Now in its 45th year, Art Basel (19-22 June) still keeps the global standard of art fairs high. This year’s dedicated performance area—the touring “14 Rooms” exhibition (a partnership between the Fondation Beyeler, Theater Basel and the art fair)—was a refreshing addition, while the works on display in the main event showed how seriously most dealers take the Swiss fair. Sales seemed strong across the board—ranging from €19,000 for Kristina Schuldt’s Splendid Isolation, 2013 (Eigen + Art), to the staggering (even for Art Basel) $35m for Andy Warhol’s Self-Portrait, 1986 (Skarstedt Gallery). Many sales had been decided upon before the fair opened, skewing the results, as dealers now work hard to cover the costs of exhibiting at so many fairs around the world. For our full coverage of Art Basel,
see www.theartnewspaper.com
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as '1. Art Basel'