Generally known for all night parties and scantily-clad beach goers, Miami has now taken on another identity: international art. Over the past 10 years, an international exhibit fair called Art Basel has reinvigorated the art world in Miami and transformed the Miami Beach resort with one of the most prestigious art fairs in the Americas. Although it lasts less than a week each year, Art Basel provides Miami with year-round inspiration and a network of international artists and leading players in the art world.
The Art Basel festival began in 1970 on the border of France and Germany in Basel, Switzerland. Since then it has become globally renowned and respected by the art community and has even been referred to as the ‘Olympics of Art,’ making its American counterpart all the more attractive.
“To mark its 10th edition in 2011, Art Basel Miami Beach will inaugurate a new collaboration with the Bass Museum of Art on the Art Public sector, which will transform Collins Park with unique artworks and performances by renowned artists and emerging talents. For the first time, Art Video will be presented on the large-scale outdoor projection wall of the New World Center, designed by Frank Gehry,” stated the Art Basel Miami Beach site.
Art Basel has attracted countless artists to live and work in Miami, and dozens of new galleries have opened their doors and their wallets to the local artist community. “Most galleries are clustered in two once-impoverished neighborhoods just north of downtown Miami that now serve as popular art enclaves, luring the expert and the curious alike,” stated an article in The New York Times in preview of the 2011 installment.
Although the overall verdict is still out on whether or not this has greatly helped local artists get discovered or if it is just a showcase for international talent to bring flavor to the city, there have been a few exceptions: “Hernan Bas, who grew up in the area, and Daniel Arsham, who fostered his career here, are two artists who have caught the attention of top-tier galleries in New York and Paris,” stated The New York Times.
Work by Danial Arsham
There is still a lot of work to do during the rest of the year, but the festival has put Miami on the map and in the minds of international artists. Gallery districts, developers, private collectors, and artists work year round to ensure that each year surpasses the previous one. With the 10th annual installment of this global fair coming up from December 1st-4th, Miami is gearing up for a flood of talent from across the globe. Focusing on visual design, Art Basel Miami Beach 2011 will continue to push the limits and open doors for local and international artists to showcase their works and connect with each other.
Painting by Hernan Bas
Wow ….amazing creativity :)