We want to make it clear that neither we nor any of our artists have given permission to digitalbasel.io to use our name or their artwork.

“It is important to us to protect both the gallery’s reputation and the intellectual property rights of the artists we represent. The actual work is currently on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from April Sheldon and John Casado, and nowhere on David Zwirner’s website is there a listing for a NFT of this painting. On Zwirner’s Digital Basel page, for example, it is possible to buy an NFT of Kerry James Marshall’s When Frustration Threatens Desire (1990) for 4,989 ETH, or $8,720. Accessing the pages takes viewers to a site where they can purchase NFTs of artworks, even if the physical pieces upon which the NFTs are based are themselves not for sale. The user agreement, which Digital Basel says you are legally bound to by using their platform, is not liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages, claims, losse or liabilities, “in connection with the use or inability to use the Digital Basel platform.”Īmong the galleries displayed on Digital Basel are Blum & Poe, David Zwirner Gallery, Kasmin, and others. All galleries, artworks and prices presented on the website are for advisory purposes only,” it reads, despite the fact their affiliation with the art fair is declared throughout the website’s copy. “Digital Basel is not affiliated with Art Basel in any form or partnership. Buried in Digital Basel’s end-user agreement, which is in slightly greyed-out type, at the bottom of the website is admission of that fact. The bigest art fair now has a digital twin – Digital Basel.” Such misspellings and grammatical mistakes are rife on the Digital Basel website, which also claims to “Extend Basel beyond Art Basel combining technology, curatorship, deal verification, and introsucing new class of art assets.”Īrt Basel has disputed any relationship with Digital Basel, saying the two have no connection. In copy on the website, Digital Basel implied a direct connection with Art Basel, writing, “Art Basel goes digital. On behalf of our galleries and their artists, we are vigorously pursuing action against those that may be infringing upon artists’ and galleries’ copyright.”ĭigital Basel did not immediately respond to a request submitted through the contact form on its website.

Prospective galleries are able to pay $199 to have their art posted to the site, per that description.Ī Liste spokesperson said in a statement, “Liste is in no way affiliated with this website that fraudulently claims to represent us. On the website, Digital Basel notes that galleries that have shown at Art Basel and Liste, a satellite fair that also takes place in Basel, Switzerland, are listed. Art Basel Lines Up 285 Galleries for 2023 Edition in SwitzerlandĪccording to Digital Basel’s website, it is “a new platform for curated digital art distribution with the opportunity to showcase artists and their work in a digital dimension.”

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