Art Basel has announced that Nairy Baghramian and Ibrahim Mahama will create major new site-specific sculptures for the 2026 edition of its flagship fair in Switzerland. Baghramian will present "Modèle vivant (S’empilant)" (2026), an elaborate installation designed for the Messeplatz fountain, while Mahama's commission details are yet to be fully disclosed. Both artists are part of Art Basel's inaugural class of Gold Awardees, with the commissions first revealed in February 2026.
This announcement underscores Art Basel's ongoing commitment to commissioning large-scale public artworks that elevate the fair beyond a commercial marketplace, positioning it as a platform for contemporary artistic dialogue. The Gold Award program, now in its first year, signals a new investment in supporting living artists with significant public projects, potentially setting a precedent for other art fairs to follow.