Meet the Artist | Beyond traditional art markets
3-5 MINUTE READ
In the ever-evolving world of contemporary art, VOLTA Basel (June 12 - 18) has consistently stood as an arts calendar event founded on a fresh, innovative approach. Each year, the fair captivates audiences by showcasing work from a diverse range of artists and the galleries presenting them. The reason for this commitment to diversity arises from a deeper mission: to bring underrepresented narratives to the forefront of the global art stage.
In this article, we take a look at the unique perspectives from the 30 handpicked galleries set to emerge at VOLTA Basel, shedding a light on the artists and industry professionals who challenge traditional art market convention.
Saule Suleimenova and Lyazzat Khanim | QAZART | Kazakhstan
QAZART is an online platform for exploring, collecting and supporting artists from Kazakhstan. Cultivating a stronger dialogue between the local art community and international collectors, the mission to make historical and new artworks more accessible runs deep within QAZART’s ethos.
Where Kazakhstan is still underrepresented in the global art system, QAZART will be showcasing two female artists to an international audience as a method to traverse this barrier. Saule Suleimenova is an artist working in a variety of mediums to explore the construct of collective memory. She lives and works in Almaty, where she creates mixed media artwork against a backdrop of intense research and socio-political themes.
Lyazzat Khanim portrays seemingly simple objects that are followed by feelings of disturbance and displacement. Where consumer culture plays a part in her work, Khanim also addresses the pure experience of existing by examining the relationship between personal experience and public dimension.
Qandastar turaly Dastan. #4 by Saule Suleimenova, Collage, 59 x 59 in. Courtesy of QAZART
tapSink by Lyazzat Khanim, Oil on canvas, 40 x 40 cm. Courtesy of QAZART
Monika Plentauskaite | Lithuania
VOLTA Basel is known as a hub for high-quality, cutting-edge art from beyond traditional art markets, and Monika Plentauskaite represents this perfectly through her presentation by Meno Niša. Gallery Director, Diana Stomienė, is an impressive figure in this sphere, also being the first Director of Vilnius Biennial of Performance Art.
They’ll be presenting Monika Plentauskaite, a Lithuanian artist whose paintings grace the collections of international collectors and esteemed establishments alike. In recent years, Plentauskaite has focused on the inclusion of hair symbology in her paintings, expressed as a socio-cultural construct beyond its biological function. Her work at the fair will have an air of mystery, evoking a sense that her characters are self-aware.
Flow by Monika Plentauskaite, Oil on canvas, 60 x 40 cm. Courtesy of Meno Niša
PERRAS FANTASIAS, By Starsky Brines,Industrial paint, crayon on canvas, 76 x 61. Courtesy of Galerie Heike Strelow
Starsky Brines | Venezuela
Fresh from success at VOLTA New York, Galerie Heike Strelow will be presenting Starsky Brines at our Basel fair. Known for his his characterful, zoomorphic paintings reminiscent of a comic book style, Brines was born on the Caribbean coast of Venezuela, and now works between Caracas and Miami.
Brines’ distinctive work takes influence from his mother’s colorful Caribbean carnival puppets, as well as historical Latin American art and the Italian Transavantgarde.
Myung Gyun You | South Korea
A self-defined artistic ‘Nomad’, Myung Gyun You has moved from between Korea, Japan and America whilst creating closely observed work that relates to a return to nature. In terms of human life, he views ‘life’ and ‘death’ as the same phenomena, both offering a world of horizons beyond fear and peace. Myung Gyn You endeavors to recreate this through his practice, taking such expressions of art to these horizons.
He will be presented by LEE & BAE, who are similarly based in South Korea amongst the beautiful Suyeong riverside landscape. They work to document various current global views through the visual arts.
The History of Forest 21m01 by Myung-Gyun You, Fibers and mixed media on canvas, 129.9 x 86.6 x 6.7in. Courtesy of Lee & Bae
If you’re interested in purchasing any artists work, get in touch at - info@voltashow.com
Don’t miss your chance to discover the art of now, connect with galleries and grow your collection with VOLTA.
VOLTA Basel June 12 - 18 at Klybeck 610