February Art Guide - Miami

Aside from celebrating George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays, Presidents Weekend is also the first long weekend of the year and is a very busy weekend in Miami! While the rest of the country is suffering from icy temperatures, here in South Florida we enjoy more tropical weather which make it ideal for a mid winter get away.

The Miami International Boat Show has selected President’s Weekend for their annual display of all types of water crafts and is when Biscayne Bay sees the most traffic. If you are here for the Boat show or just to thaw over the long weekend, there are a few other things you shouldn’t miss.

Monday is the last day to view “Christo and Jean-Claude: Surrounded Islands, 1980- 1983 A Documentary Exhibition” at the PAMM. The exhibition opened last fall and has brought thousands of museum-goers to see up close what the 3 year project entailed for this artist duo. Everything from their drawings, to the legal documents, to a rich photographic account and even samples of the actual fabric used to surround 11 islands in Miami’s Biscayne Bay for a site specific installation that lasted only 10 days. 6.5 million square feet of fabric and thousands of volunteers made this possible and PAMM commemorates its 35th anniversary. If you haven’t seen it… you have until Monday February 18th!

Christo and Jean-Claude: Surrounded Islands, 1980- 1983

In its 8th edition, Art Wynwood opens doors on Valentine’s Day for a VIP only vernissage and is open to the general public from February 15-18th. Taking place at Art Miami’s new location at One Herald Plaza, Art Wynwood rounds up a roster of over 65 galleries from around the world in a very visitor friendly and fresh art fair environment. Small than its “big sister” fair, Art Miami, but no less prominent in terms of gallery and collector attendance.

Judy Chicago

Its also the perfect weekend to check some of Miami’s other highlights, like the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), who opened doors just over a year ago and have brought some truly astounding exhibitions. Currently on view and not to missed is Judy Chicago and Larry Bell’s major survey exhibitions. Bell’s minimalism is an exquisite expression of the exchange between shape, light and its surroundings. If you are able to play hooky for a few more days, the great feminist artist, Chicago, will be doing a performance based on the “Purple Smoke” on Thursday February 21st 7pm and access is free but seating is limited, so RSVP and come early as it is sure to be a full house!

Larry Bell

Find shelter from the sun this weekend at any of these great events or book your private and personalized tour to not miss a beat.

Learn more about Oh So Arty in Miami here.

Guide to Miami Art Week 2018

Next week Miami will be hit with an adrenaline rush of art, transforming this restless beach town into the art capital of the season! With over 20 fairs and hundreds of exhibitions, lectures, parties, happening all over town Art Week can be overwhelming and figuring out what to do and where to go can be exhausting. It takes planning, strategizing and a lot of patience as you Uber around town to the different venues… So I wrote this guide to highlight some of my favorite “must see” events and a few local insider tips on how to survive another Art Week…

If you are a local, like myself, you tend to skip the shows that will still be up after the fairs have left. Miami boasts 3 extraordinary private family collections that are open to the public and 3 magnificent museums, each with power exhibitions.

the 35th anniversary of Christo and Jean Claude’s “Surrounding Islands” commemorated at PAAM.

Like a local…

Margulies Collection at The Warehouse houses the collection of Martin Margulies and curated by Katherine Hinds, showcasing sculpture, photography, video, painting and large scale installations from international artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Rubell Family Collection offers free admission and extended hours during Art Week. This year their survey exhibition is of Miami local Purvis Young with over 100 paintings. Hans Ulrich Obrist’s interview is featured in the show’s catalogue.

More/Less a group exhibition at the De La Cruz Collection

De La Cruz Collection opens More/Less a group exhibition highlighting works from some of the world’s leading contemporary artists. Kicking off Art Week, the museum opens to the public and not to be missed is a lecture by Hans Ulrich Obrist at 8 PM.

PAMM celebrates the 35th anniversary of Christo and Jean Claude’s “Surrounding Islands” installation with an incredible exhibition of research, materials, videos, photographs documenting the ambitions project of the duo that took over Biscayne Bay from 1980-83. Christo will return for lectures and a private dinner for a few lucky museum patrons.

ICA, celebrating its 1st anniversary, packs a punch with Judy Chicago’s 5 decade retrospective, “Reckoning”, opening Tuesday December 4th. Her strong feminist voice paved the path in a male dominated world and who’s impact was felt not just in the art world, but beyond.

Judy Chicago, Sunset Squares, 1965/2018. Her solo exhibition 'A Reckoning' opens at the ICA December 5

The Bass underwent a major overhaul last year, opening again with Ugo Rondinone’s solo exhibition (perhaps one of the most Instagrammed shows of the year). This year’s Paola Pivi, Adam Curry and the much anticipated Haas Brother’s exhibition are sure to bring in the crowds.

The Faena Festival is back this year with a show titled “This is Not America”, anchored by Alfredo Jaar’s work “A Logo for America”. The works revolve around the America as a concept not a place, where artists explore a sense of place not by the physical but rather more dynamic notions of what that means. Faena is also know for one of the best parties!

Gagosian takes over the iconic Moore Building in the Design District every year and this year they will host an auction to benefit the (RED) foundation, to raise money to fight AIDS. The live auction will be held on Wednesday December 5th and rumor has it, (RED) co-founder Bono Vox will perform!

Ugo Rondinone's sculpture 'Miami Mountain' 2016 at The Bass

Ahead of its 4th MISO Chic concert held the weekend after Basel, The Miami Symphony Orchestra (MISO) is offering a free concert at their headquarters in the Design District on Saturday December 8th at 6pm. Maestro Eduardo Marturet will perform a kinetic piece he composed for piano, followed by 11 year old sensation Martina Travieso who belts out notes like a mini Billie Holiday. In addition, MISO will screen a selection of works by Paris-based video artist Fabiana Cruz, who is the guest artist for the MISO Chic concert that explores the 5 senses through music and art.

So much Art and so little time…

Art Basel Miami Beach is the mothership! With over 200 of the world’s leading galleries, it is perhaps the largest contemporary art fair in the country. When else in Miami can you get up close and personal to a wide array of works by masters such as Picasso, Calder, Miro, Giacometti… or some of the contemporary greats like Eliasson, Holzer, Richter, Akunyili Crosby, Condo, Kapoor… The biggest artists under one roof!

Also part of the fair program is the fifth Audemars Piguet Art Commission that is set up on the beach next to the W Hotel. This year’s Art Commission was granted to Tomas Saraceno with a work titled “Albedo” which explores the possibility of a post fossil fuel era. Saraceno never disappoints, so expect to be wowed!

Untitled, now in its 8th edition, is one of my favorites. Beautifully curated by Omar Lopez Chahoud, the fair rounds up exceptional galleries from around the world showcasing phenomenal contemporary works. If you can’t make it to Miami, you can always follow remotely with their Podcasts.

Art Miami, the OG of the fairs, is celebrating its 29th edition and along with its sister fairs, Context and Aqua, packs in top notch galleries specializing in modern and contemporary art. Since moving to their new location last year, on the old Herald lot, the fair has grown in size and presence and is one of the first things you see when arriving to Miami off the MacCarther Causeway.

Photo by Casey Kelbaugh for Untitled

Need a break from art?

A morning run on the beach or dip in the turquoise ocean is a great way to start the day. Miami’s culinary scene raises to the occasion as well and with several new restaurants in town worth indulging. Let’s not forget all the exclusive art parties and night life, if one still has the stamina after “Baseling” for hours on end…

Macchialina, an oldie but goodie, my spot for cool hip hop and comforting pasta to recharge!

Sushi Garage nestled in local hang out Sunset Harbour, this Japanese restaurant will not disappoint!

Mignonette for fresh fish and delicious oysters in a very cool and off the beaten path are of Miami.

Swan and Bar Bevy opened just a few weeks ago and is already the place to be!

Art Miami

Stay tuned for Oh So Arty in Miami launching January 2019! Explore our other tour options here.

cover image: Untitled Miami Beach 2017, special projects. Work by Carlos Cruz-Diez, 'Chromosaturation'

Recommendations Art Basel Miami Beach

The fairs, exhibitions and parties to visit during Art Basel Miami Beach art week by Cobi Kreiger of Alternative Tel Aviv.

More than 20 art fairs in one week – every December Miami transforms itself into an art Mecca, as the city is packed with different characters of the art industry from all over the world. The mix of warm streets and cool visitors seems to get most people mixed up, wondering where to and when? Check out our recommendations to smooth things out.

Photo: Art-Basel

Fairs

For those looking to go beyond the “must-see” Art Basel, there is a lot in store. Without a doubt, the best deal is to go to Art Miami and Context in Wynwood at their new location. Crossing to the other side of the Biscayne Bay from Miami Beach into Miami is easy with the complimentary shuttle services, running between Art Basel and Art Miami. Also, your Art Miami ticket includes an entrance to Context, so be sure to enjoy two for the price of one.

Photo: CONTEXT-Art-Miami-Fair

Exhibitions

Not far from the Context and Art Miami location, you can find the Perez Art Museum Miami. There you can enjoy the beautiful beach side while tacking in some art which can be categorized as “new media”. The current exhibition – Dara Friedman: Perfect Stranger, will be great for that, as the artist is known for her nonlinear conceptual video art.

Photo: pamm-terrace-people-photo-world-red-eye

Parties

Not straying too far, don’t miss the MANA Wynwood, which is an amazing facility that hosts artists residencies, exhibitions and during art week – even its own art fair! But art aside, MANA also throw great parties during art week. Don’t miss the special Bjork session on December 5th to get yourself ready for all the fun.

Photo: MANA 2ac

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