Organised by Contemporary Lynx Magazine for the second time—an international art magazine focused on Central and Eastern Europe and emerging markets — this panel brings together Baltic-based collector Martin Kruus (representing KRUUS Collection (Tallinn) and Tima Jam, an international cultural strategist and founder of Art Voyage Biennial, to examine how art ecosystems are shaped beyond dominant Western frameworks.
Art Basel in Basel
Friday, 19 June 2026, 12:00–12:45
Hall 1, Art Basel (free access)
-
Exchange Circle, Art Basel 2026. -
Exchange Circle, Art Basel 2026. -
Exchange Circle, Art Basel 2026. -
Exchange Circle, Art Basel 2026.
Drawing on both the long-term, intuitive practices of collectors and the transnational, work of Art Voyage, the discussion moves beyond market-led narratives to consider collecting as a relational process—shaped by lived experience and sustained engagement with artists.
At the same time, the panel addresses the structural imbalances that continue to define the art world, asking how access to networks, institutions, and funding is negotiated—and what it means to actively build alternative models that redistribute visibility, agency, and opportunity.
Rather than framing the “periphery” as a limitation, the conversation positions it as a space of agency—where new approaches to collecting and cultural exchange are being developed.
Moderated by Sylwia Krason the panel connects lived collecting practices with broader questions of representation, and cultural translation.
Bio:
Epp and Martin Kruus (KRUUS Collection, Tallinn) have been building their collection since the late 1990s, guided by an intuitive and personal approach rather than market logic. Today, it includes nearly 700 works, with a strong focus on Estonian art—from post-war abstraction to contemporary painting. Deeply rooted in the Baltic context, the collection reflects the region’s historical layers and artistic continuity. By actively sharing their works through exhibitions and collaborations, they contribute to increasing the international visibility of Baltic art.
Tima Jam Founder of Art Voyage Biennial (London)
Tima Jam is an Iranian-British curator and cultural strategist whose work focuses on building alternative infrastructures within the art world. Through Art Voyage—a Community Interest Company—she develops nomadic biennials, interdisciplinary summits, and public programmes that expand access to networks, mentorship, and international visibility.
Her practice addresses systemic barriers affecting artists from underrepresented regions, creating platforms that enable cross-cultural exchange while challenging existing models of access, representation, and sustainability.
Moderator: Sylwia Krason Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary Lynx.
