One of the most striking changes in the art world over the last forty years has been the rise of the art fair. From humble beginnings with the first ‘Cologne Art Market’ in 1967, the situation today makes an accurate count almost impossible, with certainly more than 200 art fairs, and probably many more. Within this storm of increased competition, Art Basel has maintained its importance and is still regarded as the most important art fair in the world. A huge array of satellite events cater to the enormous influx of art lovers that descend on this modestly sized Swiss city. Even Zurich, an hour away by train, capitalizes on the fair, hosting a Contemporary Art Weekend that precedes Art Basel by only a few days.

Highlights from Art Basel were many. As part of Art Unlimited the London based gallery Cabinet showed a fantastic installation by Marc Camille Chaimowicz and in the Art Features section another London gallery Herald St showed a performance by Pablo Bronstein. In the main fair, continental European dealers including Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Galerie Neu and Galerie Micheline Szwajcer all showed fantastic works drawn from the artists that constitute their extremely strong programs. Experimenter Gallery from India showed three intriguing artists new to our eyes and Andrew Kreps showed beautiful new photographs from Annette Kelm and a new painting by Frederic Vaerslev that was compelling and convincing. On the lower level of the main hall, extraordinary secondary market works were available from established dealers including Richard Nagy who displayed beautiful Egon Schiele drawings, treasures were replete as always at Galerie 1900-2000 and a beautiful Albert Oehlen painting and work on paper was on display at Max Hetzler.

Opening alongside Art Basel each year is the Liste Art Fair, a breeding ground for young galleries working with artists who are emerging or less visible in the commercial arena. Highlights here were from galleries based slightly outside the main cities of the international art markets. For example Merlin Carpenter showed impressive works at the booth of Brussels based Galerie Dependance and Emily Sundblad and Jose Rojas had works in the booth of Mexican gallery House of Gaga. Rodeo Gallery from Istanbul also had a notable presentation at the fair.

Basel has a fantastic array of museums and they always plan stunning exhibitions to coincide with the influx of art connoisseurs to the city in June each year.  A Max Ernst exhibition at the Beyeler Foundation, Picasso at the Kunstmuseum Basel, and a retrospective of British video artist Steve McQueen at the Schaulager were well received by the assembled audience. Although 2 hours drive from Basel, a small contingent also ventured to Kunsthaus Bregenz to view the exhibition of Wade Guyton and Kelley Walker that also included a number of their collaborative artworks. The beautiful architecture of Peter Zumthor who designed the Bregenz museum, helped show the work of these artists to its best possible advantage.

A short visit to London following the Art Fair capped off a long and extensive trip. An exhibition of work by Jutta Koether at Campoli Presti was a fantastic way to round out a stimulating and productive tour of some of the best art in Europe.