WHAT IS IT?
Art Basel stages the world’s premier Modern and contemporary art shows, held annually in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. Founded by gallerists in 1970, Art Basel has been a driving force in supporting the role that galleries play in the nurturing of artists, and the development and promotion of visual arts.
In addition to showing exciting works by world-renowned artists, Art Basel is always innovating, thus expanding its platform for new artists who represent the vanguard of the visual arts. Its worldwide reputation – earned over the last forty years – for showing work of the highest merit, and attracting the world’s leading gallerists and collectors, has made Art Basel the place where the artworld meets.
WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN?
Basel: 2015, June 18–21
Miami Beach: 2015, December 3–6
GALLERIES YOU MUST VISIT
A arte Invernizzi
François Morellet
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Almine Rech Gallery
Ida TURSIC & Wilfried MILLE
Landscape and Purple and Yellow, 2014
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Andréhn-Schiptjenko
Gunnel Wåhlstrand
Slope/Sluttning, 2014
Courtesy Andréhn-Schiptjenko, Stockholm.
Barbara Mathes Gallery
John Baldessari
Double Vision: Warhol Red, 2011
Courtesy of Barbara Mathes Gallery
Dvir Gallery
Adel Abdessemed
Mon Enfant
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Fergus McCaffrey
Mario Schifano
Untitled, 1967-69
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Galerie Carzaniga
Rolf Iseli
Abstrahlungen, 2014
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Galerie Denise René
Vasarely
Naï, 1949
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Galerie Guido W. Baudach
Thomas Zipp
A.B.: D.P. (Discrimination Performance), 2014
Courtesy Galerie Guido W. Baudach, Berlin, Photo: Roman März
Galerie Lahumière
Jean Dewasne
Apothéose de Marat – 1951
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Galerie Michael Haas
Oskar Kokoschka
Elza Temary, 1926-27
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Galerie Michael Haas
Georges Braque
Compotier aux trois pommes, 1941
Courtesy the artist and the gallery and Lea Gryze c/o DIE REPROFOTOGRAFEN
Galerie St. Etienne
Egon Schiele
Two Reclining Nudes, 1918
courtesy Galerie St. Etienne, New York
Galerie St. Etienne
George Grosz
Wine Bar, 1925
courtesy Galerie St. Etienne, New York
Galerie Thomas Zander
Mitch Epstein
Untitled, New York, 2014
© Black River Productions, Ltd. / Mitch Epstein, courtesy Galerie Thomas Zander, Cologne
Galerie Vera Munro
GÜNTHER FÖRG
Untitled, 10 parts, 1988
Courtesy Galerie Vera Munro
kurimanzutto
Daniel Guzmán
Sin título. De la serie: “Chromosome Damage”, 2014
courtesy of the artist and kurimanzutto, Mexico City
Maccarone
Sarah Charlesworth
Tree, 2002
Courtesy of the Sarah Charlesworth Estate and Maccarone, New York.
Moeller Fine Art
Otto Piene
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Peter Blum Gallery
Yayoi Kusama
Pumpkin, 1982
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Petzel Gallery
Adam Mcewen
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Sperone Westwater
Lucio Fontana
Concetto Spaziale, 1961
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Take Ninagawa
Taro Izumi
2012
©Taro Izumi, courtesy of Take Ninagawa, Tokyo; Photo by Kei Okano
Waddington Custot Galleries
Jean Dubuffet
Site aux itinéraires, 9 septembre 1975
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Waddington Custot Galleries
Josef Albers
Study for Homage to the Square, 1972
Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Art Basel Latest News:
Art Basel returns this June for its 46th Basel edition with 284 premier galleries, drawn from 33 countries, presenting premier works ranging from the Modern period of the early 20th century to the most contemporary artists of today. The show will be open to the public from Thursday, June 18, to Sunday, June 21, 2015 with two preview days on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 16 and 17 (by invitation only).
Galleries, the main sector of the show, will feature 223 galleries presenting the highest quality of painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, photography, video and editioned works. A strong list of returning exhibitors is joined by three galleries who will exhibit within the sector for the first time, having previously shown in Statements or Feature. These galleries are Rodeo, Take Ninagawa and Vilma Gold.
