The artist Arlene Shechet will be in town to install one of her monumental sculptures—but will also have an eye out for works to add to her own collection.
“When I make some sales, I will typically try to take a portion of that and buy a work from another artist,” she says. “Though I have many works from trades, it has always been especially meaningful for artists I don’t know to acquire my work.” Works she “loves to live with” include pieces by Fred Sandback, Barry Le Va, Joan Jonas, Kinke Kooi and Marlon Mullen.
Arlene Shechet’s Midnight (2024) is on show in Art Basel’s Unlimited section © Arlene Shechet; courtesy Pace Gallery.
Shechet is showing her work with Pace Gallery in Art Basel’s Unlimited section. Her welded aluminium sculpture Midnight (2024) is the largest of six commissioned for her show at Storm King Art Center in New York state last year. You can also see her work at the Amsterdam Sculpture Biennale (until 21 September), and on Governors Island in New York City (until 2 November).
The Art Newspaper: How quickly do you decide to buy a work of art?
Arlene Shechet: I couldn’t make art if I didn’t trust my eyes and instincts, so my bank account is the only thing that slows me down.
What was the first work you ever bought?
In the early 80s I bought a set of Robert Mangold prints for my parents. That was made possible by a friend of mine who worked in the print shop. I still have them now and hold them dear.
Californian artist Marlon Mullen’s Untitled (2015) is in Shechet’s collection © the artist
What do you regret not buying when you had the chance?
A Louise Bourgeois drawing for $5,000 that I didn’t have at the time.
If you could have any work from any museum, what would it be?
An illustrated Medieval Book of Hours (French preferred) from the Morgan Library or the Met. The great Sam Fogg antiquities dealer loaned me one for my presentation at Frieze Masters a couple of years ago.
Where do you like to eat and drink while you are in Basel?
A simple potato rösti is one of my favourite food treats, so I’ll be on the hunt. Because I’ll be installing at Unlimited starting on the 11th my stay in Basel will be an extended one, so I’m hoping to get a little off the main drag and see some curator and artists friends from outside of the US.
Do you have any parties lined up?
The usual, including drinks on the terrace of Amber Bar and the Kunstmuseum opening. But I like to be as unprogrammed as possible so I can make decisions at the last minute.
Shechet will be checking out the Rhine cycle trail in Basel Ekaterina Pokrovsky
What is your least favourite thing about art fairs?
The bathrooms and the pressure… do those two things go together?
Where do you go in Basel to get away from it all?
I know people always talk about jumping into the Rhine, but for me, I’ll be checking out the Rhine cycle trail.
What tip would you give to someone visiting Basel for the first time?
Go to the Fondation Beyeler.
