Hauser & Wirth Opens Basel Space with Hammershøi Show

Hauser & Wirth inaugurated its new Basel gallery at Luftgässlein 4 on June 1, 2024, timed to Art Basel, with the Swiss debut of Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864–1916). The exhibition, 'Vilhelm Hammershøi. Silence,' curated by Felix Krämer and running until July 13, 2024, features 16 works from institutional and private collections, with very few available for sale. This marks the first in a series of museum-quality historical artist focuses for the mega-gallery, housed in a former silk factory and later Galerie Knöll. The space is directed by Carlo Knöll, continuing the site's legacy. Hammershøi, known for quiet interior scenes often featuring his wife Ida, has seen renewed scholarly and collector interest, particularly from American museums and private collectors. His market has grown, with auction sales peaking at €8.8 million in 2019 and a new record of $9.1 million set on May 16, 2023, at Sotheby's New York for 'Interior. The Music Room, Strandgade 30' (1907), acquired by the Art Institute of Chicago. The gallery's strategy mirrors David Zwirner's addition of Giorgio Morandi, with co-founder Iwan Wirth stating the shows help define the context of the contemporary program.