Art Basel Miami 2023 was a stunning convergence of global cultures, ideas and artistic expressions. Beyond the walls of the art fair Miami buzzed with a series of captivating events, blending art, fashion and entertainment. The energy was infectious and we’ve captured the essence of this year’s most remarkable moments, both inside and outside the fair. View more coverage from the opening of Art Basel Miami including art highlights by The Untitled Magazine here.
The Untitled Magazine’s 100 Percent Party at Soho Beach House With Crystal Waters
Art Basel Miami was set ablaze by Crystal Water’s stunning performance at The Untitled Magazine’s “100 Percent” Party. The Art Basel Miami kickoff event hosted by EIC Indira Cesarine at Soho Beach House featured a live performance of Water’s timeless hits and new singles, complemented by dynamic DJ sets and a spectacular drag show, encapsulating the spirit of Miami’s iconic art week while celebrating her new cover story for Untitled.
Dior Lady Art Pre-Launch Event
On December 6th, Dior dazzled the Miami Design District with an intimate gathering to celebrate the launch of the eighth edition of Dior Lady Art. The event, held at the Dior Miami Design District boutique, showcased an exclusive collection of unique handbags featuring the artistic genius of contemporary artists including Mickalene Thomas, Jean-Michael Othoniel, Sidney Toledano, Ludovic Nkoth, and Hilary Pecis, among others.
Dolce & Gabbana x FARFETCH at Faena Theatre
On December 8th, FARFETCH and Dolce & Gabbana hosted a party at the Faena Theater in Miami Beach to celebrate the house’s Flower Power pre-Spring 2024 women’s collection. Inspired by the iconic spirit of the 1960s, the Dolce&Gabbana Flower Power collection captures the essence of a bygone era while seamlessly infusing modern sophistication. Guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres and champagne while dancing to the tunes of DJ’s Coco & Breezy and Channel Tres. Guests included Victoria Monét, Isabela Grutman, Alton Mason, Lindsey Vonn, Selah Marley, Saint John, Jordyn Woods, Shaun Ross, and Untitled’s Indira Cesarine, among others.
SSENSE & Marni Celebrated Launch of Special Capsule Collaboration
SSENSE and Marni hosted a private party at Soho House’s Miami Pool House during Miami Art Week to celebrate the new SSENSE Exclusive ‘Once Upon a Time at Marni’ capsule that will be launching on Monday, December 11th. Friends and special guests of SSENSE and Marni were on hand to toast the collection launch, including James Blake, Jordyn Woods, SAINt JHN, Nick Hadad, Maurice Kamara, Isaac Hindin-Miller, Luis Capecchi, Emma Brooks, Adam Fulton, and more.
The Miami Beach Edition & Mickalene Thomas event with Janelle Monáe
During Miami Art Week, Mickalene Thomas hosted a party in collaboration with the Miami Beach Edition and Shop With Google. Thomas brought out art world icons including Stephanie Horton, Frank Roberts, Isolde Brielmaier, Hank Willis Thomas, Kimberly Drew, Edvin Thompson, and more to celebrate her Shop with Google collection (the capsule is splashed with some of Thomas’ most-loved prints and motifs lifted from her own artworks). It all culminated with an electric performance by Janelle Monáe, who, in true pool-party spirit, leaped into the pool as part of her performance.
JR Unveils The Chronicles of Miami Mural with Special Performance by Anitta
Lights, music, and creativity collided on December 4th in the heart of the Miami Design District, as world-renowned French artist JR celebrated the unveiling of his latest masterpiece, The Chronicles of Miami. JR’s mural, a breathtaking ode to Miami’s spirit, served as the epicenter of the celebration. Attendees enjoyed a jaw-dropping live DJ set by internationally acclaimed Brazilian singer, songwriter and dancer, Anitta. Notable guests included Peggy Gou, Cedric Gervais, and Dave and Isabela Grutman.
Pérez Art Museum Miami Presented Headliner George Clinton
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) celebrated Miami Art Week with its signature Thursday night event featuring headliner George Clinton. Clinton is a renowned musician, singer, and record producer. The highly anticipated event welcomed guests from around the world for drinks, live music, and dancing on the museum’s waterfront terrace. Inside the museum guests explored PAMM’s newest exhibition, ‘Gary Simmons: Public Enemy”, presented by Citi.
Gagosian & Jeffrey Deitch: “Forms”
Jeffrey Deitch and Gagosian presented their eighth annual group exhibition, “Forms”, in Miami’s Design District. The exhibition delved into the dynamic narrative of modern art, primarily revolving around the stylistic fluctuations between figuration and abstraction. “Forms” creatively explored the intriguing dance between abstract and figurative art, showcasing pieces that both mirrored and reimagined the world of representation.
