VOLTA Basel
First launched in 2005, VOLTA Basel is the mother edition of the three VOLTA fairs. This popular art fair began simply as a meeting of dealers and friends and has established itself as a bridge between the unmissible blue fair Art Basel and the cutting-edge Liste. It showcases an eclectic mix of art works including paintings, sculpture and textile art. The show now offers a space for new international galleries, and galleries that prefer to present solo artists. VOLTA Basel has grown over the years and there are now more than 79 galleries that contribute from at least 24 countries. It takes place over several days in June each year and is held in the former COOP distribution center, a building that has become Basel’s newest cultural hub. Since 2008, VOLTA runs an additionnal edition in the USA VOLTA New York.
Kamiar Maleki shares his views!
Managing Director 2019-2022
VOLTA Basel 2024
Location
Klybeck 610
Klybeckplatz
Gartenstrasse 2
4057 Basel
Switzerland
Dates
June 2024
Entrance Fee
General Admission: CHF 20
Students: CHF 15
Seniors: CHF 15
Groups (10+): CHF 15
Insights VOLTA Basel
Kamiar Maleki
Managing Director 2019-2022
What would you say is the DNA of VOLTA Basel?
Talent and significant artistic positions, regardless of the artist’s age or point in their career, set within an elegant and eminently navigable exhibition space.
What type of galleries are chosen to exhibit, and why?
First and foremost, our “Mother Galleries”, those who have a proven track record of nurturing their represented artists throughout their careers — via multiple exhibitions and extracurricular pursuits including residencies, monographs, museum shows and so on. In other words, galleries who have worked with and stayed with their artists for awhile, through thick and thin and as their practice has evolved and matured. Galleries from all across the globe, who are advancing their local artistic pool and providing a platform for diverse voices, are always a focus for us.
What is the price range of pieces? Who is the average buyer?
Prices range from around EUR 750 for a print or unique work on paper to upwards of high five figures. Buyers reflect this range, as we attract emerging collectors as well as representatives of institutions and individuals with significant private collections.
“We encapsulates a dazzling variety of new international positions, and yet VOLTA remains open and accessible”
VOLTA Basel © Widewalls
Who is the typical attendee of VOLTA Basel?
Guests to VOLTA Basel love art and relish discovering something new. They may be locals or, more often than not, they have driven or flown in for the fair week, and though their schedule may be heavy, they seek out our platform to invest in artwork and support the artists.
What makes VOLTA Basel so special?
VOLTA occupies a rather large platform of creative potential between the opposing ends of Art Basel — the bluest of blue chip fairs — and Liste — the bleeding edge of cutting edge. Within this platform exists a bounty of artistic practice, of the under appreciated Talent whose careers catch fire much later in life, of those artists making great advancements “at home” but as of yet little known abroad. Our curatorial direction encapsulates this dazzling variety of new international positions, and yet VOLTA remains open and accessible, easy to navigate around and easier to immerse within.
What are two other art fairs you would suggest?
I was delighted by June’s first iteration in Basel this last summer: it is collectively organized by over a dozen international contemporary galleries and it features some excellent colleagues showing for the first time in Basel.
You May Be Interested In
VOLTA NY
The sister edition of VOLTA Basel, this dynamic art fair aims to promote emergent talents, showcasing exciting and original contemporary artworks at all kind of prices.
Art Basel
Art Basel brings the international art world together with the world’s leading galleries showing the works of over 4.000 artists and showcasing a great variety of “museum-quality” pieces.
LISTE Basel
LISTE – Art Fair Basel takes place every June since its creation in 1996. About 80 international galleries showcase contemporary art from newcomers and emergent artists.
Design Miami/ Basel
Design Miami/ Basel is the sister edition of Design Miami/. This art fair celebrates design by showcasing high-quality pieces from top gallerists and designers.
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @grusenmeyerwoliner at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Co-founder Karim Grusenmeyer presents a Siberian winged bronze figure.
#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #artpremier #siberianart #brusselsgallery #artcollector #artworkoftheday #amazingart #amazingartwork #artifinstagram
Sep 22
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @grusenmeyerwoliner at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Co-founder Karim Grusenmeyer presents a Siberian winged bronze figure.
