Your Upcoming Artful Season

Starting this summer and extending well into the fall, this quartet of unparalleled global fine art fairs will intrigue seasoned collectors and art aficionados alike. Pack your brushes and palette, and your traveling shoes.

Art Basel

Basel, Switzerland
June 13-16, 2024

While the winter Art Basel/Miami Beach art show continues to grow in popularity, if you haven’t been to the Swiss original, you really should do yourself that favor. The small city of Basel is quite charming but built for large-scale gatherings: A recently and artfully remodeled convention center called the Messeplatz; unique floating riverboat accommodations in addition to traditional luxury hotels; and its own potent art museum, the Kunstmuseum Basel.

Art Basel attendees this year can expect multiple sectors highlighting the expected (artists and works represented by galleries), as well as the unexpected (films, interactive interviews, and a series of location-specific installations). Participating galleries this year represent the very best of global curation; think Cologne’s elegantly curated Gallery Thomas Zander or Brazil’s street-inspired A Gentil Carioca gallery. All told you will have access to offerings from over 200 galleries and more than 4,000 noted international artists. artbasel.com

London Art Biennale

London, England
Late July 2024 (unconfirmed)

Perhaps milking a bit of drama around this edgy, very popular, totally free, and open-to-the-public event, as of press time the organizers of the London Art Biennale hadn’t officially released dates and other information about the show. However, some London art press are reporting a late July date and a return to the Chelsea Old Town Hall venue on King’s Road. So stay tuned, as they say.

The show’s unique, inclusive vision is curated by a trio of organizations (an art critic group, an art museum, and a prominent gallery), which delivers a free-form, non-thematic presentation that democratically represents all artistic movements globally, along with a heavy dose of emerging global artists. Expect the unexpected; last year’s First Prize Winner was Russia’s controversial Marina Orlova. londonbiennale.co.uk

The Armory Show

New York, NY
September 6-8, 2024 (VIP Preview September 5)

Held at the glass-encased Javits Center on Manhattan’s West Side, art fair lovers are abuzz with anticipation for 2024‘s edition as this is the second year New York’s largest art fair will lift the curtain under new Frieze art organization ownership (who acquired the show in the summer of 2023). The legacy show continues to operate as its own estimable brand, but perhaps after more than a full year of new ownership, some changes may be more apparent.

Given that, you can certainly anticipate The Armory Show to play its ongoing role in New York’s cultural landscape with unmatched programming, curatorial initiatives, institutional partnerships, and activations. Expect sectors covering gallerists representing contemporary artists, impactful solo artist exhibitions, a to-be-named guest curator-focused presentation, representation of newer galleries (under 10 years old), curated one-time installations, and a special venue for not-for-profit museums, galleries, and foundations. This visionary approach is what makes The Armory Show New York’s self-claimed art fair. thearmoryshow.com

Fine Arts Paris & La Biennale (FAB)

Paris, France
November 21-27, 2024

“La Biennale” has been operating for over 60 years, holding a heralded position as not only one of the City of Lights’ favored art happenings but also one of its greatest all-city civic events. Held at the majestic Grand Palais Éphémère, the focus on antique furniture and decor, in addition to fine artwork, is one of many qualities that sets FAB apart from other fairs.

On the furnishings side, a highlight from last year was a restored Art Deco bathroom originally designed by master Armand-Albert Rateau. But also expect some design-world marquee quality to the artwork offered: pieces from the collections of Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent, and Hubert De Givenchy stole headlines in 2023. fabparis.com