Art Basel 2025: $30M Picasso and 291 Galleries at Basel Fair

Art Basel Basel opens to the public from June 19 to 22, 2025, with preview days from June 16 to 18. The fair hosts 291 galleries, four more than last year. Director Maike Cruse stated galleries present their most ambitious works. Highlights include Phillip Guston's 'Migration' (1978) at Hauser & Wirth for $7.5 million, Helen Frankenthaler's 'Evil Spirit' (1963) at Gagosian for around $5 million, and Pablo Picasso's 'Homme à la pipe assis et amour' at Pace Gallery for $30 million. Pace president Marc Glimcher noted a return to informed, intentional collecting focused on lasting value. Thaddaeus Ropac offers Georg Baselitz works from 1968 and 2012. Acquavella presents Vija Celmins' 'Long Ocean #3', tied to a Beyeler Foundation exhibition. David Zwirner shows Marlene Dumas' 'Magdalena' after her record at Christie's. Karsten Greve features Louise Bourgeois and Jannis Kounellis. Italian galleries include Fanta-MLN (debut in Statements), M77 with Grazia Varisco and Nanda Vigo, Thomas Brambilla with John Giorno, Mazzoleni with Italian masters, and Cardi Gallery with Mimmo Paladino. Galleria Raffaella Cortese focuses on estrangement with works by Roni Horn and Gabrielle Goliath. Massimo Minini revisits a 2008 collaboration between Peter Halley and Alessandro Mendini. The fair aims to counter market slowdown and competition from Paris.