Paris Proves Its Place

Art Basel 2025 and the Resilient Global Art Market

Caption for header image: View of The Modern Institute’s booth at Art Basel Paris 2025.

Each October, Paris draws the eyes of the art world—and this year’s Art Basel Paris affirmed not only the city’s enduring cultural magnetism but also the remarkable resilience of the global art market.
Held at the Grand Palais in the heart of the French capital, the fair continues to strengthen its role as a bridge between France’s artistic heritage and its thriving creative economy. According to Art Basel’s official report by Elliat Albrecht (Oct. 27, 2025), more than 73,000 visitors attended the fourth edition, marking another confident step in the city’s re-emergence as a premier art destination.

Major Sales Signal Strength at the Top

The week opened with a flurry of high-value transactions that set a bullish tone.
At Hauser & Wirth, Gerhard Richter’s Abstraktes Bild (1987) sold for an impressive $23 million, while Pace Gallery placed Amedeo Modigliani’s Jeune fille aux macarons (1918) just shy of $10 million.
Blue-chip names such as Agnes Martin, Ruth Asawa, and Julie Mehretu also commanded multimillion-dollar results, reinforcing collectors’ appetite for historically significant and museum-caliber works.

Throughout the week, momentum held steady. White Cube confirmed an $11.5 million sale of Mehretu’s 2007 painting, alongside additional seven-figure acquisitions by Calder, Tuymans, and Cai Guo-Qiang.
At Thaddaeus Ropac, Georg Baselitz’s monumental bronze Cowboy (2024) fetched $4 million, followed by multiple oil paintings in the $1 million range—a sign that established European artists continue to perform strongly even amid economic uncertainty.

Breadth and Diversity Define Demand

What set Paris apart this year was the range of successful price points and the cross-cultural breadth of the buyers.
Institutional engagement remained robust: Goodman Gallery placed significant William Kentridge works with both U.S. and European museums, while Mennour, Tornabuoni, and Templon reported million-dollar sales to private collectors across Europe.

Regional galleries thrived as well. Paris-based dealers like Chantal Crousel and frank elbaz confirmed strong results for artists including Mona Hatoum, Gabriel Orozco, and Sheila Hicks, with prices spanning from $14,000 to $300,000. Beyond France, Italian gallery P420 and Seoul’s Kukje Gallery saw brisk activity, underscoring Paris’s renewed status as a crossroads for international collecting.

Equally telling was the healthy mid-market. Newer exhibitors and younger artists enjoyed consistent sales below $10,000, suggesting sustained demand among emerging collectors. The fair’s Emergence sector, featuring fresh talent and innovative materials, demonstrated that enthusiasm for discovery remains a vital force in today’s market.

Gender Balance and Global Reach

Female artists also had a notable presence across sectors.
From Marie Bracquemond’s rediscovered Impressionist works to Korean fiber-art pioneer Lee ShinJa, galleries reported strong interest in women’s contributions to both modern and contemporary movements.
Saudi Arabia’s Athr Gallery, showcasing a trio of women artists, achieved complete sell-through—further evidence of how cultural diversification continues to shape global collecting patterns.

A Market Defined by Confidence

The fair’s conclusion left little doubt: the art market remains active, confident, and increasingly global.
While geopolitical and economic uncertainties persist, the consistent pace of acquisitions at Art Basel Paris suggests a healthy recalibration rather than a contraction.
Collectors are buying more deliberately—favoring quality, provenance, and narrative—but they are still buying.

As International Art Acquisitions continues to advise clients on both collecting and investment opportunities, the message from Paris is clear: art remains one of the most resilient and rewarding markets for those who value cultural significance alongside long-term value.

Source: Elliat Albrecht, “Art Basel Paris 2025 Confirms Global Market Strength,” Art Basel Stories, October 27, 2025.

Caption for header image: View of The Modern Institute’s booth at Art Basel Paris 2025.

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