Days before Art Basel Paris opens at the Grand Palais, organizers of the fair are offering reassurances—if not specifics—about security, following a brazen daytime robbery at the Louvre Museum that saw thieves escape with jewels once belonging to Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie.
Asked what steps had been taken to improve security “in light of the very recent and very high-profile robbery at the Louvre,” an Art Basel spokesperson did not respond directly. Instead, the fair provided a general statement:
“We take the safety and security of our exhibitors, visitors, and staff—as well as the security of the artworks and the historic infrastructure we are operating in—extremely seriously. As at all Art Basel fairs, we have comprehensive measures in place to ensure a safe and secure environment, and work closely with the local authorities on our security arrangements.”
The statement comes as Art Basel Paris debuts Avant Première, a new invitation-only preview for select clients that opens Tuesday afternoon—ahead of the fair’s two VIP days, which begin Wednesday. The new tier of exclusivity, which the fair has described as “for the market, by the market,” allows each of the 203 participating galleries to invite a small number of their top collectors for a more “intimate and privileged experience.”
The Louvre robbery, carried out by three masked men using a cherry picker and power tools, has dominated headlines in France since Sunday. The group smashed into the Galerie d’Apollon, home to France’s crown jewels, and fled within minutes, prompting Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to call the stolen items of “inestimable heritage and historical value.” The theft, which left one damaged crown behind, drew political outrage—National Rally leader Jordan Bardella called it “an intolerable humiliation for our country”—and renewed scrutiny of security at France’s museums.
For Art Basel Paris, the heist has cast a strange light on the fair’s timing. One day before VIPs descend on the newly restored Grand Palais for champagne and seven-figure transactions, the Louvre remains closed to preserve forensic evidence. To top it off, multiple sources from art dealers to art world professionals told ARTnews that the heist is the talk of Paris: a truth that’s unlikely to change no matter how exclusive Tuesday’s Première will be.
This year’s edition features 203 galleries from 40 countries, including Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Zwirner, and Thaddaeus Ropac, as well as nine first-time participants. It also marks the final edition under director Clément Delépine, who will soon depart to lead Lafayette Anticipations. Whether security has been ramped up or no remains unclear—but at least officially, Art Basel is taking it extremely seriously.
