Art Basel Paris 2024 opened with a sense of grandeur, marking a new chapter as it rebranded from Paris+ par Art Basel to Art Basel Paris at the newly restored Grand Palais. The fair showcased 195 galleries from 42 countries, filling the iconic venue with a dynamic display of contemporary and modern art.

The fair saw a number of notable sales, such as Julie Mehretu’s Insile, sold by Van Doren Waxter for an impressive USD 9.5 million, a Howardena Pindell work which fetched $1.75 million from Garth Greenan Gallery, and a piece by Lucio Fontana that sold for $1.3 million through White Cube. Other standout transactions included a sculpture by Ryan Gander sold by Lisson Gallery for $240,000, and a Bertrand Lavier painting presented by Galerie Templon, which achieved approximately $141,100.

In addition to these impressive sales, the fair introduced exciting new sections like Premise, which focused on experimental curatorial projects, and Emergence, which showcased emerging artists. A particularly noteworthy addition was Oh La La!, featuring 33 booths dedicated to unconventional and groundbreaking works. Among the highlights were contributions from P420 (Bologna), showcasing Shafei Xia’s pieces inspired by 19th-century Chinese erotic art, alongside works by Italian painter Merlin James and Victor Fotso Nyie, who explores sub-Saharan cultural heritage through his figurative ceramics.

Among the cultural riches on show, these seven artists truly caught our eye:

Tschabalala Self

Galerie Eva Presenhuber

Tschabalala Self’s exhibition My House at Galerie Eva Presenhuber showcased a dynamic mix of paintings, sculptures, and functional art that delves into the representation of Black femininity in today’s world. The exhibition pays homage to Sarah Baartman, known as the “Hottentot Venus,” a South African woman born in 1789 who was taken to Europe and displayed as a curiosity due to her physical features, symbolising the dehumanisation of Black bodies. Baartman’s story highlights the harsh realities of objectification and the complicated narratives surrounding race and gender. Self’s vibrant installation captured these themes in a way that felt deeply personal and relatable. Her ability to engage with history while expressing the complexities of identity makes her one to watch, as she continues to challenge and inspire conversations about who we are and how we see each other.

Jack O’Brien

Capitain Petzel

Jack O’Brien continues to reach new heights since winning the Emerging Artist Prize at Frieze in 2023. We were pleased to see his work on display at Art Basel Paris, where he exhibited with Capitain Petzel, presenting a structure titled Allowance (2024), which comprises two sousaphones centered by a starched street lamp and complete with resin bubbles, with each sousaphone wrapped in clear PVC. His works often reflect the fragility of modern life, using found and repurposed materials to challenge traditional notions of form and function. If you’re interested in exploring more of his work, be sure to catch his current solo show, The Reward, at Camden Arts Centre.

Renée Green

Bortolami

Renée Green presented a thought-provoking installation titled Seen (1990) at Bortolami, featuring a platform surrounded by documents related to the stories of Josephine Baker and Sarah Baartman. Both women faced scrutiny from white European audiences, illustrating themes of racial exploitation and objectification. Baartman, a South African woman displayed in Europe for her physical features, epitomised the dehumanisation of Black bodies. By contrast, Josephine Baker, an American cultural icon of the 1920s, challenged racial stereotypes through her performances in Paris. Green’s installation offered a fascinating counterpoint to the work of Tschabalala Self and performed the rare feat of transforming visitors from passive observers into active participants, compelling them to confront issues of visibility and representation. 

Kei Imazu

ROH Projects

Kei Imazu’s installation at ROH Projects featured a 3D-printed representation of Jakarta, enabling viewers to engage with the city’s urban complexities and environmental challenges by highlighting the historical and socio-political dynamics shaping modern urban life. Imazu, who has lived in Indonesia for the past six years, often draws from the country’s ancient richness while reflecting on the impacts of invasions, territorialisation, and environmental degradation caused by modern capitalism. Given today’s urgent climate issues, her work resonates profoundly, prompting critical reflection on the intersection of history and contemporary challenges.

Richard Long

Sperone Westwater

Richard Long’s Gold Rush (2006), presented as part of Art Basel Paris 2024’s Public Program at the Domaine National du Palais-Royal, exemplifies his iconic approach to land art. Known for using raw materials like stones and soil, Long draws on the landscape as both medium and subject, transforming urban spaces into reflections of the natural world. As the only artist shortlisted for the Turner Prize four times, Sir Richard Long has become one of Britain’s most influential sculptors. His last major retrospective was at Tate Britain in 2009, making it high time for a revisit in London we say. This year’s superb Public Program at Art Basel Paris expanded across historic sites in the city and included works by Ghada Amer, Jesse Darling, Niki de Saint Phalle, Ali Cherri, and Thomas Schütte.

Alvaro Barrington

Thaddaeus Ropac

Having seen Alvaro Barrington’s commission GRACE at Tate Britain, which explores themes of identity and carnival culture rooted in his Caribbean heritage, it was easy to spot his distinctive style in his installation Tupac Surrounded by his Fans at Thaddaeus Ropac. Tupac frequently features in Barrington’s work, and he has noted that hip-hop culture taught him the importance of paying homage, recognising sources, and doing something new with them. His installation at Art Basel Paris included yarn-heavy portraits and interactive fans, creating an engaging atmosphere that celebrated Tupac’s cultural impact. Barrington seamlessly blended personal narratives with broader cultural themes, a hallmark of his innovative practice. Notably, his commission at Tate will be on show until 25 January 2025. 

Yuko Mohri

Tanya Bonakdar Gallery

Yuko Mohri’s installation Decomposition at Art Basel 2024 offered a fascinating reflection on the natural cycle of life. The piece showcased fruit arranged on a vintage table, which generated electrical charges to power a light as it decomposed. This interplay between decay and energy provided a compelling commentary on how the process of decomposition contributes to larger systems, sparking thoughts on the interrelated, cyclical patterns of life and death. The installation certainly left a lasting impression.

The next edition of Art Basel Paris has been confirmed for 24 - 26 October 2025. artbasel.com.