VOLTA Art Fairs Names Advisory Board to Support Strategic Community Building |October 2023 Press Release
New Artistic Director, Lee Cavaliere, to emphasize the power of local community and international networks as VOLTA Basel 2024 Gallery Applications Open.
VOLTA VIP attending VOLTA Basel 2023 Opening Preview.
Basel, Switzerland | October 19, 2023 — VOLTA Art Fairs announces international Board Members to enhance the 2024 edition of VOLTA Basel, initiated under the leadership of new Artistic Director Lee Cavaliere. VOLTA Basel will return with a tightly curated program of 40 galleries Monday June 10 to Sunday June 16, 2024 at the same boutique location it debuted in 2023: Klybeck 610.
A place for collectors to discover the Art of Now
VOLTA is a globally recognized satellite fair to the art world’s major fairs taking place in New York and Basel. The fair creates a space dedicated to its collectors where they can discover the Art of Now. VOLTA’s international cohort of galleries showcase work that reflects the world that we live in and serves as a forum of fresh perspectives by preeminent artistic talent. With Cavaliere at the helm, VOLTA revives key tenets of its legacy and offers collectors a distinct opportunity to discover, connect with and collect powerful work that boldly resonates with our era.
Part of Basel’s evolution
VOLTA Basel 2024 returns to the Klybeck district, acknowledging the evolution of this area of Basel which is undergoing growth and cultural change. VOLTA aims to be a part of this evolution—a link between the contemporary international art world and the local community. Located on the intersection of Gärtnerstrasse and Mauerstrasse, VOLTA Basel is near the Novartis campus and Basel Social Club, an accessible stop for collectors during Art Week.
Above left: Exterior of VOLTA Basel's venue Klybeck 610, photographed in 2023.Sculpture by artist Dario Norelli. Above right: Booth by Galerie Heike Strelow at VOLTA Basel 2023.
Exhibitor applications are now open for VOLTA Basel. Additional information about VOLTA Art Fair can be found at www.voltaartfairs.com/apply-to-exhibit
VOLTA Advisory Board
To support its 2024 Basel edition, VOLTA has announced an Advisory Board composed of distinguished members who aim to support the fair's influence locally in Basel, regionally and internationally within cultural and business communities. The geographic focus of the Board includes the MENA (Middle East North African) and European regions to complement Cavaliere’s experience of the Asian market. The Advisory Board is committed to stewarding the fair’s goals and vision for the 2024 Basel edition, including:
● Championing discovery and excellence in VOLTA’s curation by advocating for VOLTA as a preeminent destination for collectors to explore the latest in contemporary art;
● Expanding influence and reach of the fair by acting as ambassadors to a diverse and vibrant audience;
● Forging strategic alliances and relationships at local, national, and international levels, reinforcing VOLTA’s legacy as a destination for artistic excellence.
Members of the Advisory Board for VOLTA Basel include: Sheila Arora, Pamela Hraoui, Patrick Petermann, William Kaafarani, Carolina Conforti, Francois Renet Laurent, Julia Lechbinska and Christian Marx. (See appendix for full bios.)
Further partnerships and Advisory Board members to support VOLTA's New York edition will be announced in the upcoming months as the fair continues to unveil its 2024 vision.
About the VOLTA Basel Advisory Board Members
VOLTA Basel has announced an Advisory Board composed of distinguished members who aim to drive the fair's influence and outreach within cultural and business communities. Members of the Advisory Board for VOLTA Basel include:
EUROPE
Sheila Arora is Vice-Chair of the Brussels based Europe-Asia Center, communications veteran and curator of concepts and partnerships. Having lived and worked throughout Asia, New York, Italy and Central Europe, (London-born) Arora has a passion for bringing ideas to life with her career focus in art, cultural diplomacy and luxury lifestyle.
Carolina Conforti is an art historian, collector and writer. Born in Naples, Carolina studied in Switzerland and Paris. Her career has since taken her to the Louvre and Sotheby’s, Paris and Christie’s in London and on to launch Art Talk Magazine in 2020. She manages her own family’s art collection and is Editor-in-Chief of Art Investor magazine that focuses on the philanthropic, cultural and investment value of art.
Patrick Petermann is a Swiss lawyer working as counsel for a multinational cooperation in the transportation sector. Born and living in Basel, he has been interested in the art world since his childhood. Today he actively supports the gallery business of Diana Vogel, his wife, who runs Galerie Katapult in Basel.
Christian Marx founded the Christian Marx Galerie in Düsseldorf in 2009. The graduate economist previously worked as an art consultant for several years and now supports both emerging young and established mid-career artists. The gallery attracts both institutional and private collectors and is a member of the Federal Association of German Galleries and Editions.
Francois Laurent Renet entered the art world in New York working at L&M Arts, working alongside Dominique Lévy, in contemporary art to Old Masters. Working across the movie, gaming, VR and AR industries in California, Renet then advised startups across the Art, Entertainment and Health and Wellness spaces. Most recently, Renet has launched Art Talk Magazine alongside Carolina Conforti
Julia Lechbinska is an art historian, whose eponymous gallery serves as a cultural bridge for East Asian contemporary art in Switzerland. Julia's journey commenced in wealth management, where she managed the East Asian market. This experience piqued her interest in the arts and culture of this region, prompting her to pursue a Master's degree in Art History. Julia further honed her skills through art expertise training and gained valuable experience working in an auction house before establishing her own gallery – Lechbinska Gallery based in Zurich.
MIDDLE EAST NORTH AFRICA
Pamela Hraoui is a multi-disciplinary designer and art director from Beirut, Lebanon. Hraoui brings a wealth of international experience delivering projects in arts and communication across the Gulf, EU, Africa, Latin America and Australia. With experience at M&C Saatchi, Quantum, and LBCI, she has won multiple international awards including the Dubai Lynx Jury Award. Through all her work she brings her unique political experiences to drive her ethos and narrative.
William Kaafarani is Chairman and Managing Director of MENA Global Group. Prior to his own ventures and initiatives, Kaafarani has served leadership roles in business development, providing consultancy and investment advisory services to American Express and GE Capital. An avid traveler of 56 countries, Kaafarni brings with him deep knowledge of emerging markets in the Middle East North Africa (MENA).
About VOLTA Art Fairs
VOLTA Art Fair supports ambitious international galleries to platform new narratives in the art markets major capitals. The globally recognised satellite art fair is dedicated to creating an environment where collectors can discover, connect with, and collect the Art of Now. VOLTA debuted in Basel in 2005 with VOLTA New York following in 2008.
Visit voltaartfairs.com for more information or follow @voltaartfairs on Instagram for updates.
About Ramsay Fairs
Ramsay Fairs is one of the biggest art fair organizers globally, running 25 fairs a year with over 1.4 million visitors. Through a portfolio of art fairs that includes Affordable Art Fair, VOLTA and British Art Fair, Ramsay Fairs aims to inspire people to collect and enjoy art at every level.
Media Contact
Ellie Hayworth
ellie@hayworth.co / (786) 302-8557