Art Lovers Unite: the Ultimate Guide to Basel's Art Fair Week

Embark on a one-of-a-kind adventure during Basel’s Art Fair Week! From June 10th to 16th, art enthusiasts, collectors, and curious minds are invited to explore a diverse array of contemporary art displays in Basel, a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage. Within the swift time frame of just one week, Basel will be transformed into a thriving centre of artistic expression and cultural exchange, pushing and redefining the boundaries of creative exploration. 

To help you navigate the vibrancy of Basel’s art fairs and events, we have created this guide ensuring you are well-prepared to make the most of your time in Switzerland’s cultural capital.

OVERVIEW

VOLTA Basel

VOLTA Basel, taking place from June 10 to 16, has been the catalyst for discovering emerging artists in the contemporary market since 2005. The fair and its exhibitors strive for innovative curation and facilitate a unique international artistic discourse for collectors to uncover and support influential work deeply rooted in the modern day. It invites you to engage with new narratives from across the globe, by showcasing over 45 galleries from 24 countries, which makes it the most globally diverse edition of the fair yet. The newly curated VOLTA FIRSTS section provides a platform for emerging artists to integrate into the established VOLTA community, which highlights the fair's evolution towards greater diversity and inclusivity.

photo basel

photo basel is Switzerland's leading international art fair exclusively dedicated to photography-based art. It serves as a platform that unites galleries from around the world in a distinctive and authentic environment and that bridges the divide between the online and offline art markets. With a mission to enhance accessibility to photographic art, the fair actively encourages dialogue and participation. The fair’s line-up consists of 41 international galleries from 15 countries and 450 photographic artworks by 150 artists. photo basel takes place from June 10 to 16 in close proximity to Art Basel.

Design Miami/Basel

From June 11 to 16, Design Miami will return to the Messe Basel for the 18th edition of the fair, presenting a rich program of historic and contemporary collectible design. It features museum-quality 20th and 21st century furniture, lighting, and objects of art from the world’s top, expert-vetted galleries, in addition to showcasing immersive design collaborations with celebrated brands. The fair collaborates with over 25 exhibitors, including 9 newcomers making their debut.

Art Basel 

Art Basel, taking place from June 13 to 16, serves as a gathering point for the international art scene and collaborates with over 250 prominent galleries that showcase the works of over 4,000 artists from around the world. The fair offers a diverse programme that ranges from conversations with art industry professionals to movie nights. Additionally, a parallel program developed in partnership with local institutions is highly awaited. Art Basel serves as a platform for the world’s most renowned galleries and facilitates the showcasing and sale of artwork to collectors, museum directors, and curators.

June Art Fair

June Art Fair takes place from June 10 to 16 in a repurposed concrete bunker envisioned by Herzog & de Meuron, providing a more intimate ambiance in contrast to larger-scale fairs. The fair’s location reflects its aim to offer a new framework that differs from traditional art fairs. It emphasizes inclusivity, collaboration, and presents a carefully curated, diverse selection of participants from different parts of the world and generations. 

Liste Art Fair

Liste Art Fair Basel, held from June 10 to 16, offers a platform for exploring contemporary art movements and emerging talents. Annually, as part of the fair, the Helvetia Art Prize is awarded to young artists at the beginning of their career in order to provide them with the opportunity to establish themselves in the art world. This year, the fair will welcome 91 galleries from 35 countries, showcasing over 100 contemporary artists through solo and group exhibitions, as well as collaborative presentations. 

BASEL ART WEEK GUIDE

• Start your day at the June Art Fair, where you can explore a variety of contemporary artworks by artists from all around the world. The independent and community-based ethos of the fair finds its reflection beyond the walls of the venue and spreads to Landhof Community Garden. So, make sure to visit this oasis of calm to recharge, as it is in close proximity to the fair.
• Head over to Liste Art Fair and join their public vernissage. There you can get a first glance at the artworks and exhibitors that are featured in the fair. This is also the perfect opportunity to exchange first impressions of Basel’s art scene.
• End the day with the Liste Art Fair Basel x Swiss Art Awards Opening Party at Kaserne Basel. Kaserne Basel stands out as a leading hub for independent contemporary theater, dance, performance, and popular music in Switzerland. The cultural centre collaborates with young artists and musicians from around the world. During the opening party, you will get the chance to enjoy a live set by OKO DJ and the Basel based Safety First Crew. 

