At Art Basel 2025, Galleries Choose Focus Over Spectacle in a Volatile Market
By
Ela Bittencourt
Summary
The article reports on Art Basel 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, where galleries are responding to a volatile art market not with spectacle and flashy installations, but with focused, intimate presentations. Despite predictions that only the spectacular would succeed, many exhibitors chose to highlight individual artists with deep, concentrated displays. The piece contrasts the fair's quieter approach with the broader market's anxiety, noting that collectors are more cautious and selective. It features several galleries that opted for solo or two-artist booths, emphasizing quality and narrative over crowd-pleasing gimmicks. The article also touches on the geopolitical tensions present at the fair, including protests and discussions around the Israel-Hamas war, and notes the absence of some major galleries. Overall, it paints a picture of an art world recalibrating towards substance over spectacle in uncertain economic times.
Source
Twitter / XAt Art Basel 2025, Galleries Choose Focus Over Spectacle in a Volatile Markethyperallergic.comKey quotes
· 3 pulled"Only the spectacular will do." — Financial Times headline referenced in the article
"For most exhibitors at the Swiss art fair this year, the answer is not spectacle, but rather laser focus." — Article subheading
"The market is volatile, and collectors are cautious. They want to see something that feels real, not just flashy." — Paraphrased sentiment from exhibitors
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