Art Basel Paris launches amid protests and exhibition cancellations in a tense France

Art Basel’s Paris edition began on Tuesday at the Grand Palais, featuring blue-chip artists, affluent collectors and high-profile luxury sponsors. The event follows a series of cultural setbacks: the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs delayed the "Passages. Pas sages" exhibition by designers Thierry Lemaire and Harry Nuriev, deeming it unsuitable for the charged climate.

Violence and property damage on October 17-18 led the Jeu de Paume to cancel its VIP opening, and student demonstrators on October 19 blocked the Ecole du Louvre and forced the closure of Gina Pane’s show at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. These incidents highlight the growing friction between France’s elite art scene and a society strained by inflation and uncertainty. Despite the turmoil, the fair proceeds, generating a cascade of satellite events and social gatherings throughout the week. The situation underscores how cultural institutions are navigating a volatile domestic backdrop.