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As the sun rises steadily over a sleepy Miami Beach, and the visitors drain out of hotels this morning only to find yet more traffic at TSA, us locals are getting ready to reclaim our beautiful city of Miami.
Don't get me wrong, I love Art Basel, as a resident on Miami Beach, this year marks my 12th Basel, But I can't pretend that I am thrilled to sit in an hour and a half traffic to travel two miles from my workplace to my condo. All that aside, most of us can agree that there is no other event in Miami quite like Art Basel.
This year marked the organization's 22nd Basel in Miami. Art Basel Was started in 1970 by Basel (Switzerland) Gallerists Ernst Beyeler, Trudl Bruckner and Balz Hilt. In its first year in Basel, the show attracted more than 16,000 visitors who viewed work presented by 90 galleries, from 10 countries.
This year's show in Miami attracted 91,000 visitors and over 286 Galleries exhibited works from over 38 countries.
Art Week Explained.
Art Week this year ran from December 6 through December 8. It comprised of over 20 international art fairs such as, Faena Art, Art Miami, PhotoMiami, AfriKin Fair, Aqua Art, Art Beat, Context Art, Design Miami, Ink Miami Art Fair, Miami River Art Fair, NADA Art Fair, No Vacancy, Pinta Miami, Prizm Art Fair, Red Dot, Satellite, Scope, Spectrum, Untitled and of course, the big kahuna of fairs, the one that draws everyone to the convention center in Miami Beach year after year, Basel.
The ART
Tickets could be purchased for each of the Art fairs individually, or you could visit miamiartweek.org To see the weeks full schedules and fares. Some of the most well-known art fairs this year were:
Art Basel Exhibition at the Miami Beach Convention center is divided into several sectors. Each sector has a specific focus, from monumental art to solo presentations by emerging artists. The 2024 edition of the show hosted 286 premier galleries from 38 countries and territories.
Scope held on the white sands on Miami beach, in a huge event tent, is the premier showcase and incubator for contemporary art. Displaying the most dynamic emerging galleries and artists from around the world for more than two decades represents the future of the arts ecosystem by forecasting new trends and the people and ideas that drive them, from alternative and nomadic gallery models to cutting-edge artists traversing the boundaries of technology, culture, and society.
Design Miami Held a stone's Throw from the Miami Beach Convention center, brings together the design world’s most influential players through their acclaimed fairs and online marketplace. The Miami Beach Art Week fair feature selling-exhibitions of historic and contemporary furniture, lighting, and objets d’art. Each fair presents a robust program of expertly vetted gallery presentations, design talks, and unique design commissions with visionary creatives, curators, and brands.
Red Dot & Spectrum, run by the Redwood group this year were side by side at Mana in Wynwood. Spectrum presents independent career artists, studios and younger galleries that are pushing the boundaries in surprising and significant ways.
Red Dot is a curated gallery only contemporary art fair. A ticket allows entry to both fairs, and in all my years of visiting art shows during Art Week, this years red dot/spectrum was my favorite (more on that later)
Context Miami located in the OMNI district of Miami, is the sister fair to Art Miami and is dedicated to the development and reinforcement of emerging and mid-career artists. Launched in 2012, CONTEXT Art Miami's open atmosphere creates a meaningful dialogue between artists, galleries and collectors while providing the ultimate platform for the presentation of mid-career, emergent and cutting-edge talent by emerging and established galleries.
The Fashion
Art Week is not just all about art. It has become synonymous with music and fashion also. This year was no different. Miami was abuzz with guest artists, celebrity sightings, and must attend parties.
Gucci, On December 3rd, Gucci gathered an impressive array of tastemakers, artists, and cultural icons in the Design District to celebrate the brand's new holiday installation at North Plaza. Inspired by snow globes and Gucci's travel legacy, the installation showcased vibrant murals by American artist Corydon Cowensage, complementing her involvement in Art Basel. The event featured live DJ sets from Tiffy Vera and Carlita, culminating in an intimate dinner at Motherwolf.
Fendi, celebrated the grand opening of its new Miami Design District Boutique during art Basel this year. The event was hosted by the CEO, artistic director of accessories and menswear, and Isabella Massanet provided the music. celebrity guests included Alessandra Ambrosio, and Sylvia Venturini Fendi.
Cartier unveiled the Trinity one 100 in an immersive experience with a launch party on December 3. The pop up offered guests a first look at the limited-edition jewelry.
Pucci brought its signature vibrancy to Art Basel Miami Beach with a spectacular event on December 3rd at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. The venue featured interactive activities including gelato stands, fortune tellers, magicians, and a high energy disco.
Miu Miu Celebrated its collaboration with Gigi Hadid during art Basel. They hosted an exclusive event in the heart of the Art District. The event drew a stylish crowd, including Camila Cabello and Gabrielle Union,
The Music
With all these celebrities in town, it's only natural they need somewhere to party. Art week brought the largest collection of national and international artists to town outside of Miami Music Week.
Mayan Warrior at Factory Town. Two years ago, the Burning Man community grieved the loss of the Mayan Warrior, an iconic art car from Mexico City created by a collective of artists, technicians, and designers sharing its name. On Thursday, December 5, the Mayan Warrior unveiled its next-generation art car, the Galaxyer, in Miami during a fundraising event at Factory Town, featuring pyrotechnics, a cutting-edge sound system, live DJ performances, and an ample serving of hedonism.
