Fair Necessities: Five Phenomenal Works at Art Basel 2025

Art Basel in Basel 2026 18–21 June 2026

As the world’s most influential art fair opens its doors in Switzerland for Art Basel this week, Ocula Advisory’s Rory Mitchell selects five exceptional works to look out for, that, across generations and media, reflect recurring concerns with time, perception, and presence. 

1. Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Untitled (Perfect Lovers) (1987–1990) at David Zwirner 

Felix Gonzalez-Torres’ Untitled (Perfect Lovers) remains one of the most influential conceptual artworks of the 20th century. Two identical wall clocks are installed side by side, initially in perfect sync; as time passes, they inevitably fall out of alignment. Though stemming from the artist’s own relationship with his lover, the work speaks to universal themes—a quiet, poignant metaphor for love, mortality, and the fragility of human connection. 

2. Josef Albers, Familiar Front (1948–1952) at David Zwirner 

Where Gonzalez-Torres explores the passage of time, Josef Albers focuses on the shifting nature of perception. In his ‘Variant/Adobe’ series, subtle changes in form and hue reveal how colour relationships affect what we see. Familiar Front, with its interplay of orange, pink, and purple, is a striking example. The original grey frame—designed by the artist—further anchors the composition. David Zwirner consistently presents strong works by Albers, but this one stands out for its clarity and intensity.

3. Milton Avery, Dead Trees with Firs (1944) at Karma

This landscape painting by Milton Avery is a personal highlight. The composition—bare trees set against a stand of firs—speaks to the surreal quietude of British painter Paul Nash, but Avery’s palette is uniquely his own. Distorted forms are balanced by planes of soft, contrasting colour, creating a sense of calm and distance.

Karma’s recent collaboration with the Avery estate is timely. Long overlooked during his lifetime, the artist’s work has gained renewed attention, especially following his major retrospective in 2022 at the Royal Academy in London.

4. Francis Alÿs, Ciudad Juarez, MX Sep (2012) at Galerie Peter Kilchmann

Francis Alÿs focuses on lived experience—but filtered through geography and politics. Known for his multidisciplinary work, Alÿs treats painting as an essential part of his practice, not a supplement to his films and performances. These small-scale canvases, often painted onsite, capture fleeting moments in cities around the world with a quiet, cinematic intensity, while subtly hinting at broader geopolitical concerns. 

5. Sarah Sze, Clearing (2025) at Gagosian

Sarah Sze’s 2023 Guggenheim exhibition confirmed her status as one of today’s most inventive artists. Clearing continues her exploration of constructed space and fragmented time. This large-scale, mixed-media work blends painterly and sculptural elements into a layered, shimmering composition. Textures flicker between natural and artificial, suggesting a landscape in motion. Like Alÿs, Sze draws viewers into a space that feels both constructed and organic. —[O]

Main image: Josef Albers, Familiar Front (1948–1952) (detail). Oil on masonite in artist's frame. 55.6 x 73.3 x 2.9 cm (framed). ©️ The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation/Artists Rights Society, New York. Courtesy The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation and David Zwirner.