Allan McCollum at Thomas Schulte, via Art Observed
The doors have opened on the latest edition of Art Basel Miami Beach, bringing a stream of collectors and dealers into the Miami Beach Convention Center for another year of the fair’s high-profile sales, and an annual look back at the year for the art world. Commanding a roster of over 200 galleries from around the world, the marquee event of the fall market season in the U.S., and one of the biggest social events of the art world calendar has gotten underway, with thousands flocking to the sun and sand of the Florida metropolis.
Kevin Beasley at Casey Kaplan, via Art Observed
Hot on the heels of an historic auction week in New York City this past month, ABMB’s offerings this year looked to continue several particularly strong months for a market that has been anything but predictable in the past several years. But considering the collectors still streaming into the Convention Center yesterday morning, it’s hard to argue that enthusiasm has been dulled much by spotty prices. With a Republican tax bill winding its way through Congress, many American collectors seemed ready to make some big purchases, while the fair’s role as the one of the premiere fairs for Latin American artists and collectors offered a fitting counterpoint for the rest of the Americas to follow suit.
Manuela Viera Gallo at the Art Basel Public Sector, via Art Observed
Katherine Bernhardt at Xavier Hufkens, via Art Observed
Thaddaeus Ropac notched strong sales in the early days of the fair, as the late James Rosenquist’s Coenties Slip Studio sold for for $2.7 million, as did Hauser & Wirth, selling a large-scale Bruce Nauman sculpture for $9.5 million to an Asian collection. Sprüth Magers also had a productive early few days, selling a range of works by George Condo, Thea Djordjadze and Louise Lawler. Mnuchin Gallery also saw strong early interest, with a Mark Bradford work selling for $3 million.
John Armleder at Almine Rech, via Art Observed
Ghada Amer at Cheim & Read, via Art Observed
Ebony G. Peterson at Carolina Nitsch, via Art Observed
Lehmann Maupin had selected a striking body of works by the elusive Ashley Bickerton for its Cabinet section installation, while kurimanzutto gallery was showing a selection of works by Haegue Yang. Other highlights included a body of massive new paintings by Urs Fischer on view at Sadie Coles HQ, as well as a series of expressive, multi-textured works by Leandro Drew at Sikkema Jenkins.
Doug Aitken at 303, via Art Observed
Amanda Ross-Ho at Mitchell-Innes and Nash, via Art Observed
Outside, and just up Collins Avenue, the Public sector had also opened its doors, and was celebrating another year in the Miami sun with a gleaming steel sculpture by Daniel Knorr taking up prime position, while other works from Yto Barrada and Daniel Buren also commanded visitors attention. In another corner, Cyprien Gaillard was showing work inside the park’s circular enclosure, a new video piece that continued his poignant exploration of modern culture and its densely layered signifiers. Â
Daniel Knorr at the Art Basel Public Sector, via Art Observed
Christina Forrer at Luhring Augustine, via Art Observed
All told, it would seem that the turbulent past few months have set the stage for a fair where many are looking for a momentary escape, a diversion from divisive politics and global conflicts through art or other creative pursuits. With its sprawling aisles of art, the bright sunshine and rushing surf close by, Art Basel Miami Beach seems to still offer an alluring draw for art lovers of all stripes.
The fair is on view through December 10th.
Sam Moyer at Rodolphe Janssen, via Art Observed
Manish Nai, via Art Observed
Jim Lambie at Anton Kern, via Art Observed
Olafur Eliasson at neugerriemschneider, via Art Observed
Leandro Drew at Sikkema Jenkins, via Art Observed
Urs Fischer at Sadie Coles HQ, via Art Observed
Gilbert and George at Lehmann Maupin, via Art Observed
Ashley Bickerton for Lehmann Maupin’s Kabinett Section, via Art Observed
— D. Creahan
Read more:
Art Basel Miami Beach [Exhibition Site]
