The first edition of Gstaad Art closed its doors on Sunday, 18 February, after three sunny days of intense atmosphere. Visitors to the Festival-Zelt were delighted by the original, high-level showcase set under the giant white tent.

The entrance adorned with golden accents led visitors into a dimly lit space that set the stage for what was to come. Once inside the main exhibition area, the elevated white ceiling had been adapted to suit the decors of the booths, and contrasted by white walls and black rugs, it created an intimate and elegant setting, serving as a perfect backdrop for the showcased artworks. The many collectors and art lovers in the region, as well as the local population, were a credit to the 20 galleries that believed in and supported this initiative. In addition to the international public present in the region on this date, many people from Geneva and Zurich were also tempted to discover the Art Salon.

“I am very impressed, said a visitor; it looks very good and feels very much on par with the larger fairs, like ArtBasel, perhaps even better.”

The format and date chosen were key to the success of this first edition, which was characterised by grandeur deployed by contemporary international art galleries such as White Cube (London), kurimanzutto (Mexico/New York), Nächst St Stephan (Vienna), Perrotin (Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, and Shanghai), Kreo (Paris, London) or Société (Berlin) in a human-scale display. Alongside the galleries, the launch of the "Circus Series", curated this year by Piper Marshall and Kolja Gläser, created a sharp contrast to the established galleries. Entitled "Artists' Scores, Scenarios, and Instructions", the exhibition featured some 60 artists, each offering a unique perspective on the artistic process. Be sure to make a note in your calendar for next year's edition, 14–16 February 2025.

gstaad-art.ch