Miami Basel: Through the Eyes of a Dealer

Art Basel is an annual event featuring modern and contemporary art – a truly wonderful experience and opportunity for art enthusiasts and dealers.

From December 1st to the 4th, Miami, Florida will become the vibrant center of the art world. In its 15th year, Art Basel Miami Beach will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, while twenty satellite fairs happen simultaneously thoughtout the city. These include Design Miami, NADA, Art Miami, PULSE, and NOVA.

Art Basel is a highly esteemed modern and contemporary art show. It is an annual event that occurs in three different international locations: Miami Beach, Basel Switzerland and Hong Kong. These fairs showcase world-renowned artists and are considered an important social gathering as well as a platform for innovative exchange through talks, panels, and lectures.

Miami Basel attracts a wide spectrum of some 75,000 visitors from around the globe. Collectors, artists, museum directors, dealers, critics and film celebrities all flock to Florida’s beachside to share the experience. More than 200 leading galleries from five continents exhibit over 4,000 artworks, which range from historical masterpieces to those created by the newest generation of artists. These include paintings, sculptures, installations, photography, film, video, digital and performance art and also features significant limited edition prints and publications of the highest quality, all available for purchase.

Although art can be appreciated within several different budgets, seeing a price tag of $20 million should come as no surprise – and, by the way, neither should the fact that the same tag has a « sold » red dot adhered to it!

As a private dealer, I find it exhilarating to accompany clients to Miami Basel and introduce them to new artists. On many occasions, I have been given a mandate or a « shopping list » of sorts, to actually scout out and make purchases on behalf of clients who are unable to attend.

It is truly wonderful to experience such a rich and engaging artistic and cultural environment and to have the opportunity to tour galleries of the world in just a few days. If you have not yet experienced Art Basel, I strongly encourage you to add it to your cultural bucket list.