Art Basel to launch Online Viewing Rooms

Art Basel is launching Online Viewing Rooms, a new digital-only platform for its galleries and collectors, with the inaugural edition going live on March 20, 2020. Online Viewing Rooms will give visitors the opportunity to browse thousands of artworks presented by Art Basel participating galleries, many of which will be online exclusives. The exhibiting gallery can then be contacted directly for sales inquiries. The Viewing Rooms will run in parallel to the three shows in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. 

‘The Online Viewing Rooms will provide galleries with a further possibility for engaging with our global audiences,’ said Marc Spiegler, Global Director, Art Basel, ‘complementing the essential personal interactions that continue to underlie the art market.’ The initiative is the latest example of Art Basel’s longstanding commitment to digital technologies and to fostering a healthy artworld ecosystem by creating new ways for its galleries to reach collectors from across the globe. ‘As the art market continues to evolve, Art Basel has continually investigated how new technologies can give us new opportunities to support our galleries,’ said Spiegler.

In response to the unique circumstances of the canceled show, exhibitors in the March launch event will be able to show works of art that had been destined for Hong Kong. All the galleries accepted for the 2020 Hong Kong show have been invited to participate, at no cost for this first edition.

‘We are delighted to be able to premiere this new initiative now,’ said Adeline Ooi, Director Asia, Art Basel. ‘While the Online Viewing Rooms cannot replace our 2020 fair in Hong Kong, we firmly hope that it will provide a strong support to all the galleries who were affected by the cancellation of our March show.’

Online Viewing Rooms will be accessible via the website and the Art Basel App. More details on participating galleries and their presentations will become available in the coming weeks.