Gala Alica, a prominent contemporary artist, has been appointed as the new Artistic Director of the prestigious Kunsthalle Basel. The interview details her vision for the institution, which includes a renewed focus on interdisciplinary projects and supporting emerging artists from underrepresented regions.
Art Basel Hong Kong's return to full scale has catalyzed a surge of satellite exhibitions and gallery openings across the city. High-profile shows include major presentations of cyborg-themed works, neon-infused abstractions, and a focus on both established international names and emerging Asian voices. The city's art hubs, from the H Queen’s building to the Wong Chuk Hang industrial district, are hosting ambitious projects that coincide with the fair's VIP preview week.
A new report from Art Basel and UBS reveals that the global art market grew by 7% in 2024, reaching an estimated $67.8 billion. This recovery was primarily driven by a surge in high-value sales at auction, particularly in the $10 million-plus segment, which saw a 42% increase in value. The United States retained its position as the world's largest art market, while the UK overtook China to reclaim second place.
The Miami Herald's weekly "Art happenings" column provides a curated list of upcoming visual art events in the Miami area. It details specific exhibitions, gallery openings, and artist talks scheduled for the week, serving as a local guide for residents and visitors.
A new exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha, titled *Empire of Light: Visions and Voices from Afghanistan*, highlights Afghanistan’s art and history from pre-Islamic times to the present day. Running until 30 May and timed to Art Basel Qatar week, the show draws primarily from MIA’s collection, with loans from Qatari institutions and international lenders such as the National Museum of Asian Art at the Smithsonian. It includes historical objects like a 13th-century ewer and a 9th-century Qur’an folio, as well as contemporary works such as Khadim Ali’s *Un-Safe Heaven* (2025), a textile piece embroidered by Afghan men and women. No objects come from Afghan museums, but large-scale wooden models and glass vessels were produced in Afghanistan with help from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
Cathy Yan's new black comedy caper *The Gallerist*, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, follows Miami-based dealer Polina Polinski (Natalie Portman) as she tries to sell a corpse impaled on a sculpture during Art Basel Miami Beach. The film, co-written by Yan and James Pedersen, features a cast including Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Zach Galifianakis, Jenna Ortega, Charli xcx, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and leans heavily on art-world stereotypes for its farcical humor.
Design Miami has announced plans to launch a new edition in Dubai in early 2027, in partnership with the Dubai-based cultural enterprise Alserkal. The fair, currently celebrating its 20th anniversary in Miami Beach, also runs an annual edition in Paris, while its Basel show was suspended earlier this year. The inaugural Design Miami Dubai will be led by Vilma Jurkute, executive director of Alserkal, Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Design Miami, and Jesse Lee, chairman of Design Miami and founder of Basic.Space, which acquired the fair in 2023. Beyond the annual event, the collaboration will establish a year-round programme of design talks and educational initiatives.
The New York Times reports that as Art Basel Miami Beach approaches, dealers and collectors are experiencing a palpable sense of anxiety. The article captures a mood of uncertainty in the art market, with gallerists expressing concerns about slower sales, shifting collector priorities, and the broader economic climate affecting the high-end art trade. Interviews with key figures reveal a cautious atmosphere ahead of one of the year's most important art fairs.
Art Basel Miami Beach 2025 is set to take place, bringing together leading galleries, artists, and collectors from around the world for its annual edition in Miami. The fair will feature a curated selection of modern and contemporary art, with special sections dedicated to emerging artists and large-scale installations.
Art Basel Paris (24-26 October) is introducing a new early preview slot called Avant Première on Tuesday 21 October from 3pm to 7pm, allowing participating galleries to invite up to six guests for an intimate viewing before the First Choice VIP opening on Wednesday 22 October. The change aligns the Paris fair’s schedule more closely with Art Basel’s flagship event in Switzerland, where First Choice VIPs enter on Tuesday. Galleries can nominate clients regardless of their VIP status, aiming to create a focused business engagement for their closest collectors.
Art Basel has announced the launch of Art Basel Qatar, a new international art fair set to debut in Doha. The fair will be held under the patronage of Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, and is expected to bring together leading galleries from around the world. The announcement marks a significant expansion of the Art Basel brand into the Middle East, following its existing fairs in Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Paris.
A comprehensive guide to Art Basel 2025 has been published, detailing the upcoming edition of the premier international art fair. The guide covers key information for attendees, including dates, venue details, participating galleries, and special programming highlights for the event scheduled in Basel, Switzerland.