Basel Exclusive drives sales for blue-chip works

Over 200 Art Basel exhibitors participated in Basel Exclusive, a new initiative withholding key works from pre-fair PDFs to boost in-person visits. While attendees appreciated the surprise, sales favored established names. Pablo Picasso's Homme Assis (1972) sold at Helly Nahmad, and Almine Rech sold his Satyre, Pan et nymphe for $6m-$6.5m. Hauser & Wirth sold Philip Guston's The Courtyard (1946) from a private US collection. Other sales included Elizabeth Peyton's Transmission (E, rose) (2026) for $1.2m at David Zwirner, a Nicolas Party painting for ~$200,000 at Xavier Hufkens, Hayal Pozanti's Envoys From Deep Time (2026) for $55,000 at Jessica Silverman, a John Baldessari work for $500,000 at Sprüth Magers, and Patricia Fernández Carcedo's Blue-fire (2026) for ~$20,000 at Casey Kaplan. Art Basel director Vincenzo de Bellis emphasized balancing digital platforms with in-person experience. Hauser & Wirth president Marc Payot noted the rarity of the Guston work.