Founded in 1997 to house the collection of collector Ernst Beyeler, Fondation Beyeler is currently the most attended art museum in Switzerland.  Vernissage TV has just posted an interview with director Sam Keller, recounting the museum’s first 15 years of operation and looking forward to its upcoming projects and goals.  Keller says: “In the beginning I think no-one could have envisioned that in such short term it would get on the map as being one of the most important museums not only in Switzerland, but also having an international reputation as being a house which shows art at the highest quality. So the development has been a quite steady one. ”
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Marc Spiegler will now head the four-person Art Basel team under a restructuring of management. The fair has grown immensely since 2007, when one person, Sam Keller, (now head of The Beyeler Foundation), was responsible for the management of the fair.  Annette Schönholzer, Magnus Renfrew and a new director of resources and finance (to be appointed next year), will serve under Spiegler as chairman. (more…)

Thomas Zipp on Paper – Via Hikari

Weather was clear and sunny the day the fair opened, many escaping the heat into the hordes of people who had purchased tickets or somehow found their way into the exclusive Vernissage, or opening of the fair. While some seem determined to close the details on any hot pieces that managed to make to the fair yet unsold (many pieces are sold to collectors before the galleries even make it to the fair) most seemed to just be milling around aimlessly. However there was a buzz in the air and excitement to see such masterpieces as Basquiats that were hidden for years in a private collection at Jan Krugier’s booth, a breathtaking 5 channel video piece by Doug Aitken at 303 Gallery’s booth and a performance utilizing a piece by Jim Shaw (performed by his assistant) complete with four armed electric guitar and burlap hooded cloak.

More Images post-jump
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