The 21 galleries making their Art Basel debut this year—and what they’re bringing

It might be all change at Art Basel—with the recent launch of Paris + and an even more recent change of leadership—but the 2023 edition of its flagship Swiss fair (15-18 June) shows few changes from previous years. Indeed, as its new chief executive Noah Horowitz points out, this is the last edition that his predecessor Marc Spiegler will work on; Spiegler remains an adviser at the fair’s parent company MCH until the end of June. Much of this edition—for which 285 galleries, compared to 289 in 2022, will participate—was planned before he joined the company, Horowitz adds.

It is “too premature” to discuss specific initiatives around Art Basel upping its digital output, like a year-round online marketplace, Horowitz says. Nonetheless, he does comment that the fair is “committed to building a digital infrastructure that complements the physical shows and responds to the needs of a rapidly evolving market”, adding that “Art Basel can play a more meaningful role in this field”.

He also says that greater efforts are being made to work with the city to “enrich the overall visitor experience in Basel” on a “longer term”—an initiative led by Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel’s new director of fairs and exhibition platforms and Andreas Bicker, the head of business in Europe.

What is new is the fresh crop of galleries making their Art Basel in Basel debut (although a few have already shown at Art Basel’s other locations, or in online viewing rooms operated by the fair). They range across the main galleries section, “Features” (focused exclusively on art historical projects) and “Statements” (for solo presentations of emerging artists). Below is a list of who they are and what works they are bringing. A full list of exhibitors can be found here.

First-time exhibitors in the main section

blank projects (Cape Town; founded 2005) will show works by Igshaan Adams, Jared Ginsburg, Sabelo Mlangeni, Zo. Paul and Kemang Wa Lehulere, who engage with South Africa’s social and political contexts.

Empty Gallery (Hong Kong; founded 2015) will show works by Jes Fan, Tishan Hsu, Taro Masushio, Raha Raissnia and Henry Shum.

Offer Waterman (London; founded 1996) will show drawings, paintings, sculptures and ceramics by Frank Auerbach, Barbara Hepworth, David Hockney, Kim Lim, Henry Moore, Magdalene Odundo, Paula Rego, Bridget Riley and William Turnbull.

First-time exhibitors in Features

acb (Budapest; founded 2003) will show early collages, music scores, photo performances and pieces of body art by Katalin Ladik.

David Castillo (Miami; founded 2005) will show collographic (a printmaking process in which materials are applied to a rigid surface) works by the late Cuban artist Belkis Ayón, some of which have not been on public view in two decades.

Thomas Erben Gallery (New York; founded 1996) will show an installation by Senga Nengudi.

Gajah Gallery (Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Singapore; founded 1996) will show works, including some never publicly seen, by the late I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih.

M77 Gallery (Milan; founded 2014) will show historic works by Maria Lai (1919-2013).

Martos Gallery (New York; founded 2007) will show works by Arthur Simms made across three decades.

Jacky Strenz (Frankfurt; founded in 2005) will show seven historical photographs by Lynne Cohen (1944-2014).

Galerie Bene Taschen (Cologne; founded in 2011) will show Jamel Shabazz’s street photography from the 1980s.

First time exhibitors in Statements

Broadway (New York; founded 2020) will show a new four-channel video by Sky Hopinka.

Cooper Cole (Toronto; founded 2012) will show Hangama Amiri’s textile works about the experiences of Afghan women

Gaga (Mexico City and Los Angeles; founded 2008) will show an installation by Mexican artist Karla Kaplun.

Hua International (Beijing and Berlin; founded 2017) will show new sculptures by the US sculptor and performer Gordon Hall.

Jhaveri Contemporary (Mumbai; founded 2010) will show a multimedia display of new work by Glaswegian-based Hardeep Pandhal.

LC Queisser (Tbilisi; founded 2018) will show an immersive installation by the Georgian artist Tolia Astakhishvili.

Kendra Jayne Patrick (Bern and New York; founded 2017) will show Sharona Franklin’s intricate sculpture and textiles about her experience of disability.

sans titre (Paris; founded 2016) will show monumental work by the German artist Agnes Scherer.

Smac Art Gallery (Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Stellenbosch; founded 2011) will show new, never-before-seen work by the South African artist Bonolo Kavula, known for her monumental, intricate tapestry work.

Soft Opening (London; founded 2018) will show five moving-image character portraits from the London-based artist Sin Wai Kin, who was recently nominated for the Turner Prize.