Global contemporary art events and news observed from New York City.
Suggestion? Email us.
Basel does Bosch via the Garden of Earthly Delights [Times Online(UK)]
Brit Photography Icon, Sam Taylor Wood, bares all for Harpers [Harper's Bazaar]
Ted Colen interview via ArtTalk, talks Deitch Hamster Nets [Juxtapoz]
Banksy peeved by re-sales in New York [Bloomberg via C-Monster]
New Picasso Book released, reviewed by NY Review of Books [NY Books]
“Athenian Moon Owl” by Joseph Beuys via Tate
More on Gagosian Opening Gallery in Rome [Artnet]
Even More on Gagosian in Rome [TAN]
Coverage of The Fanciest Sattelite Parties at Art Basel Miami Beach [NYT]
The Insider – Profile of Gallerist Melissa Bent [The Moment]
New MoMA Acquisitions Include Joseph Beuys Pieces [NYT]
Michael Craig-Martin, Self Portrait 1 via Bloomberg
Damien Hirst’s Mentor, Michael Craig-Martin, Makes a Comeback at Gagosian [Bloomberg]
Richard Zeisler donates countless Masterpieces to Numerous American Art Institutions [NY Times]
Hirst’s, “Mother and Child Divided” Sculpture, leaking in Oslo [FT]
Species of Basel-ites per T Mag [T Magazine]
Christie’s fails to hit their marks with Phillips Family Collection in London [Bloomberg]
(Credit: Gage Academy)Photos and Writing by Faith-Ann Young for ArtObserved
Art Basel Miami, nestled in the sun and exorbitant hedonism that epitomizes Miami, began with a flush of exhibits, salacious parties, and collagen displays yesterday. The 4-day extravaganza is the most vital art show in North America and a requisite on the growing Art Fair circuit. To accommodate, Miami, usually a place that moves at the pace of its large population of retirees- adopted a New York pace- as party after party unveiled the newest pieces the Art world has to offer.
Beginning at 10 am, a media reception in the convention center hosted champagne, deviled shrimp and an opportunity to peak at the 200 gallery displays including 1500 artists. Held in a maze of white walls, it was immense and intimidating in size and visual stimulation. One critique is that at an event this large, the most time one can dedicate to a piece is a few seconds; no matter- as is widely known almost all the displayed pieces are already sold. So why head to Miami? Regardless of its commercial grandeur, intimidating size, and general over-exposure (most of New York has headed this way- and it is more likely this year to run into a record label executive, magazine intern, or investment banker than a legitimate artist), Basel and the manifold associated satellite fairs expose the state of the art world today, the commercially-accepted frontiers, the coinciding limitations, as well mandatory networking opportunities.
Full details after the jump. (more…)
Photos and Writing by Faith-Ann Young for ArtObserved
After the bustle of the opening Vernissage at Basel, attendees needed an infusion of energy. The Polo Ralph Lauren Party for the publication of RL’s newest photography book, sponsored by Interview Magazine, provided the perfect remedy: refreshing pear martinis. While Bruce Weber was a no show, Lance Armstrong stopped by to say hello.
Next, the party of the night was the Whitney Museum party at the Sagamore Hotel. (more…)
Photos and Writing by Faith-Ann Young for ArtObserved
The Vernissage (Opening) of Art Basel caused a traffic jam inside and outside of the Convention center. Though it was supposedly restricted on VIPs and press, the fair was overflowing with characters, well-suited men and art divas. Truth be told, it was more spectacle than substance as it was difficult to appreciate any of the actual pieces or talk with the artists while people shoved and sashayed by. However, with 200 galleries represented, (more…)
Rubell Family Collection booth at Art Basel Miami Beach
Photo by Charlotte Southern via Bloomberg
Collector’s Guide 2008 [Forbes]
Who Bought What at Basel [NYMag]
New York Galleries Plan to Open Sundays [NYMag]
DIA sells 22nd Street building for $38.5 Million [ArtsJournal]
Art Basel considers Branching out to Beijing [FT]
Kinky Puppets to Basquiat, Miami Fair Staged Exhilarating Show [Bloomberg]
High Prices, Robust Sales, Hangers-On Dominate Miami Art Fair [Bloomberg]
C-Monster Finds Echoes of Neckface in Artwork at Basel Miami [C-Monster]
Art Basel Diary [Radar via Gawker]
Video Footage of Art Basel Miami [NYTimes via Portfolio]
Gagosian May Open Office in China [NYMag via Portfolio]
Chelsea During Art Basel Miami Beach [Portfolio]
Courtesy of AFC
The Art Observed Staff is enroute to New York. We will have full coverage of all the Miami Art Basel Events starting Monday. Check in for more updates on the various events surrounding Basel.
Debuting at Basel, James Westwood’s “Plywood Chateaux” via the Orlando Sentinel
Basel Alternatives – Breaking down the competitors [Newsmaker]
The best booth at Basel? [NY Mag]
Reliving the Swarm at Basel [Bloomberg]
Basel-opoly, are the prices for too high? [Miami Herald]
Uber VIP’s Private Showings [Portfolio]
Jeffery Deitch kicked off Basel last night with hybrid burlesque/proto-punk performance, Heaven and Hell, featuring CocoRosie and The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black.
Images after the Jump
via AmyWilson
More pics to come…
Per Page Six:
“THE Art Basel convention in Miami this week has drawn planeloads of hard-partying New Yorkers. Tonight, Condé Nast and jeans company 7 for All Mankind co-host an event at the Ice House, while Cartier serves dinner at the Botanical Gardens and Jimmy Choo pours for the fashionistas at the Raleigh. Dennis Hopper will be at the Russia Miami exhibit organized by Jana Bullock and Hugo Boss. Tomorrow, Vanity Fair and MoMA hold a bash at the Shore Club, while Linda Evangelista hosts a dance party with Visionaire at the Florida Room. On Saturday, the event’s closing night, Russell Simmons and Allison Weiss Brady throw a benefit for the Rush Philanthropic Organization at Intermix, as Adidas stages a Y3 event in the design district. But the big invites for Saturday are the private dinner at Paul Wilmot‘s home and the soiree for Julian Schnabel and Lou Reed‘s flick “Berlin” at Set.”
Courtesy of the Spider Awards
“Containers”, the series of Cargo Containers turned galleries, forming a miniature village, features young contemporary artists including new work from Ryan McGinness. Last nigh, for the opening of Basel, they held a free Iggy Pop performance at 10 pm. They have created an impromptu stage for Iggy out of the cargo containers as well.
Off the Radar
Sun Sentinel
ArtNet
Containers Images after the jump.
Hernan Bas Painting via Hikari
A not to miss on the Miami Art Basel agenda, is the famous Rubell Family Collection. Displayed in the design district in a large, blockish, museum-esque building. While a private collection, there’s nothing private feeling about it, including the vacuous galleries, bookstore and several banners on light posts proclaiming its presence. It’s clear that the Rubell’s have contributed and shaped the contemporary art world as we know it.
(more…)
Courtesy of the Naked Eye
Art Observed has multiple members of our staff currently enroute to Miami for Art Basel 2007. We will be updating the site live for the duration of the week. Check in for our latest posts. If you have any information you would like to pass onto us please e-mail us.
