The Most Extraordinary Works Sold at Art Basel Paris
From a $100 million Modigliani nude to post-war masterpieces, opening-day blue-chip sales signal robust global demand at the Grand Palais
Returning to the magnificent, glass-domed Grand Palais, the fifth edition of Art Basel Paris reaffirms the French capital’s position at the new heart of the international art scene. Gathering 211 leading galleries from 41 countries and territories, including 64 exhibitors based in France and 32 first-time participants, the 2026 fair marks an expanded presence across the venue under new fair director Karim Crippa.
The momentum kicked off on Tuesday afternoon, October 20, with the fair’s ultra-exclusive, invitation-only Avant-Première—an intimate preview strictly for top-tier global collectors and institutional patrons before the official VIP preview day on Wednesday, October 21. While the days leading up to the opening were shadowed by widespread citywide protests and civil unrest, the fair boosted security around the venue, and any lingering wariness dissolved the moment doors opened. Inside, the mood was buzzy, proving once again the strength of the fair week.
Spread across three distinct sectors—Galeries, Emergence, and the expanded Premise, the fair showcases exceptional works ranging from early 20th-century avant-garde masterworks to compelling contemporary debuts.
Here, discover the most extraordinary sales from the landmark event.
1. Amedeo Modigliani at Pace Di Donna Schrader Galleries
Sold for a price in excess of $100 million, Amedeo Modigliani’s Nu étendu (Lolotte) (1917), a stunning, rare canvas depicting a reclining nude, is the undisputed crown jewel of the opening day. Held in the same private collection since 1920, the masterpiece makes its return to the French capital. “Paris is deeply connected to the artists who transformed modern art, making it a perfect setting for our presentation,” gallery co-founder Emmanuel Di Donna tells Galerie.“Bringing Modigliani’s Nu étendu (Lolotte) to the fair has been a highlight, and the excitement surrounding the work speaks to the power of rediscovering masterpieces with extraordinary histories.”
2. Gerhard Richter at Hauser & Wirth
Sold for $10 million at Hauser & Wirth, Gerhard Richter’s Rokokotisch (Rococo Table) (1965) is an exceptional highlight of post-war German art. The oil-on-canvas work exemplifies Richter’s early photo-paintings, blurring the boundaries between representation and abstraction through his signature smeared brushwork. Hauser & Wirth President Marc Payot shares: “Conventional wisdom says it’s too risky to bring your ne plus ultra to an art fair, but we buck convention because the true history-making artists and collectors do, too. We treat Frieze in London and Art Basel Paris as a single extended season for selling masterpieces.” It sold swiftly on the first day.
3. Marlene Dumas at David Zwirner
Commanding $3 million at David Zwirner’s booth, Poisonous Proposal (2025) by Marlene Dumas is rendered in the South African artist’s signature gestural, spectral palette. Causing a stir amongst collectors on the opening day, it masterfully explores the shifting boundaries of intimacy, power, and identity. The new painting also directly connects to Dumas’s high-profile acquisition at the Musée du Louvre, Liaisons, which is the first work by a contemporary female artist to join the permanent collection.
4. Carmen Herrera at Lisson Gallery
Fetching $650,000 on the VIP opening afternoon, Pavan #37 (1948) is a historic oil-on-canvas work by Cuban-born abstract pioneer Carmen Herrera, created during her transformative post-war Paris years. During this time, the artist was immersed in the postwar avant-garde and exhibited alongside leading figures at the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles. It captures the pivot to her synthesized hard-edged geometric form, vibrant color, and use of architectural space. Elsewhere, her work can be found in a solo exhibition “Pulse, Pause, Repeat” on view through November 7 at Lisson Gallery London, and in a major retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao opening in spring 2027. Positioned next to her striking 2016 red Estructura in the booth, the work offers visitors a special opportunity to consider the breadth and longevity of her practice.
5. Lucio Fontana at Thaddaeus Ropac
A highlight among opening day sales, Lucio Fontana’s Concetto spaziale (1953) showcases the Spatialist master’s early, textural experimentation with synthetic paint, delicate punctures, and embedded Murano glass fragments on canvas. The quick sale, for €1,800,000, underscores collector demand at the fair’s opening, with gallery founder Thaddaeus Ropac noting of Avant-Première: “This opening afternoon has been very strong, and collectors came ready to make decisions quickly. Despite any worries about the demonstrations, some deciding not to travel to Paris, we already feel that it’s the most international art fair of the year.”
6. Julie Mehrutu at White Cube
Commanding $7.9 million on opening day at White Cube’s booth, Julie Mehretu’s monumental canvas Rise of the New Suprematists (2001) is an absolute standout of the opening day. First receiving critical acclaim at the 2004 Whitney Biennial, the striking piece balances gestural lines with exacting cartographic precision, layering calligraphic ciphers and dynamic vectors over intricately rendered architectural blueprints. With nods to such pioneers as Kazimir Malevich and Lyubov Popova, the work offers a stunning exploration of contemporary urban power structures, history, and collective geography.