Art Basel Paris 2026: Nine Stands to See Amid Protests and Tight Security
The Grand Palais hosted the opening of Art Basel Paris, where natural light accentuated the beauty of mosaics and paintings. Outside, protests regarding education and living expenses erupted into clashes, obstructing access to the Louvre and disrupting installation efforts on Saturday, 17 October. Anticipation grew for additional protests on Saturday, 24 October, raising worries about potential closures. Nevertheless, business activity remained robust. Artribune pointed out nine notable stands, emphasizing the fair's commercial orientation. Ana Silva's embroidered tent was displayed by A Gentil Carioca, while Buchholz showcased pieces from Isa Genzken and Martin Wong. Victoria Miro highlighted Yayoi Kusama and Chantal Joffe, with Richard Wright at The Modern Institute and Ugo Rondinone at Eva Presenhuber also drawing attention.
Key facts
- Art Basel Paris is held at the Grand Palais, where natural light through the glass roof shapes the viewing experience
- On Saturday 17 October the Grand Palais interrupted installation work amid protests over schools and the cost of living
- Demonstrations announced for Saturday 24 October raised fears of a fair closure and precautionary removal of outdoor installations
- The fair organization confirmed the full program despite some museums pre-announcing Saturday closures
- Artribune selected nine stands, noting the main section prioritizes business over elaborate presentations
- A Gentil Carioca devotes an entire stand side to Ana Silva's 4.5-metre embroidered tent À contemplação do vazio… (2025)
- The Modern Institute presents a Richard Wright solo including a leaded glass window rising above the stand walls
- Eva Presenhuber's stand features Ugo Rondinone's red black nun (2020), a painted bronze nearly three metres tall
Entities
Artists
- Arjan Martins
- Maria Nepomuceno
- Vivian Caccuri
- Ana Silva
- Isa Genzken
- Peter Fischli
- Martin Wong
- Wolfgang Tillmans
- Yayoi Kusama
- Chantal Joffe
- Paula Rego
- Sarah Sze
- Chris Ofili
- Suleman Aqeel Khilji
- Richard Wright
- Olafur Eliasson
- Mark Manders
- Tomás Saraceno
- Sandra Cinto
- Ugo Rondinone
- Franz West
- Tschabalala Self
- Josh Smith
- On Kawara
- Lewis Baltz
- Rosario Aninat
- Simon Shim-Sutcliffe
- Massimiliano Tonelli
- Gerhard Richter
- Thaddaeus Ropac
Institutions
- Art Basel
- Grand Palais
- Louvre
- A Gentil Carioca
- Buchholz
- Victoria Miro
- Standard (Oslo)
- The Modern Institute
- Tanya Bonakdar
- Eva Presenhuber
- Thomas Zander
- Eli Kerr
- Artribune
- Turner Prize
- Art Basel Paris
- Hauser & Wirth
- Artsy
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Rio de Janeiro
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Berlin
- Cologne
- New York
- United States
- London
- Venice
- Italy
- Oslo
- Norway
- Glasgow
- Zurich
- Vienna
- Austria
- Montréal
- Canada
- Quetta
- Pakistan
- Santiago
- Chile
- Toronto
- St Leonards