Entertainment · Books & Arts · 3 hrs ago
Art Basel Paris Preview Opens With Strong Buyers and Major Sales
Art Basel Paris opened its VIP preview at the Grand Palais in Paris on Tuesday.
The fair took place as protests continued in the city, and some collectors reportedly canceled their trips.
The preview was quieter than last year, with aisles full but still easy to navigate.
Dealers said serious collectors were buying, and US collectors and museum leaders attended.
One gallery confirmed a sale of Bilal Hamdad’s painting for €65,000, while coverage also highlighted a Modigliani valued above $100 million.
The sales showed strong interest at the high end, even though galleries had only a few hours to report deals.
The preview comes before the fair’s regular VIP opening days, when more sales may be reported.
Art Basel Paris opened its Avant Première preview at the Grand Palais on October 20.
Dealers reported strong attendance by serious collectors and described the atmosphere as having “good energy.”
The preview was less busy than the previous year’s event, with aisles full but navigable.
Templon confirmed the €65,000 sale of Bilal Hamdad’s 2026 painting L’envers du soir.
Artnet News reported a Modigliani work priced at more than $100 million, while ARTnews reported a Gerhard Richter work sold for about $10 million.
- Who
- Art Basel Paris and participating galleries, with collectors and museum staff in attendance.
- What
- The fair opened its Avant Première preview, where dealers reported sales and strong buyer interest.
- When
- October 20, 2026. The preview opened at 3 p.m.
- Where
- The Grand Palais in Paris, France.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A short line had formed to enter the Grand Palais.
Art Basel Paris’s Avant Première preview opened.
Aisles were full but navigable, and blue-chip booths had buyers.
- Venue
- Grand Palais, Paris
- Preview opening
- 3 p.m. on October 20, 2026
- Templon sale
- Bilal Hamdad’s L’envers du soir (2026) sold for €65,000
- Richter sale
- Gerhard Richter’s 1965 Rokokotisch sold for a price in the region of $10 million
- Modigliani work
- Artnet News headline reported a work priced at more than $100 million
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