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Basel’s New Money & A Gagosian Ouster

Behind the usual scrum of buyers and sellers, a pair of dueling narrative vie to define Basel and the broader market. Also: inside the executive shakeup at the world’s most enigmatic gallery.

larry gagosian
To the outside world, Gagosian Gallery is a fearsome selling machine with more gallery space than any competitor. Inside, it’s still very much one man’s business. Photo: Mike Windle/Getty Images
Marion Maneker
June 16, 2024

When the gallery emails started to come out fast and furious on Tuesday afternoon, all in an attempt by the biggest players to define both Art Basel and the broader market, the tone that emerged was both feisty and defensive. Iwan Wirth railed against “doom porn” and “gossip networks,” while praising “a more humane pace.” David Zwirner tried to counter “a narrative out there that the art market is weak” by claiming instead that it was “certainly performing well” at the Messeplatz.