Art Basel’s reputation for high-priced masterpieces is well-known, but savvy collectors know you don’t need millions to walk away with something extraordinary.
With a little hunting, you can find high-quality works for $5,000 or less. And that’s outside of the Art Basel Shop, a new-to-Paris endeavor where the self-referential merch and editions are priced more like a high-end concept store.
Paris, generally more affordable than Basel, offers visitors the perfect opportunity to combine a trip to the City of Light with a unique art purchase—without breaking the bank. Below are a few standout works at the fair, all priced under $5,000.
Melvin Way, Works on Paper (2004, 2018)
Price: €4,700 (about $5,090)
Selling at: Andrew Edlin Gallery, New York
Melvin Way (1954-2024) recently passed away at the age of 70. As an outsider artist, he struggled with schizophrenia and created hundreds of drawings on scraps of paper while living in New York City homeless shelters. He carried these densely packed drawings made in ballpoint pen and markers on bits of paper that he often taped together, and rolled up, believing they provided a kind of spiritual protection. Today, his works are held in museums worldwide, with former New York Times art critic Roberta Smith noting that Way’s drawings “seem to chart the energy of thought itself.” While his larger pieces command higher prices, at least two of his smaller works are available for under €5,000, including one for €3,800 (about $4,100).
- Devorah Lauter