Art Basel I, a showcase of art from all over the world
This emblematic fair enables collectors and onlookers to admire works by more consolidated artists as well as discovering new artists coming onto the scene.
Every year in June, the small Swiss city of Basel becomes something akin to the “world art capital”. The city is the venue of the famous Art Basel, art fair, which, in its 48th edition to be held from 11th to 18th June, will bring together works by over 4,000 artists from the 291 most prestigious galleries in the world.
The “old lady” of modern and contemporary art fairs (it began in 1970), it is a unique convergence space, where visitors can see works ranging from canvases, sculptures, drawings and photographs through to installations and videos by artists from 34 countries.
The works are distributed into four themes: Features which hosts the galleries with pieces by more consolidated artists with longer-standing careers; Statements, the space for emerging projects; Edition, which is devoted to unique works that are fruit of collaborations, whilst Unlimited exhibits installations and the larger, more extravagant works, which are not usually on show in galleries.
It is, furthermore, an important market for art. It is calculated that over 95,000 visitors will view the collections installed over the 6 floors that make up the event. The important buyers, however, usually close prior sales agreements in the days preceding the event or before it opens to the general public.
“To give the fair a global accent, a namesake edition has been held in Miami since 2002 with a markedly Latin flavour, and in Hong Kong since 2012 to bridge the gap with emerging Asian art.”But art is not restrained to the 141,000 sq. m. of the exhibition centre, but rather it also takes over the city’s streets where visitors can enjoy the 'Parcours', works installed in some of the most emblematic spots in Basel. Moreover, in 2016, the event organisers managed to raise $1 million to fund independent art projects from Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the USA, Mexico, Thailand, to name just a few. This alternative initiative addresses financing needs in the arts and helps the applicant organisations to prosper and undertake new projects. BBVA in Switzerland does not wish to miss this chance of offering its clients the opportunity to meet with the avant-garde of art. This year we are organising the third edition of this event associated with Art Basel. It includes guided tours of galleries, museums and contact with the artists. A unique date with the art world.