Art Basel 2025 Recap: A Guide to Highlights, Market Trends, and Must-See Artworks

Art Basel 2025, the Epicenter of the Art World recently brought the global art world together in Basel, Switzerland, with this year’s theme being “Second Nature“, genuinely living up to its reputation as the international art calendar’s pinnacle. Art Basel dates from June 19 to June 22, 2025. The city becomes an unparalleled hub of creativity, commerce, and cultural discourse, held in the prime venue, Messe Basel, and features vibrant events across the city. This year, around 289 galleries participated from 42 countries and territories. This edition proudly reaffirmed its status as the leading Art Basel art fair, offering an extraordinary and memorable glimpse into the finest 20th and 21st-century art. Its impact was felt by all who experienced it. Now, let’s take a recap on what this year Art Basel has offered us.  

Art Basel Events: A Curated Experience 

This year’s Art Basel events went beyond the standard exhibitions. From curated panel discussions and walkthroughs to live performances and immersive installations, the 2025 edition truly redefined the art fair experience. One of the standout events was the debut of the Premiere sector. The sector provided an exclusive platform to showcase notable contemporary and modern works from the past five years by up to three artists, with 10 galleries participating, and welcomed two new galleries that joined.  

Art Basel 2025 introduced the Art Basel Awards, presented in partnership with BOSS, which honoured trailblazers across the art ecosystem. The winners celebrated during a special summit on June 20th. Among the awardees were Cecilia Vicuña, an icon artist; Nairy Baghramian, Tony Cokes, Cao Fei, Ibrahim Mahama, Delcy Morelos, and Ho Tzu Nyen, in the Established Artists category, among others 444

Labubu dolls  

The Art Basel shop was also seen returning with limited edition pieces from Katharina Grosse, presented exclusive capsules from her collection that included limited edition hand printed soccer balls, transparent bags and more to limited-edition and viral sensation over the internet the Labubu monster toys by Hong Kong born artist Kasing Lung, the exclusive FC Basel collector’s jersey, artist Thomas Bayrle’s raincoat, and a limited-edition poster from artist Sasha Stiles.  

Notably, South African art took centre stage this year. In a powerful debut, several South African artists explored postcolonial narratives, sustainability, and identity, leaving collectors and critics deeply moved. This marked a significant cultural moment for African art on the global stage. The fair also debuted 20 new galleries from Europe, Asia, and America. Among them, Arcadia Missa (London), François Ghebaly (Los Angeles and New York), and Prats Nogueras Blanchard (Madrid and Barcelona) entered the primary Galleries sector directly. 

Art Basel Art Market Report & Sales Insight 

The Art Basel Art Market Report 2025, presented in partnership with UBS, highlighted promising growth trends. Global sales volumes continued to rise, with modern and contemporary works dominating the buying space. Despite economic shifts, the collector base remained strong and eager, especially for digital and socially conscious works. Although an uneven scene can be observed, many Gallerists at Art Basel 2025 noted a distinct shift in collector behaviour: increased price sensitivity meant sales closed more slowly than in previous years. Another key observation was the noticeable decrease in American attendees at the Basel Messe, with many speculating they might have opted for Art Basel’s Paris fair in October instead. Furthermore, the vibrant energy typically seen on the VIP preview day didn’t consistently carry through the entire fair, seemingly confirmed by a reported drop in overall visitor numbers compared to last year. 

However, one of the most expensive pieces that led to the reported sales on the VIP Day:  

• David Hockney, Mid-November Tunnel (2006), oil painting Sold for $13–$17 million at Annely Juda Fine Art booth One of the most expensive pieces sold during VIP Day 

• Ruth Asawa, sculpture Sold for $9.5 million at David Zwirner 

• Gerhard Richter, painting Sold for $6.8 million at David Zwirner 

• Dana Schutz, two paintings Sold for $1.2 million and $850,000 

• On Kawara, diptych Sold for $1.3 million 

These five works were among the highest-selling pieces at Art Basel 2025.  

Despite economic pressures and geopolitical tensions, the fair witnessed robust sales, particularly for well-established artists. Early reports indicated significant transactions, including multi-million-dollar sales for works by contemporary masters and modern pioneers. Galleries reported strong interest across all segments, with notable acquisitions by institutions and a continued momentum for first-time exhibitors. 

