VOLTA’s New Artistic Director Shares His Vision

Change is afoot at VOLTA, the globally recognized art fair focused on providing a platform for younger and middle-market galleries. The fair recently named curator and contemporary art specialist Lee Cavaliere as its new artistic director. He brings a wealth of experience from the gallery and institutional sector, where he worked with Tate’s Collection displays, delivered contemporary exhibitions at Max Wigram Gallery and the Fine Art Society, and served as head of sales at the London Art Fair, where he developed the VIP program. Additionally, he founded and directed VOMA, the world’s first online art museum, founded arts education charity The Sixteen Trust, and works with numerous charitable projects internationally.

For VOLTA, his focus lies in furthering the fair’s commitment to cutting-edge curation. In addition to strengthening relationships with existing galleries, he aims to introduce a fellowship program encouraging new galleries to curate presentations that boldly present the unique perspectives of their artists to the emerging market. “We’re living in a different world than just a few years ago,” Cavaliere says. “People are more discerning and mindful of engaging with socially conscious art. Like the wider arts industries, VOLTA needs to transform to align with the future and provide more access to emerging and diverse artistic voices.”

In one of Cavaliere’s first moves, he named a group of international Board Members to enhance the 2024 edition of VOLTA Basel, which is returning to the city’s blusting Klybeck district. The advisory board aims to support the fair’s influence locally, regionally, and internationally, with a major focus in the Middle East, North Africa, and European regions to complement Cavaliere’s experience in the Asian market. This esteemed cohort includes Sheila Arora, vice-chair of the Europe-Asia Center; Art Talk Magazine founders Carolina Conforti and Francois Laurent Renet; Swiss lawyer Patrick Petermann; Düsseldorf-based gallerist Christian Marx; art historian and gallerist Julia Lechbinska; designer and art director Pamela Hraoui; and MENA Global Group chairman William Kaafarni.

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