BASEL.-For Art 39 Basel the Art Statements sector expands to include 31 solo shows by young artists. Selected by the Art Basel Committee from a record number of more than 290 applications, the participating artists come from 19 different countries. Art Statements has promoted young artists for over 10 years now, offering them a special platform that brings them to the eyes of an international audience of curators, collectors and art critics. These 31 projects promise art enthusiasts interesting discoveries and fascinating encounters with work from the rising generation of artists.

This year Art Basel’s selection committee has focused above all on artists who are little-known or represent less easily accessible artistic positions. The projects on show will all be created especially for Art 39 Basel. The participating artists come from Austria, Brazil, Britain, China, Cuba, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Romania, Switzerland, the USA, and Vietnam.

Since 1999, the Bâloise Insurance Group has awarded its annual Bâloise Art Prize of CHF 25,000 per recipient to two outstanding Statements projects. The company also acquires works by the award-winning artists and donates them to such important institutions as the Kunsthalle Hamburg and the Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation in Vienna.