This year’s Art Basel Paris had a twist: the VIP preview on Wednesday actually wasn’t the first time visitors were let into the fair. The day before, in a newly introduced event dubbed Avant-Première, Art Basel Paris’s 206 exhibitors were allowed to extend up to six invitations to collectors of their choosing. Avant-Première was meant to create an intimate atmosphere that differed from the busier vibe of a VIP preview, but many dealers said the day fell short of expectations.
The actual VIP preview did not. Lines began forming as early as 9:20 a.m. with visitors eager to beat the rush and be among the first to get in. It hardly seemed that the departure of director Clément Delépine, who announced last September that he was leaving for to join the Lafayette Anticipations art space, had any impact on the proceedings.
According to multiple dealers who spoke with ARTnews, experimental art was alive and well here at the Grand Palais. Kinetic art also looms large, with moving works here by Philippe Parreno at Pilar Corrias’s booth and Meriem Bennani at Ludovico Corsini’s. And that’s not to Julius von Bismarck’s installation, on view at the Petit Palais as part of Art Basel’s Public Program.
The 2025 edition has 29 first-time participants, including 13 newcomers to the main sector, among them the Approach from London and Ludovico Corsini from Brussels. Twenty exhibitors are presenting joint booths, wherein dealers team up to present art together—more than ever before at this fair.
Below, a look at the best booths at Art Basel Paris, which runs until October 26.
