BASEL.- For its 5th edition photo basel announced that galleries have reported strong sales, with 90% selling works. This includes newcomers such as Grob Gallery and Atlas Gallery, alongside returning galleries including Bildhalle, Kahmann Gallery and Ibasho Gallery. photo basel is especially pleased to have successfully expanded the fair to take place on two floors of the Volkshaus and are happy to announce the fair will return to both floors next year.

This year has once again proven to be a real success with strong sales and outstanding booths. Seeing a mixture of returning and new exhibitors, it was great to see that the expansion of the fair to the top floor allowed the participating galleries room for considered curation to create engaging spaces. --Sven Eisenhut, Director of photo basel

The fair continues to retain strong ties with many Swiss and international collectors, visiting the fair from across Europe, the United States and China, as well as key representatives from distinguished public institutions and private foundations including: Urs Stahel/MAST Bologna, Clément Chéroux/SFMOMA, Tatyana Franck/Musée de l'Elysée Lausanne, Bettina Leidl/KunstHaus Vienna, Nadine Wietlisbach/Fotomuseum Winterthur, Barbara Hofmann-Johnson/Museum für Photographie Braunschweig, Stefano Stoll, Images Vevey, Nathalie Herschdorfer/MBA Le Locle and Barbara Esch Marowski/Haus am Kleistpark Berlin.

This year's Master Cabinet: Tender Moments - a section of the fair devoted to classic masterpieces of the 20th century - was featured on The Guardian and boasted notable sales. Gallery 29 Arts in Progress sold, among others, a vintage print by Gian Paolo Barbieri to a Swiss Collector for €16,000.

The second edition of the ALPA AWARD, which is presented to a single artist for outstanding work at the fair, was awarded to Casper Faassen, represented at photo basel 2019 by Kahmann Gallery, Amsterdam. The award is held in cooperation with the Swiss camera manufacturer ALPA® as well as a private collector from Zürich. Faaseen's historically rooted, technically involved and aesthetically seductive work brings a truly original and perceptive position to contemporary photography.

SALES HIGHLIGHTS
Galleries throughout the fair reported strong sales across all levels of the market.

• Switzerland based newcomer to the fair Laurent Marthaler Contemporary sold a full wall of works by Daniel Cherbuin and four works by Bill Claps

• Among other sales, an American collector bought six works from "Budapest Courtyards" by Marchand & Meffre at Galerie Fontana

• Ira Stehmann Fine Art sold six works by Sandro Miller and many works - large and small - by Christopher Thomas from his series Lost in L.A. Several works by Stephanie Pfriender Stylander, William Klein and Michael Kenna were also sold. • Bildhalle experienced strong sales, selling 11 works by Paul Cupido, 15 by artist duo Angel Albarrán and Anna Cabrera and three works by René Groebli.

• Galerija Fotografija sold three works by Boris Gaberščik as well as a work by DK

We consider Photo Basel as a growing high quality boutique fair for photography. Great team, great colleagues, nice and relaxing atmosphere. My clients and collectors love the fair and confirm the steadily growing importance. --Mirjam Cavegn, founder, Bildhalle, Zurich

The fair has been a wonderful success for me. The number of important photographs on display at my colleague´s booths has definitely increased. --Ira Stehmann, Founder, Ira Stehmann Fine Art, Munich

In 2019 for the 5th edition we feel Photo Basel again is stepping up. Although small in scale, it has become a mature fair with a strong program and professional appearance, attracting high-quality galleries and visitors alike. The new addition of the first floor space has given the fair the extra flexibility that it needed and the feedback we are receiving from visitors about the fair is very positive. Our sales have been strong and to a variety of existing and new clients. We look forward to the remainder of the fair and are certainly planning to come back next year. --Martijn van Pieterson, founder, Ibasho Gallery, Antwerp