The June Art Fair Edition
Art Basel is back, TEFAF returns to Maastricht, and Mayfair Art Weekend đ
It is a significant time in the global art world. The 2022 edition of Art Basel returned for the first time in its usual format since the pandemic began, opening to the public last Thursday with 289 galleries (just shy of the 290 it gathered for its last edition in 2019).
Its return has exceeded expectations with advisors describing a truly international gathering of artists, galleries and collectors:
Within the first hour, the aisles were teeming with so many art enthusiastsâcollectors, advisers, curators, writers, and moreâthat navigating the fair promised to be difficult. What a hassle, indeed!
The excitement of attending the event, which showcased the work of some 4,000 artists, was so tangible that one had to elbow their way through the crowd. Wave goodbye to masksâsocial distancing seems like a distant memory.
A bit of background: Art Basel is the leading international art fair, staged annually in Basel (Switzerland), Miami Beach, Hong Kong - and for the very first time this year - Paris. Started in 1970, the fair has become the biggest global platform connecting collectors, galleries, and artists. The last full shoe in 2019 attracted 93,000 visitors over six days, presenting 290 galleries from 35 countries and exhibiting the work of over 4,000 artists.
In addition to its main four fairs, the Art Basel name now encompasses a number of initiatives dedicated to âfortifying the art ecosystem at large.â Read about them here.
Back with gusto: After pushing through two cancellations and now facing a challenging economic climate, Art Basel is on a roll, defying the gloomy economy with soaring sales as reported by the FT on Friday. As Artsy writes, âThe Dow dropped 800 points, the S&P 500 fell into bear market territory, Bitcoin hit an 18-month low, and inflation concerns continued to stoke fears about an oncoming recession, but you wouldnât have known that financial chaos was raging at Tuesdayâs VIP opening of Art Basel in Basel.â
Supporting Ukraine: During a press conference, the Art Basel organisers announced a total donation of CHF110,000 (âŹ105,000) will be split between three humanitarian organisations helping victims.
Read up on the highlights:
The top booths of 2022 - according to Artsy, ARTnews, EuroNews, Artnet and Design Boom. Here are Artnetâs top picks in pictures.
7 Galleries That Sold Works at Art Basel 2022 from ARTnews.
Sales at Art Basel Fair Donât Show Signs of Downturn. (New York Times) Indeed, Louise Bourgeoisâs spider sculpture sold for $40 million, making it the priciest sale reported during the VIP Preview.
Visitors minting their own NFTs - a new exhibition in Art Basel (Basel) lets visitors co-create a new generative artwork that is minted as an NFTin real-time. More info from STIR World here.
Satellite fairs
While throngs of visitors return to Basel for the marquee art fair, there are a number of satellite fairs dedicated to design, photography, and more. Artnet has collated the highlights - click here for their âGo-To Guide for All the Art Fairs Taking Place During Art Basel 2022,â and for the concurrent museum shows - their â7 Exhibitions to See Around Town During Art Basel 2022,â from a survey of Piet Mondrian to a moody figuration by Michael Armitage.
One highlight is the 150th anniversary of Dutch avant-gardist Piet Mondianâs birth, which is being celebrated with exhibitions in the Netherlands and Switzerland.
To mark the anniversary, the Fondation Beyeler has organised a retrospective looking at Mondrianâs earliest abstract experiments, in which he painted windmills and seascapes, through his radical reinvention of painting with his Neo-Plastic canvases, which he began in the 1920s.
âYou can say that Mondrian wasnât even a visual artist,â said one of the curators. âHe was a composer.â
From the New York Times - âWant to Understand Mondrianâs Paintings? Try Dancing to Them.â
TEFAF returning to Maastricht this week
TEFAF, the European Fine Art Fair, is making an in-person comeback in Maastricht, the Netherlands, this Friday 24 June.
In the news:
An Art Fair That Collects Art Collectors. TEFAF, the European Fine Art Fair, is making an in-person comeback in Maastricht, the Netherlands, with new features and new finds for longtime fans. (New York Times)
An Event Filled With Art History Makes Room for Today. More contemporary galleries including White Cube are joining the offerings at the European Fine Art Fair, creating links between past and present. (New York Times)
TEFAF Maastricht Reveals First Look at Artworks. (Arts and Collections)
Mayfair Art Weekend 2022
A celebration of Londonâs famous art district, Mayfair Art Weekend sees all the best private galleries coming together to showcase artists. Kicking off with the famous Gallery HOP on Friday 24 June. This yearâs edition coincides with the Mayfair Sculpture Trail.
In the news:
Peter Blake, Great British Pop Artist, to Pop Up at Mayfair Art Weekend 2022. Works by Aotearoaâs own Billy Apple, Yoshitomo Nara, and Hans Hartung will also be shown during the event. (Ocula)
Helen Klisser During is recognised by Kea as a World Class New Zealander, is a Global Woman, and Ambassador of Auckland University of Technology.
The ArtCafé blog is put together with the help of Laura Cheftel.