Art Basel 2025 Highlights 

CHOIR  

Art Basel’s Parcours sector was once again curated by Stefanie Hessler, Director of the Swiss Institute in New York (SI). This thoughtfully arranged public art exhibition stretched along Clarastrasse towards the Rhine, including the Merian, providing a unique public cultural experience. 

Among the most talked-about pieces is Katharina Grosse’s first Messelplatz project, “CHOIR“. She painted the surroundings with her signature spray gun technique using magenta colour, curated by Natalia Grabowska, curator at Large, Architecture and Site-Specific Projects at the Serpentine Gallery, London. Then, Jordan Wolfson’s VR experience at the Fondation Beyeler. Then the Massimodecarlo’s booth with outstanding works that included pieces like Tomoo Gokita’s “Dead Family” 2024 portrait, then Elmgreen & Dragset’s “60 Minutes (marble”) (2024), a chalk-white sculpture of a just-larger-than-life-size boy atop a washing machine, provides an immediate entry point. Then, works by Korea’s leading figure in post-war art, avant-garde artist Seung-taek Lee, are featured in the Gallery Hyundai booth, among others.  

Top Must-See Works 

Theo Triantafyllidis’ Drift Lattice 

• Nadira Husain The Haunted Museum, Exit Procession Street (2024) 
• Theo Triantafyllidis Drift Lattice (2025) Presented by: The Breeder (Athens) in collaboration with Meredith Rosen Gallery (New York) – Parcours section
• Su Meng-Hung Desolate Landscape on the Golden Screens (2025) 
• Nicola Turner The Meddling Fiend (2024) 
• Kristina Schuldt Tochter der Luft (Daughter of the Air) (2025) 
• Leonora Carrington Sueño de Sirenas (Mermaid’s Dream) (1963) 

Beyond Basel: Upcoming Art Basel Events to Mark Your Calendar 

Art Basel Miami 

While Art Basel in Switzerland remains the flagship event, the global Art Basel calendar offers exceptional opportunities to experience world-class art across continents. For collectors and enthusiasts looking to delve deeper into the international art market, here are the dates and locations for the next editions: 

1. Art Basel Paris 2025

• Dates: October 24 – 26, 2025  

• Location: Grand Palais, Paris, France 

• Tickets: €110 (Vernissage), €650 (Premium Pass), €1300 (Premium connection pass).  

• Why it’s important: The Art Basel circuit quickly established itself, building bridges with France’s rich cultural industries and drawing a significant international presence. 

2. Art Basel Miami Beach 2025

• Dates: December 5 – 7, 2025  

• Location: Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, USA 

• Tickets: Will be displayed soon on the official website  

• Why it’s important: As the American edition, Art Basel Miami Beach is a vibrant hub for modern and contemporary art in the Americas, renowned for its lively surroundings during art week and dynamic atmosphere. 

3. Art Basel Qatar 2026 

• Dates: February 2026 

• Location: M7 and Doha Design District in Msheireb Downtown, Doha, Qatar 

• Tickets: Will be displayed soon on the official website  

• Why it’s important: Art Basel Qatar will debut as a concisely curated showcase celebrating Qatar’s vibrant cultural landscape and the dynamic arts ecosystem of the MENA region. 

4. Art Basel Hong Kong 2026

• Dates: March 27 – 29, 2026  

• Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, China 

• Tickets: Will be displayed soon on the official website  

• Why it’s important: The Hong Kong Fair features premier galleries from Asia and beyond. It provides an in-depth overview of the Asia-Pacific region’s astonishing diversity, as well as global artistic perspectives through Modern and contemporary works. 

Art Basel 2025 provided a thoughtful and inspiring look at today’s global art scene. Infact this year’s high-end sales demonstrated strong collector confidence and sustained appetite for museum-quality works. For collectors and curators, especially those aligned with Elisium Art’s mission to highlight exceptional contemporary pieces from emerging regions the event offered a rich space for discovery and connection. It reaffirmed that even amid evolving narratives and shifting trends, the demand for truly exceptional art remains powerful and resilient.