Just when I think there can’t possibly be anymore events, happenings and fairs in Art Basel Miami week, 2018 turned out to be the topper. It’s probably easy to do a week of 24/7 art, design, food and lifestyle happenings and never repeat an event or a venue. Fortunately, some of the offerings launched this week will become permanent, and many of the museum shows are around for the first quarter of 2019. I’ve indicated which you’ll be able to see beyond the Fair week. In any case, here are some of my favorites in fashion, design and art this year because they’re highly creative, fun, handsome, clever, skillful, or all of the above.
Margulies Warehouse has some very major additions this year — quantity and quality, and once again demonstrates Martin Margulies’ highly sophisticated and cultured eye (This private museum is open all year). Take this thought provoking contemporary work by Ibrahim Mahama from Ghana that’s hundreds of shoemaker boxes made from scrap materials acquired through a process of negotiation and exchange.It explores issues relating to trade, labor and globalization. Outstanding collection too of the works of Anselm Kiefer.
There’s a lot of top of the line shopping these days at Faena Hotel. The traditional Art Basel fashion bazaar is now permanent, and now with three floors worth of luxe clothing and accessories for men and women. For Art Basel, Tierra Santa spa also had its own exquisitely curated shop with resort wear that’s perfect for Miami, including handbags, and jewelry. Check out this clutch bag made from antique Indonesian textiles that are gold embroidered, by Rita Von Hildebrand.
Another find there, the El Dorado Art fashion popup for Art Basel, happily sells online. They feature clothing and jewelry by Latin American designers that’s reasonably priced and very attractive. I’m pictured wearing one of their hats made in Colombia with traditional mola fabric.
At Design Miami, these velvet chairs by Mattia Bonetti from the Kasmin Gallery caught my eye.
And these “French lace cuffs”, bracelets with diamonds were a stunner.
At a pastry and chocolate popup in downtown called FADD (fashion, art, drink district), a discovery was this guava cheesecake taco with whipped cream and pieces of guava. If you missed it, you can always try it at Chez Bon Bon at the Fontainebleau Hotel.
People were lining up to buy what I thought were food and household products downtown. Turned out the Swanson Project was an art installation — a food mart full of hand stitched fabric products.
The artist, Lucy Swanson, exhibited at CONTEXT, and had this popup downtown. Sales were brisk, with people buying numerous ones, just like groceries.
Bike in grand style with this rideable illuminated bamboo, Swarovski studded bike pictured above with 24 karat gold accents . By Michael Peterson for Illumcycles, it was at the Faena Bazaar.
Vintage needlepoint fabric was used to cover a hand mixer in this artwork seen at SCOPE. The artist is Ulla-Stina Wikander from Paradigm Gallery.
Sneakers were very much in evidence, not only with fair goers and gallerists, but as exhibits. Check out these modeled sneaker sculptures made of mosaic tile and mixed media. part of the kick back series by Jason Dussault at Castle Fitzjohns Gallery at SCOPE.
Practical and fun stools made with vintage lawn webbing, aluminum tubing, zinc plated screws and rubber feet. By Luaz Ojalde & Natalie Zlamalova at UNTITLED.
One of the relatively rare works of realism by a contemporary artist I spotted at ART MIAMI and it was a fave. By Girbent, it’s from Galeria Morrach Moya of Palma de Mallorca.
New this year at Art Basel was what they called “Summary” booths, each devoted to a single artist. I learned about David Park whose work fetches prices into the millions. The Bay Area artist was the teacher of another famous artist, Richard Diebenkorn. His work is handled by Hackett Mill.
Want to see more images of standouts? Look below at my instagram page or click here.
What did you think of the new Convention Center as the Art Basel venue? I really liked the more spacious aisles, greater number of rest areas with vertical gardens, more user friendly layout, and how could I forget the refillable water bottles! Just wish there were motorized walkways.
