What does it take to build and sustain Switzerland’s first and only international art fair dedicated to photography?

In this episode, Michael Dooney is joined by Sven Eisenhut-Hug (co-founder and director of Photo Basel) and Elwira Spychalska (art historian and artistic director of Photo Basel) to mark the fairs 10th anniversary.

Together they discuss the evolution of Photo Basel, the challenges of curating a global photography platform and meeting the needs of different audiences, key aspects of this boutique art fair, and how Photo Basel fosters meaningful connections between galleries, collectors, and the public.

Timestamps

(00:00) – Introduction and welcome

(01:27) – Entry to photography before Photo Basel

(03:19) – Photo Basel, boutique family owned art fair

(06:18) – How was it starting a new art fair in Basel?

(08:06) – The first and still the only photography specific fair in Switzerland

(09:37) – When did Photo Basel come into its own? 

(12:31) – Constantly growing and evolving the fair with each new edition

(14:05) – Beyond Photography parcours

(15:40) – Curating a selection of galleries to meet the different faces of photography

(20:18) – Unexpected works presented in the Beyond Photography parcours

(22:05) – Novum parcours (never before exhibited work)

(27:52) – The new generation of photography collectors

(31:13) – Guided tours and education about photography collecting

(32:50) – Maurice de Mauriac Award

(34:42) – SIYU Award - Emerging Swiss Photography Talent Prize

(37:38) – Featured Panel Talk: Emerging Artists, Galleries and the Art Market

(39:00) – Photo Basel and Positions Berlin partnership

(42:28) – Advice for first time visitors to Photo Basel and photography fairs

photo basel is is Switzerland’s first and only international art fair dedicated to photography-based art. To mark its 10th anniversary edition, photo basel welcomes 39 galleries from 15 countries. More than 450 photographic positions by over 150 artists will be shown from the 17th to 22nd of June 2025. 

photo basel official website: https://www.photo-basel.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photobasel/

Sven Eisenhut-Hug is a Basel-based entrepreneur renowned for his significant contributions to the art world, particularly in the realm of photography. Born and raised in Basel, Switzerland, he co-founded photo basel in 2015 and Art Salon Zürich in 2022, establishing the country's first and only international art fair dedicated to photography.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sveneisenhut/

Elwira Spychalska is an art historian specialising in photography, based in Basel. She works across several museums in the city and is currently the artistic director of photo basel. Her practice moves between curatorial work, research, and writing, engaging with both historical archives and contemporary image cultures.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_elwira/

This episode of Subtext & Discourse Art World Podcast was recorded on 2. June 2025 between Perth (AU) and Basel (CH) with Riverside.

Michael Dooney official website: https://www.michaeldooney.net

Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldooney/