PARIS — In a testament to the resilience of the art scene, Art Basel Paris captivated the city with an impressive six-day exhibition. This year’s event was particularly notable for its integration with leading luxury brands, setting the stage for a dynamic week filled with exhibitions, private previews, and vibrant social gatherings.
The 2025 edition featured an impressive lineup of 206 galleries at the Grand Palais, while an expansive public program spanned nine venues throughout the city. Highlighting the synergy between art and fashion, acclaimed filmmaker Loïc Prigent undertook the curation of the re-hanging initiative “Oh La La!”, with editor Edward Enninful facilitating a series of insightful discussions.
French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron were among the 73,000 attendees who explored the fair from October 21 to 26, according to event organizers.
The fair’s commencement was marked by an innovative addition: an “Avant-Premiere” preview. This program allowed participating galleries to invite their six most valued clients for a thoughtful and exclusive experience on the Tuesday before the official opening.
Vincenzo de Bellis, the chief artistic officer and global director of Art Basel Fairs, indicated that this new format emerged from the success of last year’s VIP opening day, which drew substantial crowds. “We aimed to foster authentic connections,” he noted. “This slower pace allowed for increased dialogue and significant market opportunities.”
Many galleries took strategic advantage of major exhibitions at Parisian museums. Notably, Hauser & Wirth achieved a remarkable sale of Gerhard Richter’s “Abstract Painting” (1987) for $23 million, coinciding with his retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. The David Zwirner gallery also observed success, selling another of Richter’s works for $3.5 million in conjunction with a solo exhibition in Paris.
Similarly, Sprüth Magers reported the sale of three artworks by George Condo, aligned with his solo show at Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, totaling $4.8 million.
In a significant shift, the market is witnessing the rise of young and female collectors as key influencers. According to the annual Art Basel and UBS Survey of Global Collecting, women outspent men by an impressive 46% on average in 2024, driven largely by Millennials and Gen Z collectors. This demographic is diversifying their collections, encompassing not only art but also high-end design, luxury handbags, jewelry, sneakers, and more.
“Contemporary art today is profoundly interdisciplinary, intertwining fashion, design, and various art forms,” de Bellis emphasized. This crossover is increasingly nurtured by Art Basel’s partnerships with luxury brands such as Miu Miu, the official partner of the public program, and Louis Vuitton and Audemars Piguet as associate partners. The Vuitton showcase featured a striking collection of Artycapucines handbags designed by Takashi Murakami.
Art Basel also introduced a pop-up shop with a reflective design by Harry Nuriev, featuring collaborations with artists and brands, which attracted significant attention.
De Bellis explained the importance of Paris as a cultural haven. “Paris is not only an art hub but also the epicenter of fashion and design. The interconnection between these realms is crucial for our brand evolution,” he said, noting that collaborations between artists and luxury brands are becoming increasingly prevalent.
Art Basel also established a five-year partnership with the exclusive app Dorsia, aimed at enhancing attendee experiences with offerings like the Art Basel Afters nightlife program, set to launch in Miami Beach in December. “Increasing engagement leads to more potential buyers and propels the art world into a vibrant future,” de Bellis stated.
Recent leadership changes at Art Basel include Karim Crippa’s promotion to director of Art Basel Paris, succeeding Clément Delépine, who will now lead Lafayette Anticipations. This change reflects the fair’s commitment to diversifying its audience, evidenced by the appointment of former Christie’s executive Carly Murphy as the new global head of collector and institutional relations.
Celebrations and gatherings throughout Paris featured dynamic events, including Chanel’s dinner with Alphabet magazine, which highlighted the restoration of villa La Pausa, and an immersive pop-up by India Mahdavi and We Are Ona.
Additionally, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs hosted a dinner by Orient Express to celebrate the exhibition “1925–2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco,” while the newly opened Fondation Cartier captured attention with crowds during its opening weekend.
Moynat also hosted an event featuring a signing with Kasing Lung, the illustrator behind Labubu, where luxury mogul Bernard Arnault received an illustration and a blind box containing one of the Labubu plushies.
Key events throughout the week included:
Jacquemus’ ‘Mythes’
Simon Porte Jacquemus embraced his first curatorial venture through the exhibition ‘Mythes,’ collaborating with antiques specialist Galerie Chenel and Galerie Dina Vierny. This exhibit was dedicated to exploring the interplay between antiquity, sculpture, and the contemporary daily life.
Set in the atmospheric Galerie des Bernardins, the designer innovatively curated scenes that married historical pieces with elements from his upcoming spring collection, including an eye-catching yellow trench coat.
Exemplifying this blend, Maillol’s sculpture La Baigneuse Drapée was displayed alongside a draped Roman figure from the second century. In another striking tableau, a reclining figure became a modern beachgoer thanks to a pristine cotton parasol, integrating contemporary flair with classical inspirations.
Joopiter’s ‘Inked: Tattoos by Contemporary Artists’ and ‘The Contemporary Take: A Look with Jay Chou’
Pharrell Williams’ platform Joopiter made a splash by launching two innovative projects, celebrated with a vibrant party at Dover Street Market Paris.
Curated by Sharon Coplan, “Inked: Tattoos by Contemporary Artists” featured unique tattoo designs created by 16 artists, bridging fashion and body art. Contributions came from renowned figures such as Gabriela Hearst and Thom Browne, along with notable artists like Marilyn Minter and the late Lawrence Weiner.
Participants received not only the designs but also certificates for the tattoos, allowing them to have the artwork permanently inscribed on their skin, turning the exhibit into a participatory experience.
Additionally, Joopiter introduced “The Contemporary Take: A Look With Jay Chou,” highlighting the significance of cross-cultural connections in contemporary art. This auction focused on artists from the Asian diaspora, emphasizing their contributions and narratives.
K-Way’s ‘In Y/Our Life’
French outerwear label K-Way commemorated its 60th anniversary with the final leg of its traveling exhibition “In Y/Our Life” at the historic Atelier Richelieu. The exhibit, previously shown in Milan and London, showcased six decades of design through a multisensory installation that fused fashion with contemporary art.
Curated by Gianluigi Ricuperati, the exhibit featured contributions from creative luminaries including Patricia Urquiola and Asad Raza, collaborating with brands such as Chupa Chups and Polaroid. Highlights included participatory installations that engaged visitors, allowing them to contribute to the artistic experience.
Miu Miu’s ’30 Blizzards’
Continuing their collaboration with Art Basel Paris, Miu Miu presented a captivating program featuring a new performance work by Helen Marten at the Palais d’Iéna, historically associated with the brand’s Paris Fashion Week shows.
Marten’s performance, titled “30 Blizzards,” integrated elements of theater, music, and visual art, utilizing a cohort of performers wearing both gray ensembles and vibrant Miu Miu creations. This project challenged viewers through thought-provoking monologues alongside dynamic physical interactions.
Creating a dialogue between art and the internal lives of individuals, the performance featured five sculptural platforms reflecting various life stages, all infused with the spirit of Miu Miu’s collections. London-based writer and filmmaker Juliet Jacques facilitated a series of talks that accompanied the performance, further exploring these themes.
Salomon’s ‘Sensorial Terrains’
In its inaugural year as an official partner of Art Basel Paris, the French sportswear brand Salomon provided footwear for the fair’s 250 hosts, marking a decisive move toward framing itself within a “mountain sports lifestyle” narrative that merges with urban aesthetics. This partnership serves to connect with an audience engaged in art and design while pursuing active lifestyles.
Salomon’s experiential exhibit within the Grand Palais transformed the space to reflect different running environments, from sand to urban gravel, accompanied by immersive soundscapes. The brand also organized community runs, extending its engagement with attendees.
This initiative further solidified Salomon’s cultural presence in Paris, building upon successful ventures during events such as the Olympics and connecting with the upcoming men’s collections in January.
Cai Lei’s ‘Invisible Spaces’ at Icicle Cultural Space
Icicle showcased its first-ever exhibition at Art Basel, featuring Beijing-based artist Cai Lei. Renowned for his innovative blending of painting and sculpture, Cai presented a new series of works at the brand’s cultural space on Avenue George V.
The exhibition, themed “Left in the Dust,” introduced viewers to a thought-provoking spiral staircase with missing steps, symbolizing the tensions within his artistic vision and the pursuit of connection.
Magma Vol. 3, supported by Bottega Veneta
Magma’s third volume, backed by Bottega Veneta, continues its exploration of contemporary art under the theme “Archive of the Future.” This edition challenges perceptions of art amidst global uncertainties, featuring over 100 never-before-seen works and texts by influential contemporary artists.
The publication includes Polaroids by filmmaker Jonas Mekas from a Fluxus dinner in 1971, highlighting collaborative artistic efforts from that era, and a visual dialogue between Jill Mulleady and Mike Kelley, along with mirror paintings from Michelangelo Pistoletto.
Accompanying the launch, a month-long exhibition is running through November 19 at Forma gallery on Rue de Turenne, aiming to further engage audiences with contemporary art.