Adam Port at lot 11 skate park, some revellers traded the usual glitz and glam of Art Week for a gritty underground rave in downtown Miami. On Thursday, December 5, local festival III Points hosted a five-hour rager beneath the highway at Lot 11 Skatepark, headlined by none other than German DJ-producer Adam Port of Keinemusik fame.
Fat Boy Slim at Hyde. superstar DJ Fatboy Slim returned to SLS South Beach on Friday, December 6 for a day-to-night rager at the hotel’s poolside venue, Hyde Beach,
Blondish performed a set at the Palm Tree club on December 7, with the bay in the background, revelers were treated to those magnificent Miami water views.
Chance the rapper Returned to Art Week Bringing his "writings on the wall" exhibit to Wynwood from December 3 through 6. Guests donned headphones, and relaxed on giant bean bags as they took in Music, visual projections, and graphic art.
E11even. On December 5th, E11EVEN took over the legendary Normandy Shores Golf Club in Miami for the 2024 E11EVEN Golf Classic – an invite-only celebrity golf tournament to kick off Art Basel. Sponsored by Happy Dad, Maestro Dobel Tequila, and E11EVEN Vodka, the event offered golf, premium drinks, exclusive art activations and a charitable Longest Drive contest.
Additionally, E11even Miami hosted a slew of shows this week at the club, featuring Giselle, DJ Pee Wee, 50 Cent, Steve Aoki, Amémé, Lil Wayne, and Gordo. (Proud to say that good friends of mine, Nighttales opened for Gordo at E11even)
Club Space Headliners that played across its Space Basel days included Black Coffee, WhoMadeWho, Carlita, Adam Port, Chloé Caillet, The Martinez Brothers, Dennis Cruz, Uncle Waffles, Ben Sterling, Michael Bibi, and more.
With all the parties, and events going on in town, it was a week of madness to say the very least. Roads were jammed packed, and Ubers took forever. The city put on a free ferry service to get across the bay, but I personally think they needed to do a better job of promoting that service. With all the events, art fairs, and parties I've mentioned here, I haven't even really begun to scratch the surface of what goes on in the city during Art week. Hotels hosted parties and events, all the major hotel groups and credit card companies had pop-up activations, as well as real estate companies and tech companies hosted parties, some in private homes. There were art viewing parties in people's residences (ahem, the Rubells.) There were sporting events such as the Celsius classic at Reserve Padel, and Ludacris performed at the ever-coveted Nylon party,
It's no wonder Miamians are exhausted and ready for a quiet week, where we can get back to normal and enjoy our beaches, restaurants and roads again.
This year was a special art Basel for me, because my husband and I had decided that we wanted to make our first art purchase together. We both had a small collection of art Individually that we each brought into our new home together, but we both wanted to begin to build our collection together with pieces we chose as a couple.
I decided after much research that the art fair "Spectrum" and "red dot" would be the best fair for us to visit. I was looking for contemporary emerging artists, And I was also looking for pieces that were within our budget. The year prior, my husband and I visited Art Basel together, and we both fell in love with a piece that was significantly over our budget, so this year I wanted to be prepared.
While exploring the art fair floors this year, I made some discoveries of a few artists that I was particularly drawn to. I've made a short list of some artists to watch and perhaps add to our collection next Basel. This year I'm happy to say we fell in love with a piece by German/French artist Wolfgang Binner.
Both my husband and I fell in love with the forms, and the colors used in the piece, titled: Nous Trois, an oil on canvas measuring 50" x 34".
I wasn't expecting the rush I felt seeing the artist place a red dot on the artworks tag. I can somehow sense a new obsession unlocked somehow, (well, that's a problem for another day...)
After completing the purchase, we decided we would come back to pick up the artwork the following day, as the artist didn't have any spare pieces on hand to put in its place. The offered delivery but since I was bursting at the seams to pick it up, I said I would happily come back the following day and collect it.
This year, at Red Dot and Spectrum, I was blown away by how many artists captured our attention. Typically, we do the "walk around and browse" but we really had quite a substantial shortlist of works we loved.
I posted a lot of these on my personal Instagram story and had a lot of comments about Erica Mills art, which, interestingly enough I noticed she sold out her show at the art fair. (Perhaps an artist to watch!)
Yesterday when I went back to pick up the artwork we had purchased, the artist emailed us a free pass to come back to the art fair for collection, and also told us that once we buy from them, they will send us a free pass to the exhibit each Miami Art Week, which was a nice touch. When I arrived to collect my piece the showroom floor was a frenzy. Many would-be art collectors and enthusiasts roaming the fair, with only three hours left until the doors were closed until next year.
I felt like I was bringing my baby home from the hospital, The artist and his wife gave me a big thank you hug, and I hugged them back in return. Not only did we love the art, but we felt connected to them as people. New passion definitely unlocked, the exhilaration as I navigated the wrapped piece through the crowd, people turning to look, artists and stall managers smiling in my direction, I all but ran towards the doors until a security guard asked me for my purchase papers which I had to present to security to be allowed out with a piece of art.
From where I sit at my computer writing this, I can see our new piece hanging in our hallway, and I'm immediately filled with joy. I think I finally understand what all the "Art Basel Fuss" has been all along, and I can't wait to do it all again next year.
Miami's newest art enthusiast,
Fallon xo
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