A strong start at the Grand Palais
Art Basel Paris launched its 2026 Avant Première preview at the Grand Palais with steady collector interest and a positive atmosphere. While the opening preview was more measured than the previous year's, galleries reported sales across a range of price points.
Hauser & Wirth sold works by Gerhard Richter and Georg Baselitz for around $10 million each. White Cube reported selling two paintings by Julie Mehretu for $7.85 million apiece, while Templon placed Bilal Hamdad's L'envers du soir for €65,000.
One of the fair's most talked-about works was Amedeo Modigliani's Nu étendu (Lolotte) (1917), presented by Pace Di Donna Schrader with a valuation above $100 million. The gallery said the painting had not been seen publicly for about a century.
New ways to bring galleries together
This edition featured a record 12 shared booths, bringing together 24 galleries. The format paired artists and approaches across different programs, with participating dealers reporting sales to European and American collectors.
The opening suggests that major fairs can remain important meeting points for art and collectors while experimenting with collaborative presentation. Such formats may help shape a more connected and adaptable future for the international art market.
