ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Art Basel 2017: Top Ten Galleries in Main Section

festival-fair · 2026-05-05

Art Basel 2017 in Basel garnered a variety of responses, with critics pointing out a deficiency in boldness in the presentations, especially from leading galleries. Despite this, the event proved financially lucrative, with many exhibitors opting for large-scale pieces in the Unlimited section. Notable galleries included: Gavin Brown (New York/Rome) with works by Jannis Kounellis and Alex Katz; Sadie Coles (London) featuring Urs Fischer and Jordan Wolfson; Tucci Russo (Torre Pellice) showcasing Tony Cragg; Franco Noero (Turin) presenting Mike Nelson; Isabella Bortolozzi (Berlin) surprising attendees with Anthony Symonds; Konrad Fischer (Düsseldorf/Berlin) highlighting Carl Andre and Marcel Broodthaers; Alfonso Artiaco (Naples) with various artists; Peter Freeman (New York/Paris) featuring Franz Erhard Walther; Starmach Gallery (Krakow) presenting Magdalena Abakanowicz; and Annely Juda (London) showcasing Richard Wilson.

Key facts

  • Art Basel 2017 main section criticized for lack of daring in booth presentations.
  • Top galleries focused on Unlimited section over main stands.
  • Gavin Brown showed late works by Jannis Kounellis and Alex Katz.
  • Sadie Coles featured Urs Fischer's modifiable clay and Jordan Wolfson's chain house.
  • Tucci Russo presented Tony Cragg, Anselmo, Merz, Penone, Airò, and Löhr.
  • Franco Noero's booth was monochrome with Mike Nelson's blue sculptures.
  • Isabella Bortolozzi included Anthony Symonds' Iron Lady perfume and works by Murillo, Rama, Mondino.
  • Konrad Fischer displayed Carl Andre, Broodthaers, Buren, Ruff, Cragg.
  • Alfonso Artiaco featured Almond, Lutter, Weiner, Paolini, Sala, Laib, Gillick, Charlton.
  • Peter Freeman highlighted Franz Erhard Walther after his Golden Lion win.
  • Starmach Gallery had a solo presentation of Magdalena Abakanowicz.
  • Annely Juda showed Richard Wilson's sculpture, Morellet, and Nash.

Entities

Artists

  • Jannis Kounellis
  • Alex Katz
  • Thomas Bayrle
  • Urs Fischer
  • Jordan Wolfson
  • Rudolf Stingel
  • Tony Cragg
  • Giovanni Anselmo
  • Mario Merz
  • Giuseppe Penone
  • Mario Airò
  • Christiane Löhr
  • Mike Nelson
  • Anthony Symonds
  • Oscar Murillo
  • Carol Rama
  • Aldo Mondino
  • Carl Andre
  • Marcel Broodthaers
  • Daniel Buren
  • Thomas Ruff
  • Darren Almond
  • Vera Lutter
  • Lawrence Weiner
  • Giulio Paolini
  • Anri Sala
  • Wolfgang Laib
  • Liam Gillick
  • Alan Charlton
  • Franz Erhard Walther
  • Thomas Schütte
  • Dove Allouche
  • Richard Tuttle
  • Magdalena Abakanowicz
  • Richard Wilson
  • François Morellet
  • David Nash

Institutions

  • Art Basel
  • Liste
  • Design Miami
  • Unlimited
  • Gavin Brown
  • Sadie Coles
  • Tucci Russo
  • Franco Noero
  • Isabella Bortolozzi
  • Konrad Fischer Galerie
  • Alfonso Artiaco
  • Peter Freeman
  • Starmach Gallery
  • Annely Juda
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Basel
  • Switzerland
  • New York
  • United States
  • Rome
  • Italy
  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Torre Pellice
  • Turin
  • Berlin
  • Germany
  • Düsseldorf
  • Naples
  • Paris
  • France
  • Krakow
  • Poland
  • Mayfair
  • Venice

Sources