Art lovers are of one mind today: this week is for family, but next week is for Miami. Tens of thousands of people will descend on Miami for the 14th edition of Art Basel and the related festivities. There will be more than 20 other fairs, numerous museum shows (both public and private), gallery exhibitions, art instillations and, of course, parties – hundreds of them! I find myself advising clients not only on what they should buy but also on where they should eat, what shoes they should wear and the best hours to use Uber. There’s now so much to do during Art Basel that, increasingly, many people don’t even go to the fair. It’s impossible to see and do it all, but I recommend that you put the following at the top of your list:
1. Art Basel Public. Even if you can’t make it to the convention center for Art Basel, the fair will have a public sculpture display. For the fifth year in a row, Collins Park will be home to more than 20 large-scale sculptures and installations by artists from around the world.
2. NADA. Of the 20+ fairs around the city, NADA is one that should not be missed. This year, NADA ‒ which showcases young, emerging artists ‒ will be in a new location at the Fontainebleau Hotel and will only be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
3. The Margulies Collection. This 45,000 square foot private museum in the Wynwood Arts District houses the collection of long-time collector Marty Margulies. This year, 10,000 square feet of that space will be devoted to a large exhibition of works by Anselm Kiefer, one of the most important European artists working today.
4. Little River. While the art scene has exploded in Miami, so have the rents, and there are new art neighborhoods cropping up in unlikely areas. One such neighborhood is Little River, now home to Bill Brady Gallery (recently relocated from Kansas City), Spinello Projects, and Vanity Projects, a high-end nail art atelier and video art salon. Vanity Projects will also have an on-demand service during Art Basel in case you can’t make it to Little River, which also has some great restaurants, and this year, its first art and design fair, Superfine.
5. Surf Lodge. If you are not completely exhausted at the end of the day, check out the Surf Lodge pop-up at the Hall Hotel in South Beach. As many of you know, Surf Lodge in Montauk is THE place to hang out in the summer. Surf Lodge also hosts artist residencies and exhibitions, which included Diana Al-Hadid and Lucien Smith this past summer. This is their second year in Miami during Art Basel, hosting invite-only dinners and lively afterparties. See you on the dance floor!
Feel free to email or call if you’d like more information, want to compare party plans, or are interested in having me tour you around a fair or two.
11/27/15