Katharina Grosse Just Turned an Entire Swiss Plaza Into a Fever Dream — And I’m Obsessed
Look, I’ve seen a lot of art fairs. Too many, honestly. But Art Basel just pulled off something that made even this jaded critic gasp out loud.
German artist Katharina Grosse basically took over Messeplatz — the main square outside the fair — and turned it into a massive, psychedelic explosion of color. We’re talking buildings, ground, structures — everything drenched in her signature spray-painted madness. It’s chaotic. It’s gorgeous. It’s completely unhinged in the best possible way.
This year’s edition brought together 289 galleries from 42 countries, but honestly? The real show was happening outside. Grosse’s intervention was curated by Natalia Grabowska from London’s Serpentine, and it’s giving “what if a rainbow had a nervous breakdown but made it fashion.”
The Unlimited sector showcased 68 monumental installations, including Lee Ufan’s stunning Relatum sculptures — massive steel plates paired with raw stones that somehow feel both industrial and zen. The Parcours section, curated by Stefanie Hessler, took over the streets along Clarastrasse all the way to the Rhine, exploring the theme “Second Nature.” Think: art that blurs the line between what’s real and what’s manufactured.
And can we talk about the new Art Basel Awards? Finally, a recognition program that celebrates the risk-takers and rule-breakers shaping contemporary art. Thirty-six medals were handed out to artists, curators, and cultural innovators. It’s about time.
Art Basel continues to prove why it’s the Olympics of the art world. See you next June.
