Art Genève Courts Galleries With a Different Market Logic

Art Genève unfolds at a deliberately measured scale, offering galleries and collectors a setting defined by conversation and connection. Photo: Thomas Annaheim Lambert

The ambiance at Art Genève—held at Palexpo, a conference center in the north of Geneva not far from the city’s airport—generates more of a murmur than a buzz. This fair (open now and running through February 1) is a moderate outing relative to Switzerland’s more ambitious and infamous Art Basel, but for some participants, that’s the draw. Hauser & Wirth senior director Séverine Waelchli told Observer the fair’s more “confidential” setting facilitated “quality of meetings” and enabled “time with collectors.”

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With 81 galleries on the 14th edition roster—including Mennour, Galerie Lelong & Co. and Pace—solo shows were fully integrated into the fair’s layout, and booths were offset by institutional projects throughout. There was a strong showing of Paris galleries but very few from London and even fewer from outside Europe. Hauser & Wirth, participating in Art Genève for its third consecutive year, showed a panorama of works by Paul McCarthy, Hélène Delprat, Lucio Fontana and Philip Guston (whose work is on view three hours away at Musée Picasso Paris through March 1). A work by Takesada Matsutani sold within two hours of the preview opening. Thereafter, the gallery sold Günther........

© Observer