Oct 28, 2026 · 20 min
Art fairs find calm amid Europe’s unrest
Art Basel’s Confidence Boost & Frieze’s Mood Swing
The episode tests whether political turmoil and economic anxiety are disrupting the art market—or merely exposing its resilience and uneven access.
- 1Art Basel Paris continued largely undisturbed despite protests and a starkly different atmosphere in the surrounding streets.
- 2Frieze London brought stronger auctions and more confident gallerists, signaling a calmer art market than in recent years.
- 3Quality works remain available below the market’s top tier, with Bonnard works on paper illustrating entry points around $10,000 to $15,000 or less.
Don't miss
Maneker contrasts tense nighttime protests in Paris with an art fair that remains active and commercially focused.
The brief
Marion Maneker arrives in Paris during widespread protests and finds a sharp divide: unrest fills the streets, while Art Basel’s business proceeds largely undisturbed.
Daytime feels peaceful and nighttime more tense, but fairgoers and tourists are not directly confronted; protests mainly shape access, atmosphere, and sales dynamics.
In London, Frieze feels less anxious than the art market of recent years, with stronger auction results and gallerists projecting renewed confidence.
The confidence is not limited to trophy buyers: Maneker says quality works can still be found around $10,000 to $15,000 or less.
Pierre Bonnard’s works on paper make the point concrete, while a Robert Ryman exhibition and other strong shows round out London’s highlights.
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