• Explore the vibrant art scene in Mulhouse, France with a guided tour organized by Art Basel. The day begins with a visit to the temporary exhibition 'Darra, Zahra, Jabal' by Younès Rahmoun at La Kunsthalle. After that you’ll get the chance to get to discover Motoco, a space housing over 100 artist studios on a former industrial site. During your breakfast and coffee break (courtesy Art Basel), you can discuss your experiences with other participants. A shuttle service will run from Art Basel to La Kunsthalle Mulhouse departing at 9 am and returning to Art Basel at 1 pm. If you plan to take part in the tour, it is best to reserve a spot on Art Basel’s website. 
• After the guided tour, continue the day with a visit to photo basel, which is Switzerland's leading international art fair exclusively dedicated to photography-based art. The highlights of this fair are ‘Eyewitness Kurt Wyss in dialogue with Jean Dubuffet’, a special exhibition dedicated to Basel photographer Kurt Wyss, and beyond photography – a curated selection of artworks that transcend the traditional picture of photography, namely by mixing photography with other techniques and media.
• Make your way to VOLTA Basel, which offers innovative curation and crates space for a unique and international artistic discourse. It invites you to engage with new narratives from across the globe, showcasing over 45 galleries from 24 countries. Be sure to check out the newly curated VOLTA FIRSTS section which provides a platform for emerging artists to integrate into the established VOLTA community. This edition of the fair highlights VOLTA's evolution towards greater diversity and inclusivity. If you feel hungry after a long day, consider stopping by the VOLTA art restaurant that is conveniently situated at the fairgrounds.

• Begin your day with a visit to the Kunstmuseum Basel, one of the oldest and most renowned art museums in Switzerland and worldwide. During Basel Art week, there are three contemporary exhibitions that you should not miss out on: ‘Dan Flavin: Dedications in Lights’, ‘When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting’ and ‘Ingenious Women: Women Artists and their Companions’. The three shows have all the chances to successfully cater to a diverse range of interests by addressing the most current issues.
• Next head to the Cartoon Museum Basel. This truly unique museum sets its focus on narrative art. During your visit, you can explore the contemporary exhibition entitled ‘Richard McGuire. Then and There, Here and Now’. It offers insight into the life and work of Richard McGuire, a true standout in the world of contemporary comics.
• During the art fair week, don’t miss the Kunsthalle Basel Night, starting at 7pm. It is a special event offering late access to the Kunsthalle Basel, during which you will get the chance to explore 'Commitments' by Ghislaine Leung and 'Ilé Oriaku' by Toyin Ojih Odutola. Additionally, from 7:30 to 8 p.m., you can enjoy a reading featuring artists Toyin Ojih Odutola and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, showcasing a mix of collaborative and individual works, including poetry and fiction.

• Design Miami/Basel features museum-quality 20th and 21st century furniture, lighting, and objects of art from the world’s top, expert-vetted galleries. The cherry on top of the splendid selection are the immersive design collaborations with celebrated brands. The fair opens its floor space to over 25 exhibitor presentations, including 9 newcomers making their debut. Design Miami/Basel is open from 10am-7pm, so there is plenty of time to explore the fair.
• You can also opt to visit the ‘I Never Read, Art Book Fair Basel’ from 3pm until 5pm. It is an event dedicated to contemporary art books, where publishers, artists, designers, and authors come together to showcase, discuss, and sell their latest publications that cover the latest trends and discussions in the art world. The ‘I Never Read, Art Book Fair Basel’, collaborates with the Liste Art Fair and is accompanied by a radio program featuring talks, readings, and music. With approximately 100 exhibitors from around the world, it is the largest festival of its kind in Switzerland. 
• Join the opening of 'REAL LIFE' Alana Alireza and Geraldine Belmont at Art Forum Baloise Park at 5pm. Baloise features exhibitions by young curators and allows them to make use of the Art Forum Baloise Park premises so that they can share their freshly gained knowledge with a broader audience for 6 months at a time. Don't miss the chance to see the work of the next generation of art curators.

