Art Basel and UBS are marking their 30th anniversary with high-profile events, including a joint public commission by artist Petrit Halilaj, whose work "When the sun goes away we paint the sky" (2022) is displayed on the former Hotel Merian.
The partnership began in 1994 with the Video Art Prize awarded to Pipilotti Rist and Enrique Fontanilles, funded by the Swiss Bank Corporation, which later merged into UBS. This collaboration has since led to initiatives like the Unlimited sector and the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report, launched in 2017.
Patricia Amberg, UBS senior art adviser, emphasized the bank's deep involvement in the arts through its art advisory and corporate art collection. UBS's presence is prominent in Basel, with the bank showcasing "Dare Me Do-Touch Me Too" (2024) by Edith Deyerling at the UBS Claraplatz branch, and hosting "Threads," an exhibition of textile works at the UBS Art Collection lounge, featuring artists like Maja Bajević and Hank Willis Thomas.
The anniversary is overshadowed by protests from environmental groups accusing UBS of investing $210 billion in fossil fuels. They demand Art Basel drop UBS as a sponsor due to its environmental impact.
Art Basel and UBS responded by reaffirming their commitment to sustainability. Art Basel aims to inspire sustainable practices in the art world, while UBS highlighted its net-zero ambitions and plans to reduce financed emissions by 70% from the 2021 baseline by 2030. This milestone reflects the achievements of the UBS-Art Basel partnership and the increasing scrutiny of corporate sustainability practices.
Selena Mattei