The Wall Street Journal‘s Margaret Studer gives a round-up of some offerings at Art Basel:
Art Basel serves as a barometer of the broad gallery-based global art market. “After Basel, we will know where we stand. Will collectors go for young artists or only seek out established names?” says Zurich dealer Bob van Orsouw, who will bring to the fair such young artists as Swiss duo Andres Lutz and Anders Guggisberg with “Ngodobodongo” (2009), a colorful canvas filled with voodoo drums, balloons and haunting masks (price: $25,000).
Art Basel will feature many artists who are also showing in the Venice Biennale, which also starts this weekend. Mai 36 will have American John Baldessari, who has been awarded the Biennale’s coveted Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. In Basel, Mr. Baldessari’s acrylic print “Raised Eyebrows/Furrowed Foreheads: (with Apple),” from 2009, will be offered at Mai 36 for $250,000.
London’s Waddington Galleries will bring to Art Basel works by American artist John Wesley (born 1928), an individualist who falls between the categories of pop, minimalism and fantasy. From June 6-Oct. 4, a retrospective of Mr. Wesley’s works will be shown in Venice at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini. Among the works Waddington will offer in Basel is the 1986 canvas “Bulls and Bed” (1986), priced at around $300,000.
Video artist Fiona Tan, who is representing the Netherlands in Venice, will be present in Basel at London’s Frith Street Gallery. Video works by Ms. Tan range from €20,000-€120,000.
Zurich’s Mark Müller gallery will show works from abstract painter Judy Millar, New Zealand’s representative in Venice. Her works sell between €2,000 and €80,000 for an installation.
Meanwhile, in Basel, Contemporary Works You Can Buy (Wall Street Journal)