This article highlights the best museum shows to see alongside Art Basel in Basel 2025, covering exhibitions at Fondation Beyeler, Schaulager, Kunsthalle Basel, Kunsthaus Baselland, and Kunstmuseum Basel. Featured artists include Vija Celmins, Jordan Wolfson, Steve McQueen, Ser Serpas, Dala Nasser, and Medardo Rosso, with works ranging from VR installations and immersive light-and-sound pieces to textile art and historical retrospectives.
These exhibitions matter because they offer visitors a rich cultural complement to the world's leading art fair, showcasing both established and emerging contemporary artists across diverse media. The shows also highlight Basel's role as a global art hub, where institutional programming deepens engagement with pressing themes like ecology, migration, and the boundaries of perception.