Art 42 Basel
Art 42 Basel: The Premier International Art Show
This year, the 42nd edition of Art Basel takes place in Basel, Switzerland, from June 15 through June 19, 2011. As the premier annual art show, Art Basel marks the summer reunion of the international artworld, hosted by the city of Basel, which has been a cultural capital for centuries.
More than 300 galleries from 35 countries on six continents will show works by over 2,500 artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. A frequent site of discovery by those seeking emerging artists, Art Statements features 27 one-person stands from rising galleries worldwide. Furthermore, exhibitors will present more than 50 ambitious works in the Art Unlimited sector. Bringing the show into the city, the site-specific projects and performances in the Art Parcours sector will transform a variety of locations throughout the St. Alban neighbourhood.
Complimenting Art Basel's extensive offerings, the city's museums and institutions once again stage fascinating exhibitions, featuring the artists Constantin Brancusi, Richard Serra, Francis Al˙s, R.H. Quaytman, Konrad Witz and Henrik Olesen.
Founded by a group of local gallerists, the first Art Basel took place in 1970 and the event has long ranked as the most prestigious annual art show worldwide. The quality and diversity of the artworks exhibited regularly attracts more than 60,000 artists, collectors, gallerists, museum directors, curators, and art enthusiasts. Art 42 Basel showcases every form of artistic expression, including paintings, drawings, editions, sculptures, installations, photography, performances, and video art. Inexpensive works by emerging artists are on offer, alongside museum-quality masterpieces priced in the millions.
More than 300 of the world's leading galleries exhibit at Art Basel, selected from more than 1,000 applicants by the Art Basel Committee, an international jury of renowned gallerists. These include 73 from the United States; 50 from Germany; 32 from Switzerland; 31 from Great Britain; 23 from France; 20 from Italy; 8 from Belgium; 7 each from Japan and Spain; 6 from Austria; 4 each from Brazil and Poland; 3 each from China, Denmark, India, Norway and the Netherlands; 2 each from Canada, Ireland, Mexico, Portugal, Sweden, South Africa and Turkey and 1 each from Argentina, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Lebanon, Russia, Slovenia, South Korea and Thailand. See a full list of exhibitors at www.artbasel.com/galleries.
Art Galleries and Art Edition sectors
Once again, the world's leading galleries will be exhibiting at the show, for which more than 99 percent of last year's exhibitors reapplied. This year's strong roster of returning participants are enhanced by diverse new exhibitors. Appearing for the first time in Art Galleries are Art: Concept (Paris), Blondeau (Geneva), Bortolami (New York), Isabella Bortolozzi (Berlin), Cabinet (London), gb agency (Paris), Holland-Hibbert (London), Joanna Kamm (Berlin), Regina (Moscow), Sfeir-Semler (Beirut), Standard (Oslo), and Vintage (Budapest). After a brief hiatus, Moeller Fine Art (New York) and Szwajcer (Antwerp) rejoin Art Basel's exhibitors in the Art Galleries sector. The multiples specialists in Art Edition are joined by Three Star Books (Paris). See a full list of exhibitors at www.artbasel.com/galleries.Art Statements Sector
A frequent site of discovery by those seeking to discover emerging artists, Art Statements this year spotlights 26 single-artist projects from younger galleries worldwide. The projects on display are new and created specifically for presentation in Art Statements. Since 1999, the Baloise Group has awarded its annual Baloise Art Prize to two outstanding Art Statements projects. This year, the prize stands at CHF 30,000 for each artist, in addition to which Baloise Group will also acquire works by the prize-winning artists and donate them to the Hamburger Kunsthalle and the MUMOK Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien. See a full list of Art Statements galleries at www.artbasel.com/statements.Art Feature Sector
After a highly acclaimed debut last year, Art Feature focuses on precise curatorial shows. 20 gallery projects - featuring artistic dialogues, solo shows and exceptional art historical material - will be presented on both floors of Hall 2, alongside the Art Galleries sector. See a full list of Art Feature galleries at www.artbasel.com/feature.Art Unlimited Sector
Art Unlimited spotlights more than 50 ambitious works, many of them created especially for Art 42 Basel. With the accent on innovative and large-scale pieces, Art Unlimited offers everything from outsize sculptures and installations to video projections, wall paintings, and performances. The exhibition concept has once again been elaborated in collaboration with Geneva curator Simon Lamuničre. See a full list of Art Unlimited projects soon at www.artbasel.com/unlimited.Art Parcours
While the inauguration of this sector last year took place around Munsterplatz, this year Art Parcours will transform a variety of unique locations throughout the St. Alban neighbourhood. For the entire duration of the show, the second edition of Art Parcours offers visitors site-specific artworks and performances by internationally renowned artists and emerging talents. Wednesday to Saturday 2pm to 10pm, Sunday 2pm to 7pm (Art Parcours Night on Thursday, 8pm to 12midnight). This array of high-caliber pieces - selected by Jens Hoffmann, Director of the CCA Wattis Institute in San Francisco - engages with today's Basel and with its long history, weaving artistic interventions into the fabric of the city. More information on Art Parcours soon at www.artbasel.com/parcours.Art Basel Conversations and Art Salon
Staged every morning (June 15 to June 19), Art Basel Conversations bring together prominent members of the international art scene. The Premiere of the Art Basel Conversations features a legendary artist. Further topics include:‘Public/Private: How Will Museums Be Able to Collect,' 'Collector Focus: Patronage and Politics,' ‘The Future of Artistic Practice: The Artist as Urbanist,' and 'What is Alternative – Alternative to What?' Additionally, an extensive daily program of artist conversations, book signings, discussion forums, and other presentations will take place in the Art Salon forum every afternoon. More information and the program of Art Basel Conversations and Art Salon soon at www.artbasel.com/conversations and www.artbasel.com/salon.
