It’s that time of the year again…
All art world eyes are turned to Basel in anticipation of next week.
We’re all already familiar with the big-name blue-chip galleries at these fairs, and though we’re eager to see what they present, they need no introduction. Instead, we thought we’d draw your attention to a few young galleries exhibiting next week.
Art Basel (Est.1970)
The original, the reason we’re all converging on Basel next week: the behemoth that is Art Basel, will present almost 300 exhibitors this year. In their Statements section (solo projects for emerging artists), London gallery Soft Opening (Est. 2018), ranked 48 in the United Kingdom, which focuses on UK-based and international emerging contemporary artists, will be showing at the fair for the first time with a solo presentation by Canadian artist Sin Wai Kin (b.1991) ranked 5,392 globally and 76 in Canada.
Wai Kin, who utilises performance, moving images, writing, and print, questions “the idealised image and the collective gaze”. They have significant momentum with a 12.43% annual growth in their ranking.
Liste Art Fair Basel (Est. 1996)
This year Liste Art Fair, which focuses on contemporary art, features over 80 galleries, all of which can be explored in detail on Artfacts. As Liste is known for presenting young galleries and artists, there is plenty to discover. The youngest gallery delivering exciting new works this year is Cologne and Amsterdam-based, diez (Est. 2022), founded by Diego Diez and ranked 295 in the Netherlands.
The gallery will present Ultra-Contemporary Iranian artist Rasoul Ashtary (b.1991) ranked 318,557 globally and 646 in Iran, whose paintings are described as probing “the instability within our senses, our memory, and ultimately ourselves”. Ashtary currently has a 29% annual ranking growth..
Photo Basel (Est. 2015)
The boutique-feel art fair based purely on photographic works will host 36 galleries this year. The fair presents work from artists ranging from emerging, to previously overlooked, to established. The Istanbul-based gallery, Versus Art Project (Est. 2015) ranked 15 in Turkey, founded by Leyla Ünsal and Mert Ünsal, focuses on contemporary art by both emerging talents and established artists.
The gallery will present works from three artists including Turkish artist and educator, Selim Süme (b.1978) ranked 86,893 Globally and 308 in Turkey. Süme explores the “fragility of the relationship between the image and reality” and currently has a 1.70% annual growth in ranking.
Volta Basel (Est. 2005)
This year Volta continues the tradition of presenting emerging galleries and artists for discovery but has changed their approach to a more curated offering. 30 invitation-only galleries will be presented, less than half of what they exhibited last year. They have also moved locations and are now at Klybeck 610.
One of the youngest galleries at Volta, African Arty (Est. 2020) ranked 8 in Morocco, is yet to announce who they will be presenting at Basel this year, but the gallery which is strategically based in Morocco has unique access to an area that is still underrepresented and we are keen to see what emerging artists they will bring. One such upcoming artist of theirs featured in the recent group exhibition Transmission was Nigerian-born Chiderah Bosah (b.2000) ranked 152,236 globally, and 119 in Nigeria and with a 12.78% annual ranking growth currently.
To sweeten your art week experience, we have arranged a special offer for those wanting to soak up the delights of Volta Basel next week with 2-for-1 tickets.
Use code VOLTA2FOR1 at checkout, or follow this link directly.
Whilst planning for next week, remember Artfacts is here for support: providing you with fast accessible information on an artist or gallery, helping you to understand the context of their positions in the art world so that you can make informed decisions.
Wishing everyone a successful, and enjoyable time in Basel!
P.S. We are dedicated to improving your overall experience of Artfacts. If you have 5 minutes of time, we would love to learn from you.
P.S. We are dedicated to improving your overall experience of Artfacts. If you have 5 minutes of time, we would love to learn from you.
Headerimage by Piotr Pietrus