#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #artpremier #siberianart #brusselsgallery #artcollector #artworkoftheday #amazingart #amazingartwork #artifinstagram
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @moskowitzbayse at @thearmoryshow 2023. Co-founder Adam Moskowitz @amoskowitz18 presents a wall sculpture by @michaelhenryhayden.
#artfairmag #artfair #michaelhenryhayden #hollywood #hollywoodart #contemporaryart #artdealer #wallsculpture #wallart #sculpture #artworkoftheday
Sep 20
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @moskowitzbayse at @thearmoryshow 2023. Co-founder Adam Moskowitz @amoskowitz18 presents a wall sculpture by @michaelhenryhayden.
#artfairmag #artfair #michaelhenryhayden #hollywood #hollywoodart #contemporaryart #artdealer #wallsculpture #wallart #sculpture #artworkoftheday
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @tenzingasianart at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Founder Iwana Tenzing presents an embroidered silk banner from Central Asia, 11th - 12th century.
#artfairmag #artfair #parcoursdesmondes #asianart #asiaart #antiqueart #antiquetextiles #antiqueembroidery #embroidery #artworkoftheday #antiqueart #artworkoftheday #artcurator
Sep 19
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @tenzingasianart at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Founder Iwana Tenzing presents an embroidered silk banner from Central Asia, 11th - 12th century.
#artfairmag #artfair #parcoursdesmondes #asianart #asiaart #antiqueart #antiquetextiles #antiqueembroidery #embroidery #artworkoftheday #antiqueart #artworkoftheday #artcurator
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @galerie_thomas at @kiaf_official Seoul 2023. Senior director Silke Thomas presents a painting by #marcchagall.
✨Interview by Alicia Kim @kimhuieun.s, artfairmag Asia correspondent.
#artfairmag #artfair #kiafseoul #kiaf #kiaf2023 #chagall #chagallpainting #modernart #modernpainting #artcollector #paintingoftheday
Sep 17
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @galerie_thomas at @kiaf_official Seoul 2023. Senior director Silke Thomas presents a painting by #marcchagall.
✨Interview by Alicia Kim @kimhuieun.s, artfairmag Asia correspondent.
#artfairmag #artfair #kiafseoul #kiaf #kiaf2023 #chagall #chagallpainting #modernart #modernpainting #artcollector #paintingoftheday
✨Follow Pauline at @menart_fair 2023 which showcases the best of the booming art scene in the MENA region. Until Sunday evening at the Palais d’Iena!
@samar_mogharbel_ceramics @dhautevilletasledheliand
#artfairmag #menart #menartfair #menaart #mena #artcollector #artlovers #parisart #artparis #emergingartist #middleeastart #northafricanart #contemporaryart #followpauline
Sep 15
✨Follow Pauline at @menart_fair 2023 which showcases the best of the booming art scene in the MENA region. Until Sunday evening at the Palais d’Iena!
@samar_mogharbel_ceramics @dhautevilletasledheliand
#artfairmag #menart #menartfair #menaart #mena #artcollector #artlovers #parisart #artparis #emergingartist #middleeastart #northafricanart #contemporaryart #followpauline
📣 Upcoming 1’ in the booth videos at @parcoursdesmondes 2023:
- @tenzingasianart, San Francisco
- @galerieflak, Paris
- @grusenmeyerwoliner, Brussels
- @dalton_somare_milano, Milan
- @artaborigene, Paris
- @michael_hamson_oceanic_art, Palos Verdes Estates
#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #oceanianart #aboriginalart #africanart #artpremier #teaser #interviews #artcurator
Sep 15
📣 Upcoming 1’ in the booth videos at @parcoursdesmondes 2023:
- @tenzingasianart, San Francisco
- @galerieflak, Paris
- @grusenmeyerwoliner, Brussels
- @dalton_somare_milano, Milan
- @artaborigene, Paris
- @michael_hamson_oceanic_art, Palos Verdes Estates
#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #oceanianart #aboriginalart #africanart #artpremier #teaser #interviews #artcurator
1 minute in the booth: @smac_gallery at @thearmoryshow 2023. Director Baylon Sandri presents the work of South African artist @marysibande.
