Miami Beach becomes alive with the creative spirit during early December’s Miami Art Week, held during the first week of December. Galleries, Popup art shows, special exhibits, parties, and paparazzi dot the city, snarling traffic to a standstill at times. But the belle of the ball is none other than ART Basel Miami Beach—which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022.
This mélange transforms Miami Beach into an aesthetic sensory overload. The December week here is the epicenter of the art world and gladly encourages many of the smaller galleries to join the buffet of art. The celebrity-studded week is filled with glamorous galas, music events, over-the-top fashion, discerning collectors, chic restaurants, iconic Art Deco architecture, white sand beaches, and interactive opportunities.
The fair showcases masters of Modern and contemporary art and welcomed 25 notable newcomers this year. It featured over 280 presenters from 38 countries in various mediums, including paintings, photography, sculptures, video, film, large-scale installations, and digital art. The official show is located at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
About Art Basel Miami Beach
Art Basel Miami Beach comprises the main galleries as well as particular themed sectors: Edition, representing leading publishers of editioned works; Nova, showcasing works created within the last three years; Positions, presenting emerging artists; Survey, featuring exhibits designed for this show; Meridians, showing large-scaled installations; and Kabinett, with its specially curated installations.
The fair spills over into neighborhoods all over Miami Beach, the Miami Design District, and much more.
Let’s look at the economics. We cannot pry the little ledgers out of the gallery owners’ hands, but we hear the little insurance companies brag about their estimated $2 billion in underwritings.
Focusing on the Main Galleries, here are nine of our favorite works from this year’s edition.
White Cube, Booth E8
True to renowned American artist Jeffs Koons’ style, his gigantic, nearly five-foot-tall sculpture Bowl with Eggs (yellow) (1994-2009) features an everyday object made iconic through his unique Pop Art vision. Part of Koons’ “Celebration” series, it carried a $7.5 million price tag.
moniquemeloche, Booth G25
Take a peek at this breathtaking sculpture by Harlem-based multidisciplinary artist Sanford Biggers. Apollo 2022’s smooth rose marble, detailing the symbolism of the interplay between Africa and Europe, mythology and antiquity, made it one of the top pieces at this year’s event. Part of his “Chimera” series, it merges an African mask with a European figure. Priced somewhere between $150-250k, it sold within minutes of Art Basel Miami Beach’s opening.
Sean Kelly, Booth D11
It is easy to overlook some of the spectacular art but from time to time looking up paid off. Dangling from the ceiling like a gold challis disco ball, Awol Erizku’s Nefertiti: Miles Davis (Gold) enchanted at first glimpse. Erizku (who became famous for his picture of a nude, pregnant Beyoncé) was among the new talent at this year’s show. His glittering piece later fetched a price of $70,000.
Pilar Corrias Gallery, Booth D13
Manuel Mathieu is a Haitian-born artist who resides in Montreal. He joined forces with Pilar Corrias in March of 2022. Constellation, 2022 is an example of his characteristic abstract visual style, drawing from his quest for meaning and a variety of historical influences.
Galerie Christophe Gaillard Booth F26
Eric Baudart, who lives and works in Paris, brought artwork with an avant-garde technique. His object’s d’art seems light, almost floating in space. This piece, Papier Millimétré, 2022, reminded of a delicate papier mâché work that looks like finely thrown sculptured clay.
Vielmetter, Booth H12
Well-known contemporary artist Andrea Bowers touches our souls with her “Eco-Grief Extinction Series” and this evocative piece, Let Us Feel Heartbreak, 2022. Acrylic on cardboard, its vibrant colors, and the intimacy between woman and nature demand we consider eco-feminist themes and the state of our planet.
Miguel Abreu, Booth G17
Acclaimed Boston-born artist Tishan Hsu’s works are featured in top international museums in the U.S. and Europe, including Paris’ Centre Pompidou. Miguel Abreu’s gallery brought us his emotional tribute, SPA – Daoyou Feng, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Yong Ae Yue, 2021. They were all victims of a racist 2021 mass shooting that targeted three Asian spas in Atlanta.
Eva Presenhuber, Booth D20
Swiss-born Louisa Gagliardi’s painting Got a Light gave the feel of perspective from someone else looking at the image. In film lingo, this picture broke the third plane. A quote from Franklin Melendez on Rodolphe Janssen’s website perhaps describes works like this one best: she “draws freely from the codes of painting as well as contemporary graphic design and advertising in order to rethink questions of figure and ground, flatness and depth.”
moniquemeloche, Booth G25
This elaborate artwork by Jamaican-born Ebony G. Patterson was one of the fair’s stand-out selections. She fashioned this piece, …when the bellying is evidenced in the arch of a back…and the coupling of gun metal birds reminds us…love is still here…2022, from a playful mix of hand-cut Jacquard tapestry, glitter, costume jewelry, beads, trim, fabric, vinyl, paper, feathered butterflies, resin, and custom vinyl wallpaper. The level of intricacy is stunning. The Indianapolis Museum of Art acquired this epic oeuvre for $100,000-$150,000.