• Engage in the conversation ‘Tokyo and beyond: Cultural translation in artistic practices’, scheduled for 11am-12pm. This panel, organized in collaboration with Art Week Tokyo, invites artists who engage with Japan to discuss issues of cultural translation and hybridity in their work. It features artists Yuko Mohri from Tokyo and Ming Wong from Berlin. Moderating the discussion is Andrew Maerkle, the Tokyo-based editorial director of Art Week Tokyo, who also works as a writer, editor, and translator. You can join the discussion in the Auditorium, Hall 1. It is recommended to reserve a spot in advance.
• Parcours is an annual showcase of site-specific installations, sculptures, interventions, and performances in public spaces and historical sites across Basel. It aims to encourage visitors to engage with the city's cultural and architectural heritage while encountering contemporary artworks. Parcours is curated by Stefanie Hessler and features exhibitions that traverse vacant stores, businesses, hotels, restaurants, and other everyday spaces on Basel's Clarastrasse. The show explores themes of transformation, globalization, and ecology through site-specific projects. You can explore Parcours daily from 10 am to 8 pm. Alternatively, you can also opt to join a guided tour at 3pm by reserving a ticket on the Art Basel Website. 
• From 5pm-6pm, you will have the opportunity to participate in another interesting conversation at Art Basel, namely ‘Make me laugh: Harnessing the power of humor and satire’. The main theme of this discussion is the significance and effectiveness of humor in contemporary visual arts. It discusses how artworks infused with humor can evoke laughter, challenge authority, and provoke deeper contemplation, serving as a powerful tool for conveying bold confrontation and subtle criticism. The panel features artists Monster Chetwynd and Sophie Jung and is moderated by Tom Morton. It is recommended to reserve a spot in advance.
• In the evening, make sure to join the final Parcours Performance by Mandy El-Sayegh at 7:15pm. The program features fresh performance pieces designed for Art Basel Parcours, inspired by various sources such as prayer rituals, trance states, and the dissemination of images in news media. The performance interacts with El-Sayegh's immersive installation, which is located in two vacant units within the Clara Shopping Centre.

• During the Basel Art week, you can visit the contemporary exhibition ‘Virtual Beauty’ at the HEK (House of Electronic Arts). The international group exhibition investigates how emerging technologies and our progressively digital lifestyles are redefining traditional concepts of identity and transforming our perception of beauty. It features installations, photography, digital art, and film that aim to focus on the consequences of technological progress on our physical and virtual bodies.
• Continue the day at Liste Art Fair and remember to check out the performances by Luana Vitra at 2pm at the exhibition hall and by Wren Cellier at 18:30 at the entrance. Both performances are part of the programme Mythic Beings, curated by Elise Lammer. While Cellier’s performance focuses on the exploration of expressing the vulnerability of the world through various elements such as vocals, live instruments, and soundscapes, Vitra explores the possibilities of drawing and the relationship between the artist's body and minerals.
• For a leisurely evening pastime, join the screening of Taking Venice, directed by Amei Wallach. The movie explores themes such as the intersection of art and politics during the Cold War, the power dynamics within the art world, and the tension between nationalism and artistic expression through the daring plan to promote Robert Rauschenberg at the Venice Biennale in 1964. After the screening, you will even have the chance to ask the director questions during a FAQ.

• The Museum Tinguely not only houses the world's largest collection of works by Jean Tinguely in the exhibition ‘La roue = c’est tout’, but also a variety of contemporary exhibitions throughout the year. During the Basel Art Week, the museum hosts the exhibition ‘Mika Rottenberg: Antimatter Factory’, which comprises significant video works and installations spanning from 2003 to 2019, alongside the debut of the new feature film ‘Remote’ (2022). Additionally, a fountain sculpture created specifically for the park exhibition in front of the museum will debut alongside innovative hybrid sculptures crafted from a blend of organic materials and recycled plastic.
• Another interesting museum worth checking out is the Kunsthaus Baselland, which recently relocated in a brand new building. In order to celebrate its reopening, make sure to visit the contemporary opening exhibition ‘Rewilding’, a group exhibition by various different artists from different backgrounds. You have the option to join a guided tour in English at 3 pm that offers insights into the museum's architecture and its present exhibitions. 
• If you seek alternatives to museum visits, you can also opt to join the performance called Unlimited by Anna Uddenberg at Art Basel from 2pm until 3:15pm, in which she activates her artwork Premium Economy on a daily basis.