Asian collectors and dealers are increasingly choosing to skip Art Basel's flagship Swiss edition in favor of Art Basel Paris, citing the French capital's more appealing experience. Amid a market contraction, figures like Monique Leong are skipping Basel for the second year, while others such as Kankuro Ueshima, Rosy Wu, and Kazunari Shirai still attend. Notable appearances include K-pop star RM of BTS, who made his first public appearance after military service as Samsung Art TV's global ambassador. The fair saw Asian languages spoken widely, and young first-time collectors brought private guides to maximize their visit.
This shift matters because it signals a potential realignment of the global art fair circuit, with Paris emerging as a stronger draw for Asian buyers and dealers. The cooling enthusiasm for Basel among key Asian collectors could impact the fair's prestige and sales, especially as Art Basel Paris gains momentum. The presence of high-profile figures like RM also highlights how art fairs are leveraging pop culture to attract new audiences, while the continued participation of major Asian collectors underscores the region's enduring influence on the global art market.