Air de Paris withdraws from Art Basel 2025 over booth relocation dispute

French gallery Air de Paris has announced its withdrawal from the June 2025 edition of Art Basel in Basel, citing a unilateral and penalizing relocation of its booth by the fair's organization. The gallery, which had participated in Art Basel since 1999, was assigned a new position (stand N3) on the second floor, moving from its long-held prime spot (stand L2) directly opposite the escalators, which it had occupied since 2001. Co-founders Florence Bonnefous and Edouard Merino described the change as 'brutal and unfair' in a letter published by Provence Global and later picked up by ARTnews, stating they refuse to participate in what they see as a 'crazy game' or a 'power game.' Art Basel defended the decision, stating it was made in the interest of all exhibitors and for the overall curatorial layout and visitor experience. The incident highlights the importance of booth geography at top-tier art fairs, where location directly impacts sales, visibility, and status. Market expert Magnus Resch commented that 'nowhere is the hierarchy of the gallery world more evident than in the floor plan of an art fair.' The withdrawal is seen as a broader statement against the power dynamics and high costs of participation, even at the world's most important art fair.