Year in review: Here are the topics that will keep us talking into 2021

The push-pull between economies and ecologies thrust the natural world into the spotlight this year. Millennial collectors, perhaps with an eye toward decreasing their own carbon footprint, are driving the digital market; while artists themselves confronted issues of visibility, violence, and the march of time during surprisingly productive lockdowns.

It was business unusual for both art galleries and institutions this year, as lockdowns and capacity restrictions in major cities curtailed many planned exhibitions and shows. At the same time, new partnerships and digital tools helped connect buyers with art from around the globe – a pursuit that in these times, many collectors took as a kind of moral imperative.

Finally, in a year without a physical show, relive your favorite fair moments with our series on the history of Art Basel, from its first iteration in 1970 through its expansions to Miami Beach and Hong Kong. See how pioneering video art entered the canon during this period, and hear from a lifelong Basel attendee on some of her most entertaining memories.