Galerie Nordenhake marks 50 years with an Art Basel nod to its first artist
At Art Basel, anniversaries tend to arrive with a market logic of their own. For Claes Nordenhake, the milestone is both personal and institutional: Galerie Nordenhake is marking 50 years in business, with a presentation centered on Olle Baertling’s 1954 work “Davi” — the first artist the gallery ever showed.
The gallery has been part of Art Basel since 1978, a run that places it among the fair’s long-standing regulars. Today, Galerie Nordenhake operates in Berlin, Stockholm and Mexico City, a footprint that reflects how a gallery can expand without abandoning the identity that made it credible in the first place.
Nordenhake’s own view of the fair is less about transformation than continuity. Asked how Art Basel has changed, he pointed instead to what it has preserved: its position as a central meeting place for reaching collectors, both established and emerging. That emphasis on access, rather than spectacle, feels especially telling at a moment when galleries are under pressure to balance visibility, loyalty and conviction.
His advice to younger dealers is similarly direct. “Define a realm where your particular interest lies and stick to that,” he said. “You might lose a few collectors, but you will also honour your beliefs and gain in credibility.” It is a reminder that, even in a highly competitive market, specialization can still function as a form of strength.
Nordenhake will expand on those questions tomorrow in a conversation with Márcia Fortes of Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel and Karen Jenkins-Johnson of Jenkins Johnson Gallery. Moderated by Ben Luke, the discussion will take place at 11.30am in Event Halle Basel, Messeplatz, and will focus on how galleries can survive and thrive in a changing art world.
