Art Basel in Basel 2025 Concludes with Strong Sales, Bold Installations—and a Taste of Hong Kong

Art Basel marked its 55th edition in Basel with outstanding results, drawing over 88,000 visitors from across the globe. With 289 leading galleries from 42 countries, the fair once again proved itself a central platform for international artistic exchange, market confidence, and institutional engagement.

Strong sales were reported across all sectors, including major works by David Hockney, Gerhard Richter, and Ruth Asawa, alongside rising demand for artists such as Cecilia Vicuña and Loie Hollowell. Leading private collectors from 96 countries were in attendance, as well as representatives from over 250 international museums and foundations, including MoMA, the Centre Pompidou, and M+ Museum.

Maike Cruse, Director of Art Basel in Basel, noted: “This year’s edition demonstrated the global art market’s strength and the fair’s role as a cultural catalyst.” UBS, the fair’s Global Lead Partner, supported this year’s programming with the return of the UBS Lounge and a curated exhibition, Endless Possibilities: Geometric Abstraction, alongside city-wide activations.

Art Basel in Basel 2025, courtesy of Art Basel

Citywide Art, Monumental Works, and Unlimited Moments

Renowned artist Katharina Grosse transformed Messeplatz with CHOIR, a sprawling 5,000-square-meter site-specific painting in magenta. Her intervention redefined the public’s interaction with urban space through vivid chromatic intensity. Inside the halls, the Unlimited sector, curated by Giovanni Carmine, returned with nearly 70 large-scale installations and performances—including powerful pieces by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Marinella Senatore, and Andrea Büttner.

Parcours, the public art sector, once again activated Clarastrasse under the theme Second Nature, curated by Stefanie Hessler. Highlights included an 80-meter textile piece by Hylozoic/Desires and a scent-infused sculpture by Selma Selman inside St. Clara Church, inviting visitors to reflect on the tension between the artificial and the organic.

The inaugural Art Basel Awards also launched in Basel, celebrating 36 Medalists during an official ceremony. A new fellowship in partnership with RAW Material Company was also announced, supporting art professionals from Africa over the next three years.

World-Class Museums and Side Fairs Enrich the Experience

Basel’s institutions echoed the energy of the fair. The Kunstmuseum Basel presented exhibitions by Medardo Rosso and Verso, while Fondation Beyeler and Schaulager showcased works by Vija Celmins, Jordan Wolfson, and Steve McQueen. The 30th edition of Liste Art Fair Basel and the Swiss Art Awards also added depth to the city’s vibrant week.

Spotlight: Hong Kong Bar at Art Basel

Hong Kong Bar at Art Basel in Basel 2025, courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board

A notable highlight this year was the debut of the Hong Kong Bar, an immersive cultural activation presented by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). Part of a pioneering three-year global partnership with Art Basel, the Hong Kong Bar brought the soul of the city’s Old Town Central neighborhood to Basel, blending culture, architecture, and gastronomy.

The pop-up featured a curated menu of signature cocktails and snacks, such as the “Yuen Yeung Martini”—a bold mix of coffee and Hong Kong-style milk tea. The setting paid homage to the iconic Central Market, Hong Kong’s historic indoor marketplace, reimagined within the Messe Basel as a multisensory art-and-dining space.

A special highlight was the artwork Moonlight, created for the occasion by local artist Phoebe Hui, bridging visual poetry with cultural memory. On June 18, HKTB co-hosted the Hong Kong Cocktail Salon, an invitation-only gathering with Raymond Chan (HKTB) and Angelle Siyang-Le (Art Basel Hong Kong), offering guests an intimate experience of the city’s flavors and creative energy.

This marks the first time HKTB has showcased the city's cultural essence at Art Basel’s original home in Switzerland—inviting a global audience to rediscover Hong Kong as a dynamic, artistic destination where heritage and innovation coexist.