Following the launch of its virtual Hong Kong art fair in March, and its second Online Viewing Rooms in June, Art Basel unveiled an innovative way to enjoy art on August 2020. The new Online Viewing Rooms (OVR) concept gave Art Basel galleries the opportunity to present tightly curated exhibitions drawn from their programs, showing six works simultaneously.

The new format in 2020 called OVR:2020 ran for four days from September and then in October, featured no more than 100 galleries in each edition. It also offered exhibitors an additional platform to showcase artworks to Art Basel's global network of patrons, as well as new collectors and buyers. 

This innovative way will be extended to 2021—limited to no more than 100 galleries and running over four days, showcasing eight works simultaneously with a thematic focus. This year, there will be three OVRs, OVR: Pioneers will take place from March 24–27 and will be dedicated to artists who have broken new grounds aesthetically. A second thematic OVR will take place from June 16–19, with Art Basel curators determining the themes and helping to select the participating galleries. Finally, at the beginning of November, OVR: 2021 will exclusively feature artworks created this year.

Further details will be announced in the coming months. Meanwhile, Art Basel Hong Kong is still scheduled to take place in May 2021.

See also: Spotlight by Art Basel 2020 Showcases Art During The Pandemic

This article was originally published on August 4, 2020 and was updated on January 22, 2021.