Karim Crippa Named Director of Art Basel Paris
76Oct. 28, 2025
Fair operator Art Basel has announcedKarim Crippaas the new director of its Paris event. Cripps currently leadsArt Basel Paris’s communications department and is senior editor of Art Basel’s editorial department. He will assume his new role on November 1, succeeding Clément Delépine, who in September revealed that he was leaving to join the Paris-based Lafayette Anticipations, which commissions large-scale works from contemporary artists.
“I will do everything in my power to help advance this exceptional show and to remain a tireless advocate for the city of Paris, our exhibitors, partners and Art Basel’s global mission,” said Crippa in a statement. “Working alongside gallerists, artists, writers, institutional representatives, collectors and creatives for the last fifteen years has only ever strengthened my commitment to the worlds of art and culture.”
Born in Zurich in 1991, Crippa grew up in Lausanne. He joined Art Basel in 2018 and took on his duties at Art Basel Paris in 2022. Previous roles include those at Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary in Vienna, Haus der Kunst in Munich, and Duve in Berlin. Among the artists with whom he has collaborated on exhibitions are Ragnar Kjartansson, Cerith Wyn Evans, Sharon Lockhart, and Thomas Struth.
“Karim combines a curator’s eye, a communicator’s precision, and a profound understanding of what makes Paris such a vital city for contemporary art,” said Vincenzo de Bellis, chief artistic officer and global director of Art Basel Fairs, in a statement. “Over the past three years, he has been instrumental in articulating the fair’s identity and building trusted relationships across our ecosystem of galleries, institutions, and partners.”
“Karim has been part of Art Basel for more than seven years and has played a pivotal role in shaping how we communicate and connect with our audiences across our global platform,” said Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz in a statement. “His passion for and knowledge of both the local and international art scenes as well as the distinct role that galleries play in shaping this, and his integrity as an esteemed colleague and collaborator make him exceptionally well suited to lead our Paris fair into its next phase. This appointment reflects our belief in cultivating talent from within and empowering team members who have grown alongside the evolution of Art Basel itself. I’m hugely excited to see the impact he has in this new role.”