Art Basel Miami Beach VIP Preview Entrance, all photos on site for Art Observed by Erica Schwartzberg
On Wednesday, December 5th, 2012, Art Basel Miami Beach hosted its 11th annual VIP Preview at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Organizers claim Art Basel Miami has surpassed its Swiss sister Art Basel in size and popularity, though it has yet to surpass attendance figures (62,500 people in 2010). This year, 680 galleries competed to show at Art Basel Miami and 257 were selected. More than 2,000 artists are represented and attendance is expected to top last year’s 55,000 figure. Though definitive sales reports are difficult to pin down (Art Basel Miami never releases official records), $2.5 billion worth of art was on offer in 2011, and several galleries reported record sales. VIP guests include business magnates Steve Wynn, who purchased a Roy Lichtenstein, and Eli Broad, who purchased a Jeff Koons sculpture. Newsprint mogul Peter Brant gave Owen Wilson a tour, and Will Ferrell ceded the stage to his wife Viveca, who sits on the board of the Los Angeles County Museum. Also spotted: Sean “Puffy” Combs purchasing an Ivan Navarro sculpture, Diane von Furstenberg, comedian/actress Chelsea Handler, and music mogul Russell Simmons. The following is a photoset from the 2012 Art Basel Miami Beach VIP Preview.
Jesús Rafael Soto, Cubo de Roma, Galeria Elvira Gonzalez
The World is Yours, Richard Grey Gallery
Eva and Adele in front of Paul Delvaux’s La grand alée, Galerie Michael Haas, Berlin
Yayoi Kusama, Increment in the Spring, Barbara Mathes Gallery
Jani Leinonen, L-R:Â Your Beliefs, Starbucks Cuckoo
Robert Indiana, Rum Run, Galerie Gmurzynska
Neil Gall, Purgatory, David Nolan Gallery
Mary Boone in her gallery, Barbara Kruger’s work in the background
Rashaad Newsome, Marquis of Desire, Marlborough Gallery
Sean “Puffy” Combs and entourage in front of Genoves Juan’s Concentrico, Marlborough Gallery
Detail, Juan Genoves, Zig Zag
JR poses in front of Mario Testino’s Fag
Larry Gagosian views Mark Tansey, The Reveler
Jeffrey Deitch views Thomas Houseago at Gagosian
L-R: Ryan Gander, The Whole World Rises up, Anish Kapoor, Lost, Lisson Gallery
Convention Center Atmosphere
Galeria Fortes Vilaça celebrates Os Gemeos
An Ivan Navarro work at Paul Kasmin Gallery
L-R: Yayoi Kusama, Narcissus Garden, Willem Oorebeek, Re-take Babel
Related Links:
Main Page – [Art Basel Miami]
Chelsea Handler, Will Ferrell Join Miami Basel VIPs [Bloomberg]
Art Basel Miami Beach 2012 Photos: Inside the VIP Preview [Huffington Post]
Scene City: Art Basel Miami Beach Starts With a Bang [NY Times]
Dispatches From Miami Beach: Art Basel Day 1 [Forbes]
