Sean Kelly founded the eponymous Sean Kelly Gallery in New York in 1991, a pioneering contemporary art space which now stands as an international beacon of creative prowess in the Hudson Yards community. In a vibrant 22,000 square ft. space designed by revered architect Toshiko Mori, Kelly uplifts the brightest stars of the global art landscape, there uniting icons like Marina Abramović, Rebecca Horn, Joseph Kosuth, Antony Gormley, Hugo McCloud, Alec Soth, and many more—as well as in its premier Los Angeles haven.
On the jubilant occasion of Art Basel in Switzerland, Kelly shares with Whitewall the gallery’s soulful presentations as well as must-see coinciding exhibitions, and the most serene spots to refresh and catch up with friends.
Portrait of Sean Kelly, courtesy of Sean Kelly, New York.
WHITEWALL: What are the exhibitions on your must-see list?
SEAN KELLY: I’m very much looking forward to seeing gallery artists Janaina Tschäpe and David Claerbout’s installations at Art Basel Unlimited. Janaina will present a monumental suite of nine large-scale paintings, one of her most ambitious projects to date, and David will show his film Birdcage, which continues his exploration of perception, cognition, time, and temporality.
In Basel itself Julian Charriére will transform the exterior of the historic Globus department store with boundary-pushing artwork suspended on the store’s façade. The work acts as a real-time window into the Western Andean Cloud Forest in Ecuador and encourages visitors to be active participants and protectors of our vital ecosystems.
I never come to Basel without visiting the Beyeler Foundation. The building itself is a masterful collaboration of a great patron and architect working together to make a perfect space in which to view art. After your visit, grab a drink at Wiesengarten Musetti.
Lively Brasseries and the Oldest Tavern in Basel
WW: What are your go-to places to grab a bit or drink after the fairs / opening?
SK: Every year, we have dinner at Au Violon—this lively brasserie, an old monastery, is a great place to catch up with clients, friends, and colleagues. Weather permitting, ask for a table in its outdoor courtyard area. We also make sure to have dinner at the oldest tavern in Basel, Gasthof zum Goldenen Sternen, for traditional fare and a lively welcome, it also has a lovely outdoor area to eat in.
Discovering the Bronx in Basel and Sensorial Encounters
WW: What are you looking forward to in Basel in June during the fairs?
SK: Our friends Jon Gray, Pierre, and Lester from Ghetto Gastro are hosting a pop-up called BRONX BODEGA Basel in Herzog & de Meuron‘s landmark building along the Rhine, bringing some of the Bronx to Basel with a restaurant and series of events. We’ve worked collaboratively with the Ghetto Gastro team on a number of events, and they always bring something fresh and new to the table.
If you have an extra day or so make a pilgrimage to the Therme at Vals, conceived by the great Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, it is a salve for the soul and the senses and well worth the short trip from Basel.
Sean Kelly’s Insider Tips:
1. Explore New Work by Janaina Tschäpe and David Claerbout at Art Basel Unlimited
Janaina Tschäpe,
“First Daffodils,” 2024,
signed by artist, verso
oil and oil stick on linen,
70 x 92 x 2 inches (177.8 x 233.7 x 5.1 cm); courtesy of the artist and Sean Kelly Gallery.
Janaina Tschäpe’s To cover the earth with a new mist, a monumental suite of nine large-scale paintings, is among the artist’s most ambitious projects to date. The work harnesses and amplifies the expansive energy and sophisticated dynamize she brings to painting. This installation was in part inspired by Tschäpe’s exhibition at the Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris, in 2020-21 where her work was featured in dialogue with Claude Monet’s Les Numphéas (The Water Lilies).
In David Claerbout’s film Birdcage, a picturesque garden is abruptly transformed by an explosion, changing the tranquil scene into one of chaos and destruction. The film moves through a beautiful landscape until the camera halts on an explosion, and the colors shift to intense reds and oranges. As the scene silently unfolds, viewers are gripped by a sense of urgency and awe, captivated by the sublime beauty of the visuals. — Source
2. Embark on Julian Charriére’s Calls for Action at the Globus Public Art Project, Market Square, Basel
Julian Charrière, “Buried Sunshines Burn | 2V.8YL,” 2023, the work is accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity, heliograph on high-polished stainless steel plate, stainless steel frame,
museum glass (ArtGlass 70), image: 39 3/8 x 31 1/2 inches (100 x 80 cm)
framed: 40 15/16 x 33 1/16 x 1 9/16 inches (104 x 84 x 4 cm), unique; courtesy of the artist and Sean Kelly Gallery.
Julian Charrière will transform Basel’s historical department store Globus, currently under renovation, with a boundary pushing artwork that aims to connect visitors across vast distances, bridging mountainous Switzerland with a Western Andean Cloud Forest in Ecuador. Featuring a large screen suspended on the department store façade, the project acts as a real-time window into the rich biodiversity of an endangered ecoregion. — Source
3. Visit “Cloud Chronicles” at Fondation Beyeler
Installation view of Fondation Beyeler, Riehen/Basel, 2024, of Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, “Untitled (nuage),” 2024 LED screen, courtesy of the artist © Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, photo by Mark Niedermann.
In an inaugural group presentation that is spread across the interior of Fondation Beyeler as well as its exterior, idyllic park spaces, “Cloud Chronicles” unites 30 visionaries in the diverse realms of art, poetry, architecture, music, philosophy, and science for an exploratory symphony of contemporary art. In close partnership with the LUMA Foundation, and thoughtfully developed by Sam Keller, Mouna Mekouar, Isabela Mora, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Precious Okoyomon, Philippe Parreno, and Tino Sehgal, the far reaches of creative independence lead to revelatory dialogues on our shared experiences and duties.
4. Pop in for Dazzling Drinks and Bites at Wiesengarten Musetti
Published by Wiesengarten Musetti.
Since 1999, we have felt comfortable in this beautiful idyll in Riehen. We are happy to spoil our guests. A warm welcome. Inspired by seasonal, market-fresh products, for an honest, enjoyable Italian cuisine. Wines from different regions of Italy. Current daily offers will be communicated at the table. — Source
5. Relish in Dinner at Au Violon
Published by Au Violon.
Monsieur Philippe Maire and his team are looking forward to welcoming you in the simple yet elegant hotel brasserie au violon in a place steeped in history. A traditional, refined and typical French gastronomy will delight your palate. The uniqueness is seductive. — Source
6. Don’t Miss BRONX BODEGA Basel
Published by BRONX BODEGA Basel.
BRONX BODEGA Basel invites you to experience culinary delights that blends art and design, set in Herzog & de Meuron’s landmark along the Rhine Riviera during Art Basel 2024. This immersive pop-up restaurant, terrace, bar, and club offers an exclusive series of events, celebrating the fusion of cultures and contemporary art, all day and night. — Source