#artfairmag #artfair #thearmoryshow #marysibande #southafricanartist #southafricanart #powerfulwomen #artgallery #southafricaart #artcollector #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #femaleartist #blackartist
Sep 13
1 minute in the booth: @smac_gallery at @thearmoryshow 2023. Director Baylon Sandri presents the work of South African artist @marysibande.
#artfairmag #artfair #thearmoryshow #marysibande #southafricanartist #southafricanart #powerfulwomen #artgallery #southafricaart #artcollector #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #femaleartist #blackartist
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @galerieflak at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Founder Julien Flak presents a fierce Iroquois False Face mask.
@marinadavidpr
#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #oceaniaart #americanindianart #iroquois #artpremier #artgallery #falsefacemask #tribalmask #woodenmask #mask
Sep 11
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @galerieflak at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Founder Julien Flak presents a fierce Iroquois False Face mask.
@marinadavidpr
#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #oceaniaart #americanindianart #iroquois #artpremier #artgallery #falsefacemask #tribalmask #woodenmask #mask
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @stationgalleryaustralia at @friezeofficial Seoul. Founder Jane Hayman presents a sculpture by Australian artist @mark__whalen, Sweet Grapes, from 2023.
@polly_borland @tompolo
🎙️Interview by Alicia Kim, artfairmag correspondent in South Korea. @kimhuieun.s
#artfairmag #frieze #friezeseoul #markwhalen #tompolo #pollyborland #contemporaryart #contemporarysculpture #artgallery #australianartist #artcollector
Sep 10
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @stationgalleryaustralia at @friezeofficial Seoul. Founder Jane Hayman presents a sculpture by Australian artist @mark__whalen, Sweet Grapes, from 2023.
@polly_borland @tompolo
🎙️Interview by Alicia Kim, artfairmag correspondent in South Korea. @kimhuieun.s
#artfairmag #frieze #friezeseoul #markwhalen #tompolo #pollyborland #contemporaryart #contemporarysculpture #artgallery #australianartist #artcollector
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @koeniggalerie at @thearmoryshow 2023. Founder Yohann König presents a wall sculpture by @moniraism with a nice patina of pearl.
🎙️ Interview by Laura Lati, artfairmag US correspondent @art_infatuated_laura
#artfairmag #artfair #armoryshow #thearmoryshow #moniraalqadiri #wallsculpture #sculptureoftheday #artistofinstagram #artgallery #koniggallery #artcollector #contemporaryart
Sep 9
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @koeniggalerie at @thearmoryshow 2023. Founder Yohann König presents a wall sculpture by @moniraism with a nice patina of pearl.
🎙️ Interview by Laura Lati, artfairmag US correspondent @art_infatuated_laura
#artfairmag #artfair #armoryshow #thearmoryshow #moniraalqadiri #wallsculpture #sculptureoftheday #artistofinstagram #artgallery #koniggallery #artcollector #contemporaryart
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @michael_hamson_oceanic_art at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Founder Michael Hamson presents a Bukie culture ancestral figure.
#artfairmag #bukieculture #newguineaart #newguinea #abelamculture #artlover #artcurator #artworkoftheday #artoftheday #tribalart #oceanianart #sculpture #sculptureoftheday
Sep 8
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @michael_hamson_oceanic_art at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Founder Michael Hamson presents a Bukie culture ancestral figure.
#artfairmag #bukieculture #newguineaart #newguinea #abelamculture #artlover #artcurator #artworkoftheday #artoftheday #tribalart #oceanianart #sculpture #sculptureoftheday
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @artaborigene Stéphane Jacob-Langevin at @parcoursdesmondes. Founder @jacob_stephane presents a series of Mimih spirit sculptures from Northern Australia.
#artfairmag #artfair #aboriginal #aboriginalart #aboriginalartists #mimihsculpture #mimihspirit #tribalart #artlover #artcollector #modernart #woodensculpture
Sep 6
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @artaborigene Stéphane Jacob-Langevin at @parcoursdesmondes. Founder @jacob_stephane presents a series of Mimih spirit sculptures from Northern Australia.
#artfairmag #artfair #aboriginal #aboriginalart #aboriginalartists #mimihsculpture #mimihspirit #tribalart #artlover #artcollector #modernart #woodensculpture