Top 10 Art, Food, and Design Spots in Basel for Art Basel Week
Beaux Arts Magazine highlights ten must-visit addresses in Basel, Switzerland, for art lovers during Art Basel. The city, shaped by twelve Pritzker Prize-winning architects, boasts the Vitra Design Museum by Frank Gehry, the Kunstmuseum by Christ & Gantenbein, and three triangular towers by Herzog & de Meuron for Roche. The Tinguely Museum, designed by Mario Botta, celebrates Jean Tinguely's centenary with works by Nicolas Darrot and Angelica Mesiti. The Fondation Beyeler, by Renzo Piano, features a major Pierre Huyghe retrospective. The Kunstmuseum presents a Helen Frankenthaler retrospective until August 23. Hauser & Wirth opened a Basel space in 2024 in a former silk ribbon factory, currently showing Max Beckmann until July 11. Galerie Carzaniga, run by Philipp Hediger and Markus Rück since 2004, focuses on modern Swiss art. Hotels include Mövenpick with a Thomas Schütte sculpture and Art House Basel by Antoine Faeh. Dining spots are Gatto Nero, recommended by Art Basel director Maike Cruse, and Astro Fries near Messeplatz.
Key facts
- Basel is located in northwest Switzerland, three hours from Paris by TGV.
- Art Basel takes place annually in June.
- Twelve Pritzker Prize-winning architects have shaped Basel.
- Vitra Design Museum was designed by Frank Gehry.
- Kunstmuseum was designed by Christ & Gantenbein.
- Herzog & de Meuron built three triangular towers for Roche.
- Tinguely Museum was designed by Mario Botta and opened in 1996.
- Niki de Saint Phalle donated 55 sculptures to the Tinguely Museum.
- Nicolas Darrot and Angelica Mesiti are exhibiting at Tinguely Museum during Art Basel.
- Fondation Beyeler was designed by Renzo Piano and opened in 1997.
- Fondation Beyeler has a major Pierre Huyghe retrospective.
- Kunstmuseum has three venues: Hauptbau (1936), Museum für Gegenwartskunst, and Neubau.
- Helen Frankenthaler retrospective at Kunstmuseum runs until August 23.
- Kunstmuseum collection includes 4,000 paintings and 300,000 drawings.
- Hauser & Wirth opened in Basel in 2024 in a former silk ribbon factory.
- Hauser & Wirth currently shows Max Beckmann until July 11.
- Galerie Carzaniga has been run by Philipp Hediger and Markus Rück since 2004.
- Mövenpick Hotel features a bronze sculpture by Thomas Schütte.
- Art House Basel was conceived by Antoine Faeh.
- Gatto Nero is recommended by Art Basel director Maike Cruse.
- Astro Fries offers truffle mayonnaise fries.
Entities
Artists
- Jean Tinguely
- Niki de Saint Phalle
- Nicolas Darrot
- Angelica Mesiti
- Pierre Huyghe
- Helen Frankenthaler
- Max Beckmann
- Thomas Schütte
- Alexander Calder
- Ellsworth Kelly
- Claude Monet
- Paul Cezanne
- Pablo Picasso
- Barnett Newman
- Mark Rothko
- Hans Holbein the Younger
- Lucas Cranach
- Vincent van Gogh
- Paul Klee
- Charles Eames
- Ray Eames
- George Nelson
- Alvar Aalto
- Verner Panton
- Dieter Rams
- Jean Prouvé
- Ron Arad
- Antonio Citterio
- Marcel Breuer
- Michael Thonet
- Sonia Boyce
- Henry Taylor
- Anj Smith
- Cindy Sherman
- Lee Bul
- Paul McCarthy
- Louise Bourgeois
- John Chamberlain
- Henry Moore
- Mario Botta
- Frank Gehry
- Christ & Gantenbein
- Jacques Herzog
- Pierre de Meuron
- Renzo Piano
- Matteo Thun
- Antoine Faeh
- Maike Cruse
- Philipp Hediger
- Markus Rück
Institutions
- Beaux Arts Magazine
- Art Basel
- Vitra Design Museum
- Kunstmuseum Basel
- Museum für Gegenwartskunst
- Tinguely Museum
- Fondation Beyeler
- Hauser & Wirth
- Galerie Carzaniga
- Mövenpick Hotel
- Art House Basel
- Gatto Nero
- Astro Fries
- Roche
Locations
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Paris
- France
- Germany
- Mulhouse
- Riehen
- Weil am Rhein
- Zurich