Art Basel 2018

Art Basel is one of the most prestigious art fairs in the world. Each year it brings together all the key players of the international art world. For the 2018 edition, the fair brings together no less than 290 of the world's best art galleries and artworks by over 4,000 artists!

Art Basel has been around since 1970, making it one of the oldest art fairs. It was co-founded by three gallery owners from Basel, Ernst Beyeler, Trudl Bruckner and Balz Hilt. The first edition of the fair was called "ART" and brought together 90 art galleries from 10 countries. The fair evolved rapidly and only 5 years later it already included 300 exhibitors. Today, Art Basel's ambitions grow every year and it is constantly looking for new opportunities. It launched Art Basel Miami Beach in 2002 and Art Basel Hong Kong in 2013. The Miami Beach has a stronger focus on young artists and has dedicated the "Positions" sector to featuring their work.

Passionate collectors, representatives of the greatest museums and institutions and of course art amateurs all make their way to Basel to discover masterpieces of modern and contemporary art as well as hot new artists. The fair prides itself on its rigorous selection process and its ability to offer a high quality experience for its visitors. It regularly receives more than 1000 applications but only around 300 galleries are chosen. It is partly thanks to this careful selection that Art Basel maintains its important status within the contemporary art world.

This year, Art Basel is divided into several sectors. The largest is the "Galleries" sector, which consists of 226 art galleries and presents modern and contemporary art in all mediums: painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, installation and even video and digital art.

The "Feature" sector includes projects by renowned artists representing a wide range of cultures, generations and artistic approaches. You'll find solo presentations, juxtapositions and thematic exhibitions. Exhibited artists include, among others, Alex Katz, Irving Penn, Gerhard Richter, Rachel Whiteread and Helen Chadwick. The exhibition will be curated by the galleries representing the artists.

In the “Statements" sector, the spotlight is on emerging artists. The sector will present individual projects by a select group of emerging artists who are eligible for the Baloise Art Prize. There is also a section reserved for galleries specialised in prints and multiples and who work with well-known artists. Visitors will be able to discover rare and important works. Lastly, with “Unlimited", Art Basel gives a space to artistic projects that can't be presented in traditional gallery booths. This includes monumental sculptures and paintings, video projections, large installations and live performances.

If you can't make to Basel to experience this sensational art fair in person, you can find on explore artworks from participating galleries and artists on Artsper. You won't even have to leave your couch to have the best of the contemporary and modern art world right at your fingertips!