The Feature sector presents galleries with precise curatorial projects, showing both historical and contemporary work. This year’s expanded edition will feature 30 galleries from 13 countries across both exhibition floors in Hall 2. Highlights of Feature include Michelangelo Pistoletto (Luxembourg & Dayan), John Cage (James Cohan Gallery), Constant (Borzo Galler), Andrea Bowers (Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects), Jiro Takamatsu, Nobuo Sekine, Kishio Suga, Susumu Koshimizu and Koji Enokura (Tokyo Gallery + BTAP), Judith Bernstein (Karma International), Nancy Holt (Parra & Romero), David Hammons (Salon 94) and François Dufrêne, Daniel Spoerri, Jacques Villeglé, Jean Tinguely, Martial Raysse, Alain Jacquet, Niki de Saint Phalle, Yves Klein and Arman (Galerie Georges-Philippe & Nathalie Vallois).
Solo presentations in the Statements sector offer visitors and collectors the opportunity to discover the work of emerging artists and young galleries. This year, eight of the 16 galleries exhibiting within Statements will be new to the show: Marcelle Alix, James Fuentes, Grey Noise, Hannah Hoffman Gallery, JTT, Platform China, Galerie Gregor Staiger, Wallspace.
Unlimited, Art Basel’s unique platform for projects that transcend the limitations of a traditional art-fair stand, will be curated for the fourth year by Gianni Jetzer, with around 70 works ranging from large-scale sculptures and paintings to video projections, installations and live performances.
Parcours, a series of site-specific sculptures, interventions and performances by renowned international artists and emerging talents, presented by Art Basel galleries, will be curated for the third time by Florence Derieux and will take place around the Münsterplatz area near the Basel cathedral.
Screened at Stadtkino Basel and curated for the first time by Maxa Zoller, the Film program will run from Monday, June 15 to Saturday, June 20 while the Talks program will take place in the auditorium within Hall 1 from Wednesday, June 17 to Sunday, June 21 offering audiences access to first-hand information on the international art world.
TOP 10 ART MAGAZINES
Elle Décor
Architectural Digest
Dwell
Metropolis Magazine
Wallpaper
I-D UK
Luxe
Surface
House Beautiful
Interior Design
Art Basel and the BMW Art Journey
Art Basel and BMW have launched the BMW Art Journey, a first-of-its-kind award that enables selected artists to design a journey of creative discovery to a destination of their choice. Inspired by travel and the boundless diversity of places, encounters and experiences, artists will have the chance to conduct research, discover new ideas and themes, and create new work.
On March 14th, jury members Richard Armstrong, Director Guggenheim Museum, New York; Claire Hsu, Director Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong; Matthias Mühling, Director Lenbachhaus, Munich; Shwetal Patel, Independent Curator India; and Pauline J. Yao, Curator M+ Museum, Hong Kong, selected the artists shortlisted for the BMW Art Journey:
– Mika Tajima
– Trevor Yeung
– Samson Young
For additional details please visit BMW Art Journey and watch the video below.
ART BASEL 2015 – THE CURATORS
Gianni Jetzer
Gianni Jetzer is a curator 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 catalogues, art magazines, and newspapers.
Florence Derieux
Florence Derieux is the Director of FRAC Champagne-Ardenne, which conceives and produces exhibitions of contemporary art, and organizes educational activities and events to engage the public in contemporary art. She has curated independent projects worldwide and has authored several books, essays and articles on the subject of contemporary art and artists. She lectures frequently at art institutions around the world.
This Brunner
This Brunner has over 40 years of experience in the film industry in Switzerland and abroad. He is a member of the European Film Academy and the Swiss Film Academy, and a well informed observer of the world cinema and the international film festival scene. He has been the curator of the Art Basel’s Film sector since 1992, and Film curator for Art Basel in Miami Beach since 2002.
Maxa Zoller
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.
THE MOST IMPORTANT TALKS
Art Basel hosts a series of conversations and talks on a range of subjects, including the collection and exhibition of art, understanding art from a geographical and historical perspective, and timely topics concerning the contemporary art scene. Artists, gallerists, art historians, curators, museum directors, publishers, and collectors participate in panel discussions, book signings, and interviews.
Starting in 2004, the daily Conversations series has been a premier platform for dynamic dialogs between prominent members of the international artworld, each offering their unique perspective on producing, collecting, and exhibiting art. In all, more than 300 speakers have taken part in these panels.
Adding a more freestyle dimension to our talks program, the Salon program (which started in 2002 as Art Lobby) serves as an open space for short presentations such as artist talks, concise panels, and even performances – often quite informal – with an even broader range of speakers.