Hublot Celebrated Miami Art Week With an Exclusive Watch
Hublot, though based in Switzerland, has established its American base in Miami. To celebrate, they launched the Big Bang Unico Magic City Watch, inspired by the city’s nickname, vibrant culture, Art Deco influence, and stunning sunsets. The grand unveiling took place at Queen, a Japanese restaurant in South Beach where guests, bathed in pink and purple lights, witnessed the reveal.
Miami Museum Of Sex Preview
Miami’s forthcoming Museum of Sex to open in 2024 held a special preview night of installations and live performances at their 32,000-square-foot converted warehouse in Miami’s Allapattah neighborhood on December 1st. The new institution features an expanded iteration of the New York museum’s Super Funland: Journey into the Erotic Carnival, inspired by carnivals dating back to Ancient Rome, as well as a 40ft-wide mermaid tank, where guests watch live dancers and mermaids performing on stage and underwater.
Rubell Museum Opening Reception
New exhibitions of artists-in-residence Basil Kincaid and Alejandro Piñeiro Bello opened at The Rubell Museum Miami, alongside solo shows by leading contemporary artists including Shariff Farrag, Savannah Claudia Levin, and Patrick Martinez.
ICA Miami: Charles Gaines, Sasha Gordon, Anne Collier, Ahmed Morsi and Tau Lewis
ICA Miami hosted an opening celebration for a three-decade survey of Charles Gaines, the first museum presentation for Sasha Gordon, and a rare solo exhibition of the major figure of Egyptian modernism, Ahmed Morsi. The evening also marked the debut of acclaimed sculptor Tau Lewis’ new work for the museum’s sculpture garden, and Anne Collier’s newly commissioned site-responsive work for the museum’s stairway.
Swampspace Gallery X Spinello Projects “Valle De Lágrimas/Valley of Tears”
Spinello Projects and Swampspace Gallery showcased “VALLE DE LÁGRIMAS (1987)”, during Miami Art Week in the Miami Design District. It featured a powerful montage of ten vivid canvases by Adolfo Rene Sanchez. This installation, a reflection on popular culture and an homage to 1970s Mexican fotonovelas, was one of Sanchez’s monumental works before his passing in 1990. The exhibit was part of “GAY ERA”, a series of eight solo shows and projects by Spinello Projects, celebrating the diversity of queer experiences and artistic expressions.
The Art of Hip Hop Exhibiton
Alan Ket and Allison Freidin, founders of The Museum of Graffiti, presented “Art of Hip Hop”, a captivating new permanent exhibition that spotlights the often overlooked visual artists of Hip Hop culture, including photographers, album cover artists, graffiti artists and logo designers. The exhibition includes works by renowned Hip Hop photographers like Janette Beckman and Joe Conzo, alongside iconic album covers by artists such as Cey Adams and Kaws. It also highlights Miami’s unique contribution to Hip Hop history through the lenses of local historian Derick G and photographer Esdras T. Thelusma.
Craig Robbins Collection “A Train of Thoughts”
For the early part of Miami Art Week, the Craig Robbins Collection, boasting over 1,300 contemporary art and design pieces, presented “A Train of Thoughts” at the DACRA headquarters in the Miami Design District. This year’s exhibition emphasized figuration and conceptualism, two prominent themes in the collection. A unique blend of hyperbolic figurative imagery was showcased alongside introspective, conceptual art, creating an intriguing and unexpected interplay between these seemingly disparate elements.
Design Commission 2023 by Laura Bohinc
The Miami Design District showcased “Utopia”, a captivating installation by designer Laura Bohinc, on display until March 2024. Awarded the 2023 Miami Design District Annual Design Commission, Bohinc’s work features four installations with organic, bulbous forms, including outdoor seating, tables and oversized light sculptures. A highlight of the exhibit is an enormous egg-shaped centerpiece and 900 hand-painted cork birdhouses, embodying a harmonious blend of nature and urbanity.
Samuel Ross Benches
During Miami Art Week 2023, the Miami Design District proudly unveiled a captivating installation by renowned British artist and designer Samuel Ross. This permanent exhibition features three distinct bench designs placed through the district’s public spaces and walkways. Originating as hand sketches and drawings in charcoal, Indian ink and pencil, Ross skillfully transformed these initial ideas into practical 3D designs, adding a distinctive artistic flair to the neighborhood’s ambiance.
VIP Wander + Ivy Luncheon at Nikki Beach
On Saturday afternoon while Miami was ablaze during the lively Miami Art Week, tastemakers gathered at Nikki Beach for a VIP luncheon. Guests cheers-ed to Miami Art Week with premium, single-serve wine courtesy of Wander + Ivy.
