted an attendance of roughly 98,000.
What to expect
Art Basel's reputation for showing work of the highest quality has attracted the leading international gallerists and collectors, offering visitors the annual opportunity to see exceptional artworks of every type. The show is organized around eight sectors, which together encompass a vast range of artistic mediums, including paintings, sculpture, installations, film and videos, multiples, prints, photography, and live performance.
Sectors
Galleries
The anchor of Art Basel's show is its Galleries sector. Visitors will discover a breadth of Modern and contemporary works including paintings, drawings, sculpture, installations, prints, photography, video and digital art by more than 4,000 artists.
Feature
Projects from established and historical artists are precisely curated by gallerists in the Feature sector. Projects may include solo presentations, juxtapositions, and thematic exhibits from artists representing a wide range of cultures, generations, and artistic approaches.
Statements
Statements presents exciting new solo projects by emerging artists, who are eligible to receive the prestigious Baloise Art Prize. The Baloise Group acquires artworks by the award-winning artists, which it then donates to important European art institutions.
Edition
Leading publishers of editioned works, prints, and multiples exhibit the results of their collaboration with renowned artists, providing visitors the opportunity to see significant, and rare publications.
Unlimited
Curated by New York-based curator Gianni Jetzer, Unlimited is Art Basel's pioneering exhibition platform for projects that transcend the classical art-show stand, including massive sculpture and paintings, video projections, large-scale installations, and live performances.
Parcours
The Parcours sector engages the public and fairgoers by placing site-specific sculptures, interventions, and performances in the city's neighborhoods. Artworks by renowned established artists and emerging talents will be on display on and around Basel's Münsterplatz. The 2016 edition is curated by Samuel Leuenberger of SALTS exhibition space.
Film
Art Basel's week-long program of films by and about artists is curated by Maxa Zoller. Known for her roaming series of experimental film screenings, Zoller plans a diverse and challenging program of works that together create a dialogue about the medium of film today.
Magazines
Art publications from around the world display their magazines in single-magazine stands or the collective booth. Editors and publishers often attend the show and many magazines contribute presentations to Salon, our afternoon series of lectures and discussions by prominent members of the artworld.
Curators
UNLIMITED
Gianni Jetzer
UNLIMITED
Gianni Jetzer is Curator-at-Large at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, and critic based in New York. He has realized numerous exhibitions in his positions as curator at Migros Museum in Zurich, Director of Kunsthalle St. Gallen, and Director of Swiss Institute in New York. As a critic, Jetzer has written articles for many notable catalogs, art magazines, and newspapers.
FILM
Maxa Zoller
FILM
Maxa Zoller is a film curator and art lecturer based in Cairo. Zoller has presented experimental film screenings at Tate Modern, South London Gallery, Filmmuseum Munich and the Centre of Contemporary Art Geneva. Currently, she is co-curating a solo exhibition of Anthony McCall at EYE Filmmuseum, Amsterdam.
Talks
Art Basel's stimulating program of Conversations & Salon talks allow audiences to deepen their knowledge of artistic practice, the international artworld, and the art market.
The daily Conversations series offers the audience access to the thinking of important artworld players –artists, curators, critics and collectors –who offer their unique perspectives on producing, collecting and exhibiting art.
Salon is an open platform for dozens of short, often informal presentations, such as artist talks, panels, lectures and performances with a range of speakers representing many different aspects of the artworld.
Conversations & Salon is programmed by Mari Spirito.
VIDEO
Watch more talks
View a selection of videos. For all videos from our series of talks, please see the Art Basel channel on YouTube.
Future dates
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2017
June 15 – 18
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2018
June 14 – 17
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2019
June 13 – 16
More info
Find all the basic information you need to enjoy your visit to the Basel show.
Getting Here
Plan your visit to the Basel show with helpful information about travel and accommodations.