We are officially upon Art Basel season in the heart of South Florida—The time of year not only artists, but citizens of Miami look forward to year after year. With beautiful exhibits and exciting installations, attendees are provided with an additional flair through live performances and nightlife events. Art Basel has become a staple in Miami’s holiday festivities, more anticipated every year.
The event originally began in Basel, Switzerland by gallerists Ernst Beyeler, Trudl Bruckner, and Balz Hilt looking to begin a new wave of creativity. Launching their fair in 1970, it took off with 90 galleries and brought in more than 16,000 attendees. Officials quickly saw the potential within the project, and in 2002, Art Basel was brought to Miami.
Known for its colorful diversity, Miami was the perfect host for this up-and-coming production. In its inaugural year, 30,000 attendees were accounted for, viewing the 160 galleries with pieces from 23 countries around the world. From this electrifying launch, Art Basel quickly became famous for its diverse mix of international artworks blended in with the lively Miami culture and tropical weather.
“It’s fascinating to see all the galleries from many places come together to create something bigger than themselves; you have galleries from London, France, New York, Chicago, Miami. People come from all over the world to invest money in a place with so much diversity.” Mr. Lacayo, MAST Academy’s art teacher detailed. “Within the art community, I think there should be more like it; we do have events, but not on the scale of Art Basel.”
When asked if Art Basel has influenced his class in any way, Mr. Lacayo responded, “Yes. The few times that we have been able to go to Art Basel as a field trip, the students are able to see the kinds of works being presented to the community. They believe this is something they can do, and they leave inspired.”
As popularity grew, Art Basel expanded outside of the convention center. Satellite fairs, galleries and cultural institutions created their own events, parties and exhibitions, fueling the craze and further publicizing artworks. Events like Untitled Art, SCOPE Miami Beach, and Design Miami have contributed to a full and exhilarating experience, adding to Art Basel’s major contribution to Miami Art Week. If you are an art enthusiast and were not able to attend an event this year, consider booking tickets when they go on sale next year for an experience that will not disappoint.
