In early February, when the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancelation of Art Basel Hong Kong, it still seemed likely that the fair would be able to mount its 50th-anniversary Swiss edition, which was due to open this month. Then, as the severity of the pandemic became clear, Art Basel postponed the Swiss fair to September and ultimately canceled it altogether. Its replacement was a digital fair, which opened this morning for the first of two VIP preview days.
Following the virtual iterations staged with Art Basel Hong Kong and Frieze New York, the art market has largely acclimated to the swift move online, especially when it comes to offering high-value works to remote buyers. During the first day, dealers reported numerous big sales at the virtual Art Basel fair, which runs through June 26, indicating that galleries’ investments in building out their online offerings have paid off.
Dealers also spoke highly of Zoom sessions taking place alongside the online viewing rooms that feature artists with work on offer. New York’s Alexander Gray Associates had dedicated its booth to the work of Afro-Cuban artist Ricardo Brey. Several works by the artist sold, including the sculpture Admission (2019) for $50,000. Nichole Caruso, a director at the gallery, said a VIP tour allowed him to connect directly with collectors via Zoom. “It’s the best available proxy for the organic, in-person engagement we would’ve otherwise experienced at the physical fair,” he said.
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