USM at Basel Social Club
Where Office Culture Meets Contemporary Art.
Basel Social Club during Art Basel
Viaduktstrasse 33, Basel, Switzerland
Sunday, June 14 until Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10 am–12 pm
An emerging art platform during Art Basel, over 150 international galleries and institutions displaying in a vacant office building, and USM right in the middle of it. At Basel Social Club, the contemporary art world encounters an icon of modern office design – USM Haller. An encounter that could hardly be more fitting for this year's edition, “Office”.
The Office as a Mirror of Society
Few furniture brands are as closely tied to modern office culture as USM. Present in offices around the world since the late 1960s, the Swiss design classic embodies an idea that remains as relevant as ever: a workspace is not a finished state, but a space constantly evolving. This is precisely the theme at the heart of Basel Social Club's current edition, “Office”, which unfolds across all floors of a vacant office building.
From Contrast to Logical Connection
Digitalization, remote work and artificial intelligence have fundamentally transformed the office as both a place and a concept. Basel Social Club asks what the office was, what it is, and what it could become. In this context, USM Haller is not present as an answer, but as a point of reference: a modular furniture system that embodies the history of the classic office and now appears in an environment that examines exactly that – critically, humorously and with an eye to the future. What might seem like a contradiction at first glance reveals itself on closer inspection as a logical connection. Here, the modular elements of USM show a different side of themselves: as mobile caddies at key points throughout space, as a sculptural seating landscape, and as an elegant setting for fine dining. USM thus becomes part of the very questions Basel Social Club is asking.
Basel Social Club
Basel Social Club is the most relevant independent platform for art, society and future discourse during Art Basel. A place where the leading figures of the contemporary art world come together with a broad public every year. The format brings together exhibitions, performances, music and gastronomy – open, free of charge, and conceived as a deliberate counterpoint to the exclusive atmosphere of the traditional art fair. Founded in 2022, Basel Social Club takes over an unusual venue each year: after a villa, a factory, a farm and a bank, the 2026 edition occupies a completely vacant office building in the heart of Basel. This year's edition, “Office”, regards the venue not as a site of production but as a space for reflection.
Architecture as Curatorial Framework
Once a symbol of efficiency and growth, the office today mirrors the shifting realities of working life. Basel Social Club engages with this moment through exhibitions, performances, music, gastronomy and informal encounters that shed light on questions of work, time, productivity and rest. The architecture, spanning from the garage across multiple floors, becomes part of the curatorial framework. The building remains in constant motion throughout the week, with artists responding directly to its architecture and atmosphere. A dedicated night program extends the experience into the late hours, while an “Out of Office” zone offers space for pause and retreat. Gastronomy is an integral part of the program, ranging from an exclusive fine dining experience to accessible, locally developed culinary offerings – in keeping with the inclusive spirit at the core of Basel Social Club.
