Introducing ICAW Art Advisory's Guide to Art, Basel and Beyond
- Monica
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
The TikTok algorithm brought Carmela (a.k.a ICAW Art Advisory) and me together - and for that, I’m forever grateful. After popping up on each other’s "For You" Pages a couple of months ago, we instantly clicked over a shared fascination with the art world. We both love it, but also can’t help noticing how exclusive and slightly intimidating it can feel. As two “non-art world” people, we were craving something a little more welcoming, a little more chill, and a lot more fun.
On our own, we’d both been creating art-related content alongside our more “serious” day jobs - flirting with the idea of quitting it all to go full-time, then backtracking because stability is… nice too. We haven’t cracked the code yet, but while we’re still figuring it out, we decided to collaborate on a little guide to Basel. This guide brings together everything we love about the art world - big events, small moments, things to splurge on, things that are totally free, plus a few tricks for getting the best of both worlds.
Carmela’s been making great, super-practical art guides for a while now (including one on how to invest in art even if you're not Brad Pitt), so joining forces felt like a no-brainer.
Before we dive into the guide, I wanted to ask Carmela a few quick rapid fire questions:
1. What does going full-time in “all this art stuff” mean to you? What would your dream setup look like?
Honestly? It means waking up not to Slack notifications, but to DMs about a surrealist group show in Berlin or a forgotten gem in Milan. Dream setup = ICAW as a full-blown art media powerhouse with a cult following, artist collabs, limited drops, and me reporting live in designer sunglasses from weird biennials around the world.
2. You recently went viral - tell us more about what that was like.
Chaotic, hilarious, and totally surreal. One minute I was editing a reel in my robe, the next my phone was blowing up and I was in group chats being called “that art girl with the watermelon thing.” It was interesting, but also kinda scary.
3. What are you most looking forward to during Art Basel week?
The unexpected. Yes, I love the blue-chip booths, but it’s the random rooftop performance, the awkward wine chats, and the off-schedule exhibitions that make the week magic. And okay… the tote bags. All of them.
4. If you could steal one artwork (without consequences), what would it be and where would you hang it?
Easy: Louise Bourgeois’ Maman. I’d plant her right in my non-existent garden so she can guard my home like a terrifying, beautiful spider queen. Neighborhood gossip would never recover.
5. What’s the weirdest or most surprising thing you’ve seen at an art fair?
Art Basel, inner courtyard, few years ago. I was desperately hunting for a lighter (yes, back when I smoked), when I spotted a man calmly enjoying a cigarette alone. I walked over, borrowed his lighter, and as I lit mine, I looked up and froze. “Wait… are you Ulay?” I whispered. “I am,” he smiled, equal parts cheeky and sad. I nearly combusted on the spot. Forget celebs: that was my starstruck moment of a lifetime. (For the ones already screaming the question: Ulay was Marina Abramović’s partner in art and life. Legend.)
With that - here's the ICAW MAG an exclusive guide to Art, Basel and beyond... enjoy!
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