Since 2008, both series have been recorded on video and made almost immediately available online. Here you can find the complete archive of our past Conversations and Salon talks, as well as PDF transcripts of all earlier Conversations panels.
TOP 5 EXHIBITIONS YOU MUST ATTEND
Matthew Marks is pleased to announce an exhibition of new works by Ellsworth Kelly in his galleries at 502, 522, 526 West 22nd Street and 523 West 24th Street. Kelly has exhibited with the gallery for over two decades, and now for the first time — on the verge of his ninety-second birthday — he has filled all four of Matthew Marks’s Chelsea spaces with new works.
Fraenkel Gallery is pleased to present Richard Misrach: Being(s) 1975-2015, on view from April 9 – May 30, 2015. This survey exhibition traces the appearance of the human figure in Misrach’s photographs across the entire span of his career, from 1975 to the present.
Bernier Eliades
The exhibition brings together a new body of work which, according to the artist’s working method, looks at first glance like mere objects of everyday life, metal suitcases or steel filing cabinets, which evoke the idea of the commercial gallery or the office.
BASEL CITY GUIDE
Top Restaurants to try in Basel City
Basel’s culture, elegance and rich history is much reflected in the city’s award-winning restaurants. Offering local and international cuisine in beautiful peaceful surroundings, Basel Shows will have little dificulty in discovering perfection in what concerns to luxury and romantic ambiance. If you’re strolling down Basel’s romantic and magical streets seeking for a romantic place to spend some sweet moments with your beloved one, here you have our suggestions for the most luxury and romantic restaurants in Basel. Enjoy!
Awarded 2 Michelin stars and 18 Gault Millau points, Cheval Blanc entices you on a journey of sun-kissed shapes and shades, tempting you with Mediterranean haute cuisine. The extensive wine list with over 800 positions holds an attractive selection of rare vintages and a large selection of wines from the Château Cheval Blanc, from where the restaurant gets its name. On fine summer days, the romantic terrace on the Rhine provides many moments to remember.
For table reservations and further information call: +41 61 260 50 07
Enjoy a birds eye view of Basel from the top floor of the Messeturm tower in this chic contemporary bar. Mingle with the hipster crowd on the dance floor, chill out on the luxurious lounges, or throw a private party that no-one will forget.
For table reservations and further information call: +41 61 361 30 31
The beautifully located 14th century castle surrounded by water and nestled amidst a romantic park, is located southerly from Basel and has been tastefully refurbished in the last few years. In an unrivaled atmosphere we offer you stylish and private saloons and an exquisite restaurant with cozy garden terrace who invite you to enjoy a fine-dining cuisine awarded with 15 Gault Millau points.
For table reservations and further information call: +41 61 421 15 15
Where time stops and charm of this traditional old postal office operates. The warm ambiance invites you to enjoy the happiness of the food in an intimate context in-house or on the summer garden with its century old trees. A special moment where you discover the talent of Chefs Marco & Laurent who are cooking for you with passion exceptional meals with seasonal and fresh products from the region. Anne Arbeit, the wine expert of the house will take care of you with giving you all advises you need to make the best complement to this exceptional meal.
For table reservations and further information call: 0033.3.89.81.52.81
The gourmet restaurant Bel Etage on the 1st floor of the Art Hotel has the intimate character of a salon and is devoted to self-indulgence. The four interconnecting rooms can accommodate up to 80 people. All rooms can also be closed off individually for use by smaller groups of up to 24 people. The daily changing offer includes à la carte dishes and different sizes of menu. A business lunch is offered at lunchtime. Each course is offered with an accompanying wine by the glass or a wine set combined with the menu.
In good weather, the Restaurant Bel Etage moves under the protective sun sail in the garden of the Gallery Hotel.
For table reservations and further information call: +41 61 261 10 10
Dinner is served entirely in the dark, and guests are waited on by blind or partially sighted staff, who expertly guide them to table and ensure they are attended to throughout the evening. The aim is to encourage diners to use alternative senses: smell, hearing and touch to enjoy their culinary experience. Blindekuh Basel Sicht-Bar and event room are available for exclusive use, should the elite traveler wish to treat their guests to this unique experience in total VIP exclusivity.
