The chaos of Art Basel Miami Beach is bigger than ever before, with even more satellite fairs, special projects, artist talks and museum openings. As if the fairs themselves weren’t enough to keep you busy, there are also some fantastic not to be missed installations outside of the walls of the convention center. Make sure to get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of liquids, pack the most comfortable shoes, and have a driver on hand, because ABMB 2013 promises to impress, dazzle and fulfill every art itch you may have. We’ve gathered an eclectic list of must-sees to make your ABMB trip well rounded and successful.
1103 Biscayne Blvd
Opening Gala December 7, 7 PM-10PM
Pérez Art Museum Miami. Courtesy of the museum.
Perhaps one of the most news-worthy events outside of the fairs is the grand opening of the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). Formerly known as the Center for Fine Arts and then the Miami Art Museum, the institution is being rechristened PAMM, and takes up a gorgeous new home designed by Herzog & de Meuron at Museum Park. PAMM is dedicated to collecting and exhibiting international art of the 20th and 21st centuries, and has grown to include 1,300 works valued at $40 million. To kick off the exciting opening during Art Basel week, the museum’s inaugural special exhibition will be Ai Wei Wei’s highly acclaimed “According to What?”
Wynwood Walls
Opening December 3rd, 12 PM
Kenny Scharf, Tony’s Oasis, 2013. Courtesy of the artist.
The late Tony Goldman’s Wynwood Walls project transformed the desolate area into a year round arts destination. This year, the project curated by Goldman’s daughter Jessica Goldman-Srebnick and Jeffrey Deitch, honors girl power. “Women on the Walls” opens December 3rd and includes murals by Aiko, Fafi, Miss Van, Maya Hayuk and Lady Pink, with additional murals in the surrounding area by Kashink, Faith 47, Lakwena and Sheryo. Bonus: Kenny Scharf has designed a new park in Goldman’s honor called “Tony’s Oasis” that will be dedicated on December 6th.
Museum of Contemporary Art, 770 NE 125th Street
Opens December 4th, 11 AM
Tracy Emin, Angel Without You, 2013. Courtesy of the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami.
YBA star Tracy Emin makes her American museum debut at the Miami Museum of Contemporary Art with an expansive exhibition that will take over the entire museum. “Angel Without You” will open on December 4th and focuses on Emin’s works with neon, and how they have influenced her overall oeuvre. Over 60 works from the past 20 years will be on display, and the artist herself will talk about the exhibition with Sir Norman Rosenthal at ABMB on December 5 at 6pm.
Collins Park, 2100 Collins Avenue
Opening December 4th, 8:30PM
Social Animals Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, Aaron Curry, Untitled, 2013. Courtesy of Lori Zimmer.
Art Basel has asked New York Public Art Fund’s Nicholas Baume to extend his curatorial eye to Collins Park in South Beach. The outdoor exhibition, called “Social Animals” includes large-scale sculptures and installations from 24 artists, including gorgeous works by Scott Reeder Huma Bhabha, Mark di Suvero, Olaf Breunning, Tony Tasset, Ursula von Rydingsvard to name a few. The official reception is December 4th at 8:30 pm, including a smoke installation by Olaf Breunning and performances by Kate Gilmore, David Colman and Ryan McNamara. The outdoor installation will remain up until March 2014. 2100 Collins Avenue.
Bass Museum of Art, 2100 Collins Avenue
VIP opening Reception, December 4th, 7 PM
Piotr Uklański, Untitled (Its Dark in my Heart), 2012; Untitled (Warsaw Uprising ’44 Pruszków), 2008. Courtesy of Bass Museum of Art.
South Beach’s Bass Museum is hosting an all-encompassing exhibition by multi-disciplinary artist, Piotr Uklański. “ESL” will include tie-dye paintings, large-scale paper reliefs, textile based sculptures, resin-based sculptures and paintings, photography, performance and “Summer Love,” a feature length film. The work explores his visual imagery as a “second language,” making a clever word play on his “ESL” title. The exhibition’s opening reception is December 4th.
16th and Washington Streets
Open December 3rd-7th, 3 PM until late
Faile, video game stills. Courtesy of the artists.
New York artists Faile have teamed up with BAST to bring a glowing psychedelic interactive art arcade to South Beach, sponsored by Perrier. At the FAILE/BAST Deluxx Fluxx Arcade, visitors can play artist-designed video games, pinball and neon foosball. The blinging and banging games are free and open to the public, open every night from 3pm until late.
University of Miami, Wynwood Building, 2750 NW 3rd Avenue
Up though January 24th
Cynthia Fleischmann, Bodypaintography, 2010. Courtesy of the artist.
For the collector who loves discovering the next big artist first hand, the sixth annual CANE ART FAIR at the University of Miami is a great venue to peruse up-and-coming talent. Beginning December 2nd, work by students in the university’s MFA program will be on display in the Wynwood Building gallery. Stop by to pick up pieces by tomorrow’s featured Basel artists.
Diana Lowenstein Gallery, 2043 N Miami Avenue
Opens December 4th, Reception December 7th, 10 Am – 3PM
Anna Galtarosse and Daniel Gonzalez, Criminal Aesthetic Fashion at the Skyscraper Club, 2013. Courtesy of Diana Lowenstein Gallery.
Miami’s seminal Diana Lowenstein Gallery will host “Criminal Aesthetic Fashion at the Skyscraper Club,” a major installation by Anna Galtarossa and Daniel Gonzalez. The bold and glitzy exhibition will transform the gallery into a futuristic nightclub, where visitors can dance with undulating mechanical skyscrapers while wearing sculptures on their feet. The immersive exhibition opens on December 4th, but will have a reception for the artists on Saturday December 7th.
Miami Marine Stadium, 3501 Rickenbacker Causeway
Open Wednesday December 5th, 11AM
Kolkoz, Curiosity, 2013. Courtesy of Audemars Piguet.
Galerie Perrotin and Audemars Piguet (the Swiss luxury watch maker) are presenting a not-to-be missed installation by Kolkoz at the disused Miami Marine Stadium. Floating in the former powerboat racing venue is “Curiosity,” an iceberg complete with a snow-topped chalet, amidst the Miami heat. Kolkoz is the conceptual French artist duo Samuel Boutruche and Benjamin Moreau, who same time last year built the recreation of the Apollo 11 landing site called “Luna Park.” The chalet will also serve as a venue for Audemars Piguet’s events for the week.
Madonna Building, 3940 North Miami Avenue
Up through December 21st, reception December 5th, 7-10 PM
Gordon Cheung, Burning Light Breaks Waves Study, 2013. Courtesy of Art Britannia.
Introducing the next generation of Young British Artists, Art Britannia brings a collection of young and established artists to Miami as well as an exhibition from the Lion and Lamb Gallery in London’s East End. Curated by Ben Austin, the British American Business Council event takes over the Madonna building,. The artists featured celebrate a departure from the conceptual, and instead embrace a hearty helping of craft, technical skill and alternative aesthetic. The exhibition kicks off with the quintessential British happening – a tea party that continues daily from 4 to 7 pm.