Art Basel Miami Tips
What to Do?
Where to Stay?
Where to Eat?
How to Get There?
History
The title says it, and you are already imagining it;
think about the sound of the ocean waves, the warm temperatures even in the winter months, about some amazing contemporary and modern art, and you can feel like you are already there!
See the ‘event extras’ to maximize your trip
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Art Basel Miami Beach: art, cocktails, beaches and palm trees
Miami Beach is a south Florida island city, connected by bridges to mainland Miami. Every year it hosts one of the world’s most famous art festivals. It is called – Art Basel Miami. Keep reading to discover all that this show at Miami Beach has to offer:
What you can find in Art Basel Miami Beach
Art Basel Miami Beach takes place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, in the city centre. Unofficially, the show starts unofficially on Wednesday, December 4th 2019, with a Private Day event that can be attended by invitation only.
Another limited access event is the Vernissage, which takes place the following day. The Art Basel Public Days run from Thursday, December 5th to Sunday December 8th, 2019.
Art Basel is an international art fair where galleries showcase and sell work to collectors, museum directors, and curators. It attracts large international audiences of art aficionados and students, but also aims to provide an introductory platform to those who are not very familiar with the current art scene.
If you want to fully satisfy your curiosity, you can find out more about the original Art Basel show (the one in Basel!) and the other Art Basel in Hong Kong.
By Gordon Tarpley
Where are the galleries from?
The show hosts leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa showing significant works of modern and contemporary art. In 2015, the show hosted first-time collectors from Cambodia, Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Romania, Togo, and Zimbabwe – a truly global artistic experience!
Art Basel Miami Beach attracts on average over 70,000 participants, whether they are visitors seeking the latest artistic experience or active members of the artistic and curating community.
The majority of works are on display in the main exhibition hall, however there are also large‐scale projects, films and performances that take over the city’s outdoor landscape at nearby Collins Park and SoundScape Park.
Each show is organised into sectors where you can appreciate work by established and emerging artists and galleries. Now, let’s take a look at these sectors!
The Collins Park culture capital structure in Miami. Image by Panaramio.com
The Miami Art Basel Galleries
In this sector over 200 of the world’s leading international modern and contemporary art galleries will set up displays. You can admire paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, photographs, films and videos, and digital-art.
It provides an all-round melange of media and works the highest quality from over 4000 artists, whether they are emerging or established talents.
Nova
As the name would suggest, this section features never-before-seen work straight from the artists’ studio. Here, galleries introduce up to three artists who are showing their latest works.
Positions
This sector allows one artist to present one major work. Here curators, critics, and collectors can discover ambitious new talents.
Edition
Leading publishers of works and prints showcase their collaboration with renowned artists. Visitors have the opportunity to see significant and rare publications.
Kabinett
Galleries have a separate space to present an exhibition from an artist of their choosing. Curated concepts range from thematic group exhibitions, art-historical showcases or solo shows for new talents.
By diginmag
Survey
Art historical projects find their place here. Survey hosts solo presentations by individual artists, juxtapositions and thematic exhibits by artists from a range of cultures, generations or artistic approaches.
Public
This sector is curated by Philipp Kaiser, independent curator and critic, and is produced in collaboration with local institutions, such as Bass Museum of Art. Held at nearby Collins Park, you can see large-scale sculptures and installations by leading and rising international artists.
Film
An outdoor film screening program is held at SoundScape Park. Films and videos are projected onto the 7,000-square-foot wall of the New World Center. Another special event is delivered by New York-based film curator Marian Masone, who selects a feature-length film to be screened at the Colony Theatre.
Magazines
Single-magazine stands or collective booths display art publications from around the world. Editors and publishers of the magazines attend the show and contribute to presentations in the Conversations sector: a series of lectures and discussions.
An art magazine display from Art Basel Miami. Image by Daniel Chimowitz
Conversations
This sector offers a series of lectures and discussions led by prominent members of the art world. Conversations focus on topics relevant to the global contemporary artscape.
Dialogue panels presented by eminent art practitioners, scholars, lawyers, gallerists and architects offer listeners unique and informed views on producing, collecting, and exhibiting art.
Art Basel Miami 2018 events
After you understand your favorite gallery, you can see which Art Basel event to attend. To make it easier, I chose 4 events for each day:
The Margulies Collection – a curated art exhibition.
- Where: at the Margulies Collection Warehouse.
- When: Thursday, December 6, from 9am to 12pm.
Conversations with Artists’ Influencers – Christo, Tomás Saraceno, and Hans Ulrich Obrist
- Where: Miami Beach Convention Center
- When: Friday, December 7, from 10:30am – 11:30am
Girls’ Club Collection – a new exhibition by female artists of contemporary art
- Where: Girls’ Club Collection
- When: December 8, from 9:30am-12:00pm
Coral Gables Museum – an exhibition of 10 Cuban artists with a traditional Cuban snack
- Where: Coral Gables Museum
- When: December 9, from 9:30am – 10:30am
Art Basel Miami 2019 events
- The events for 2019 haven’t been released yet.
The 2018 Miami Event Prices and Zone
The box office for the 2018 is not yet open, but if you are wondering about the costs, the previous edition of the show had Day tickets for 60$ (50$ if purchased online) and Permanent Tickets, which give you access for the whole week, at 130$ (120$ if purchased online).
Art Basel also offers several other ticket combinations which will allow you to save money depending on your needs and length of stay. Tickets are available online and upon arrival and can be purchased directly on the East side of the Miami Beach Convention Center (Washington Avenue).
The arts await!
Art Basel Miami Beach is an unmissable event that will surely enrapture you with its many exhibits and great installations, whether you are an art veteran or amateur. On top of this, it will also give you the best excuse to travel to one of the most wanted locations in Florida
The show runs every year, but should this not be enough of Art for you, you could even travel to the Swiss city or even to Hong Kong, where there is another edition of the show in March!
Head over to Art Basel Miami Beach this December, escape the cold of the winter months, and expect an amazing immersion into the world of contemporary art!
Recommendations for the Event