The Baer Faxt Podcast

Curious about what went on at the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar? We spoke with Jean-Paul Engelen, Director at Acquavella, for The Baer Faxt Live from Doha 2026.Hear some of JP's highlights here—including Wael Shawky's unique vision as curator and director of Art Basel Qatar, and why smaller fairs are having a moment—or head to the link in bio to watch the full interview. A big thank you to our host, The Ned Doha.This conversation was recorded on 4th of February, 2026.#TheBaerFaxt #JeanPaulEngelen #Acquavella #ArtBaselQatar #WaelShawky

On the occasion of the inaugural Art Basel Qatar, The Baer Faxt sat down with a bevy of guests with ties to the region including Qatar's own Saud Alkhater, a young collector. Alkhater tells us about the fateful exhihibition organized by Qatar Museums that inspired his collecting journey and what he thinks of the inaugural Art Basel Qatar.Other guests on The Baer Faxt Live from Doha include Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation; Princess Alia Al-Senussi, PhD; and Jean-Paul Engelen, Director at Acquavella. Thank you to The Ned Doha for being our host. This conversation was recorded on the 4th of February, 2026.

On the occasion of the inaugural Art Basel Qatar, The Baer Faxt sat down with a bevy of guests with ties to the region including Jean-Paul (JP) Engelen, Director at Acquavella and former Americas president at Phillips auction house.Before spending a decade as Phillips' president for the Americas and worldwide co-head of modern and contemporary art, Engelen was the Director of Public Art and Exhibitions for Qatar Museums (previously Qatar Museum Authority), where he oversaw the installation of major public artworks by Richard Serra and Damien Hirst. Now working with Acquavella gallery, Engelen tells us about the gallery's booth of Jean-Michel Basquiat's and his experience in the region.Other guests on The Baer Faxt Live from Doha include Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation; Princess Alia Al-Senussi, PhD; and Saud Alkhater, Qatari collector.This conversation was recorded on the 5th of February, 2026.

Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, joined The Baer Faxt’s Founder and CEO Josh Baer for The Baer Faxt Live from Doha 2026, recorded live during Art Basel Qatar.In this clip, Westermann discusses what makes Art Basel Qatar fresh and how institutions like Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Bilbao have a deliberate mission to go where such institutions don’t already exist.Watch the full interview via the link in bio.A big thank you to our host, The Ned Doha.This conversation was recorded on the 5th of February, 2026.#TheBaerFaxt #MarietWestermann #Guggenheim #ArtBaselQatar #Doha

Princess Alia Al-Senussi, PhD joined The Baer Faxt’s Founder and CEO Josh Baer for The Baer Faxt Live from Doha 2026, recorded live during Art Basel Qatar.Tune in to hear about culture as a core part of Qatar’s national strategy and the momentum building across the region from Art Basel Qatar to the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale.Watch the full interview via the link in bio.A big thank you to our host, The Ned Doha.This conversation was recorded on the 4th of February, 2026.#TheBaerFaxt #AliaAlSenussi #ArtBaselQatar #Doha

On the occasion of the inaugural Art Basel Qatar, The Baer Faxt sat down with a bevy of guests with ties to the region including Princess Alia Al-Senussi, PhD, a cultural strategist, art world advisor, academic and lecturer with Libyan roots.Alia has long been an advocate for the region. She shares with us her enthusiasm for cultural and artistic initiatives across the Middle East—for example, the Sharjah Biennial in the UAE and the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in Saudi Arabia—as well as some of the key differences.Other guests on The Baer Faxt Live from Doha include Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation; Jean-Paul Engelen, Director at Acquavella; and Saud Alkhater, Qatari collector.Thank you to The Ned Doha for being our host. This conversation was recorded on the 5th of February, 2026.

On the occasion of the inaugural Art Basel Qatar, The Baer Faxt sat down with a bevy of guests with ties to the region including Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, who have world class museums in New York, Bilbao, Venice and soon to be Abu Dhabi.
 
Here, Mariët shares with us her thoughts on developments in the region, including education and her experience in the region as the Vice Chancellor of NYU Abu Dhabi, Art Basel Qatar, and the significant role of women in the arts.
 
Other guests on The Baer Faxt Live from Doha include Princess Alia Al-Senussi, PhD; Jean-Paul Engelen, Director at Acquavella; and Saud Alkhater, Qatari collector.
 
Thank you to The Ned Doha for being our host. This conversation was recorded on the 5th of February, 2026.

The Baer Faxt Podcast is back with our first episode of 2026! In the spirit of the new year, we brought together some of New York’s great arts writers—Kenny Schachter, Tim Schneider along with our editor Taylor Dafoe and founder Josh Baer—for a roundtable on what’s been, and what’s to come. Baer With Me: Looking Forward, Looking Back is out now wherever you get your podcasts, or at thebaerfaxtpodcast.com. 
This episode, recorded on January 20th 2026, is brought to you by Ursula - A Magazine of Contemporary Culture by Hauser & Wirth.

The Baer Faxt Podcast is back again with the inimitable Jeff Poe, long time friend of the pod, formerly of Blum & Poe. In this episode, we get a temperature check on the market, discuss Alma Allen for the US Pavilion in Venice, selling at auction, and more. If you enjoyed this episode, check out two more featuring Jeff Poe - here and here.

In this episode of The Baer Faxt Podcast, renowned artist Rirkrit Tiravanija heads to the golf course with host Josh Baer in Doha, Qatar, to shoot the shot—and talk all things market, arts education and of course, his association with relational aesthetics.