David Hockney’s Mid November Tunnel didn’t just sell it made noise. With a price tag floating between $13 and $17 million, it became the biggest sale of the week, and probably the most photographed wall in the entire fair. Some called it expected; others were surprised it didn’t go for more. Either way, it set the tone: Basel was back in full swing, and wallets were open.

In one of the most surreal moments of the week, a crowd formed outside the Art Basel Shop before the doors even opened. The reason? Labubu dolls. Limited-edition plush toys by Kasing Lung sold out in under 25 minutes. Sure, they weren’t going for millions but the urgency, the energy, the need to own one felt just as intense. It was a reminder that collecting isn’t always about price. Sometimes it’s about the chase.

It’s not just passion it’s strategy. Buying art at Basel isn’t like picking up a nice lamp for your living room. It’s a calculated move, often backed by advisors and spreadsheets. People are looking at art the way others look at stocks or real estate. A Gerhard Richter painting for $6.8 million? It’s a portfolio piece. A Mark Bradford for $3.5 million? That’s a long-term hold. Emotion meets ROI, and somehow, it works.

Well, not exactly. The VIP day was a whirlwind champagne, fast deals, collectors making power plays. But as the week went on, things slowed. Some buyers hesitated. Some galleries waited longer to close sales. Fewer Americans showed up this year, maybe saving themselves for Art Basel Paris in October. Still, deals happened. Big ones. Just with a little more breathing room between them.

Absolutely. There’s something electric about being in a place where every corner holds something rare, weird, or breathtaking. Even if you’re just looking, the experience is unforgettable. And who knows? Maybe one day it’ll be your name on a seven-figure sales report. Stranger things have happened at Art Basel.