Art Film
Art Basel's week-long program of films by and about artists, Art Film, is curated by Berlin film scholar Marc Glöde (Berlin) and This Brunner, the Zürich collector with a long presence in the international film scene. Marc Glöde's program presents films by artists sub-divided into four evenings with different themes. More information on Art Film soon at www.artbasel.com/film.Art Basel Catalogs
Art 42 Basel publishes a lavish catalog, available as of May 2011, with Hatje Cantz. The high-quality publication contains reproductions of approximately 600 works, from Modern classics to the latest in cutting-edge art. The separately published, limited- Edition, Art Unlimited catalog will be available for purchase at Art Basel. More information on the catalog soon at www.artbasel.com/catalog.Smartphone App
After a successful launch of our Smartphone App last year, this year's Art 42 Basel app will offer visitors even more functions. Created not only for iPhones, iPads and iPod Touchs, but also Blackberrys and all the other smartphones, the Art Basel App will be ready for download at the end of May. More information on the smartphone apps soon at www.artbasel.com/apps.Museums in Basel
The exceptional lineup of shows this year during Art 42 Basel includes: 'Francis Al˙s: Fabiola' presented by Schaulager at the Haus zum Kirschgarten; 'Konrad Witz - The Unique Exhibition' at the Kunstmuseum Basel; 'Constantin Brancusi and Richard Serra' at the Fondation Beyeler; 'Henrik Olesen' at the Museum für Gegenwartskunst; 'Car fetish: I drive therefore I am' at the Tinguely Museum; 'R.H. Quaytman: Spine, Chapter 20' at the Kunsthalle Basel; and at the Vitra Design Museum, 'Zoom: Italian Design and the Photography of Aldo and Marirosa Ballo.' For a complete list of museum exhibitions, go to www.museenbasel.ch.Art Basel's Sponsors
Our lead partner, UBS, has a valued tradition of supporting the arts and has been the main sponsor of Art Basel for the past 18 years. At the Associate Sponsor level, Cartier, NetJets and AXA Art continue their valued partnership with Art Basel. Additional partners can be found at www.artbasel.com/sponsors.Design Miami/Basel
Under the new direction of Marianne Goebl, Design Miami/Basel, the global forum for collecting, exhibiting, discussing, and creating design, runs June 14 – 18, 2011, from 11am to 7pm and is again this year located in Hall 5 of the Basel exhibition grounds. For more details, please visit www.designmiami.com.Art Basel Miami Beach
Art Basel Miami Beach, Art Basel's sister event in the United States, will takes place December 1 – 4, 2011, in Miami Beach, Florida.For the latest updates on Art Basel, visit www.artbasel.com, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/artbasel and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/artbasel.
Information on Art Basel is available from:
Maike Cruse, Communications Manager, Art Basel & Art Basel Miami Beach
Tel. +41 58 206 27 06, maike.cruse@artbasel.com
Art Basel, CH-4005 Basel
US Office Art Basel:
FITZ & CO, Sara Fitzmaurice / Dan Tanzilli
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For the UK:
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Media information on the internet
Media information, photos, and logos can be downloaded directly from the internet at www.artbasel.com/press. Journalists can subscribe for our media mailings in order to receive information on Art Basel.