For table reservations and further information call: 061 336 33 00
St. Alban-Eck
Located in a 750-year-old medieval building that still boasts the original oak door and stone settings, St. Alban-Eck is traditional Basel at its best. Carefully prepared under the watchful eye of Chef Mario Peters, the menu truly dazzles, with the signature Cheese Fondue the highlight of his fantastic selection. For the elite traveler, St. Alban-Eck offers the opportunity to dine in complete privacy in its exclusive first floor dining area. With a unique interior and incomparable service, St. Alban-Eck is the perfect place to taste history and fine dining in one mouthful.
For table reservations and further information call:+41 61 271 0320
Viva! Das Restaurant
This wonderful light-filled space is beautifully furnished and has a classy yet relaxed atmosphere. The menu uses regional products of the highest quality and delicately prepared to retain original flavors. Wild herbs and plants grown from the Viva! garden are imaginatively used by chef, Erik Schroeter, who oversees a kitchen dedicated to delivering dishes of the highest standard. During the summer months Viva! opens its summer terrace, where diners can enjoy superb dishes alfresco while waiters circulate with individual trolleys laden with drinks, canapés, cheeses and gourmet bites.
For table reservations and further information call: +41 61 401 5680
Where to stay during Art Basel?
Switzerland is always a classic and romantic destination, and during Art Basel the city is filled with people from around the world.
We selected some of the most suitable luxury hotels of Basel for you to spend this special show.
Switzerland is all in one, the country has beautiful landscapes, luxury streets and it is one of the best places for winter sports. Therefore, you can shopping at Rue do Rhône or go for a romantic walk next Lake Léman.
We think the best Valentine city breaks should be stress-free time enjoyed in each other’s company, and if the accommodation is a luxury hotel, so much the better!
Which of the following hotels would you pick for your Valentine’s Day?
PRESS RELEASE: Tiravanija, Hirsch And Muller Installation Unveiled For Art Basel In June
A new installation by Rirkrit Tiravanija, Nikolaus Hirsch, Michel Müller and Antto Melasniemi is unveiled as part of Art Basel, this June.The installation will be a focus in the Messeplatz entrance of the fair.
Titled; ‘DO WE DREAM UNDER THE SAME SKY‘ this conceptual work will be an extension of Rirkrit Tiravanija’s and Thai artist Kamin Lertchaiprasert’s project ‘the land’, a self-sustaining artistic community near Chiang Mai in Thailand that engages with the idea of an artistic utopia, presenting an ecological and sustainable model for future artistic practice. Including a herbal garden, kitchen, communal dining and meeting area, the project will involve collaborations with engineers Bollinger + Grohmann and students from the Institute of Art of the FHNW Academy of Art and Design in Basel and the Städelschule in Frankfurt to activate the work during the fair.
‘DO WE DREAM UNDER THE SAME SKY’ can be seen and experienced as a visually striking large-scale work at the entrance to the fair and as a platform for communication. The installation invites the audience to enter a sphere of recovery and community amidst the excitement of the art fair. Creating a place of hospitality, visitors can engage through the activities on offer, such as the drinking of herbal tea plucked fresh from the on-site garden, the preparation and eating of food. The food will be rooted in Thai tradition and will be available with no fixed schedule, menu or price list: compensation is self-determined, by self-serving, serving others, donations or even participating in the cooking or washing up.
The activities and events will be run in close collaboration with students from Basel and Frankfurt, who will be working alongside Tiravanija and Melasniemi running the kitchen, preparing food and organizing additional events. Both schools, Städelschule in Frankfurt and the FHNW Academy of Art and Design in Basel, have a cooking tradition with students being experienced in running experimental kitchens and testing new concepts of hospitality.
The installation will consist of a modular bamboo and steel structure designed by Nikolaus Hirschand Michel Müller within which the various themes of the project will be played out. Developed and executed in collaboration with Finnish chef Antto Melasniemi, the program will explore an ecological cycle beginning with the growing of herbs and continuing on to their use in the production of tea and culinary creations. Based on the idea of self-sufficiency, ‘DO WE DREAM UNDER THE SAME SKY’ will employ various alternative energy models including a solar kitchen.
The installation will function as a platform to further develop the artists’ ongoing ‘the land’ project in the form of a series of mini-symposia hosted by Hans Ulrich Obrist on themes and issues relating to the project.
At the end of the show, following its concept of transfer, the installation’s structure will be shipped to ‘the land’ in Chiang Mai where it will form the basis for a new workshop building that will host a range of artistic projects including artistic residencies, workshops, and seminars. ‘DO WE DREAM UNDER THE SAME SKY’ is commissioned by Art Basel.
