Art Basel Miami Beach is the largest and most prominent contemporary art show in the country if not the continent, and the epicenter of a series of events and fairs all revolving on what has now become the Miami Art Week.
On this first week of December, the art world converges in Miami... the world's top galleries, artists, collectors, curators and art and design enthusiasts from all corners of the globe make an appearance to showcase and relish on the latest in the world of contemporary art.
Art Basel Miami Beach opened for the first time in 2002 on the wings of the prestigious Art Basel in Switzerland providing a platform for the fledgling Latin American art scene and their emerging as well as established artists. Now it has grown into quite a unique event spawning many other satellite fairs, outdoor exhibitions, private events, parties and grand openings.
Art, design, and fashion launchings are made to coincide with Art Basel week to capitalize on the momentum and the captive market.
So where is this all taking place? With so much going on, how do you "do Art Basel"? You definitely need an attack plan, because a lot happens and it happens quick. While the main event takes place in Miami Beach, at the Convention Center, satellite fairs and pop up events concentrate throughout South Beach, Miami Beach, Downtown Miami and Wynwood. From gallery exhibitions to oceanfront viewings, doing the Basel circuit comes down to your personal preferences...
Quick Reference: Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Week
The die-hard art enthusiasts will
not want to miss the 
main exhibition at the Convention Center...
Just steps from the Convention Center, interior design afficionados should gravitate towards 
Design Miami.
If strolling in a breezy courtyard, cocktail in hand and surrounded
by inspiring pieces suits you then head to 
Aqua at SOBE's Aqua Hotel or 
INK at the Suites of Dorchester.
Art and ocean views? 
Untitled on the sands of South Beach and the 
SCOPE Pavillion on Ocean Drive are as close to the surf and sand as you can get!
Free Trolleys and shuttles normally connect the venues and run between Miami Beach and the mainland, which makes it easy to head towards downtown and some of the up and coming neighborhoods. Street art lovers should check out the ever growing collection of outdoor murals and Banksy-type creations at the Wynwood Art District where Art Week special events will be going in full swing. While you're at it, check out 
Spectrum Miami and Red Dot Miami at Mana Wynwood.
What is Where? Art Basel Venues Map
Please note that some fairs may change locations from prior years.
| Art Basel |
Spectrum and Red Dot |
 Perez Art Museum |
 Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami |
Design Miami |
Aqua |
| NADA Art Fair |
 Satellite |
Scope |
 Faena Art |
Untitled |
 Ink Miami |
Main Exhibition Hall at the Miami Convention Center
Art Basel's main exhibition hall is at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The Convention Center is the "heart" of Art Basel with over 250 hand-picked galleries exhibiting their best.
What do you find here? Everything art related: paintings, sculptures, photography, drawings, film, digital art.
The exhibition is split into sectors:
- Galleries: The main sector
- Meridians: The platform for large-scale projects pushing the boundaries of the traditional art fair layout
- Nova: Works created during the last three years by one, two or three artists
- Positions: Young galleries presenting solo emerging artists
- Survey: Sector dedicated to galleries focusing on artistic practices of historical relevance
- Kabinett: Curated selections within the galleries booths, including thematic, art historical and solo works
- Conversations: Features 35 speakers across nine panels bringing together artists, gallerists, curators, museum directors, critics.
For this year's exhibitors click here.
When? Friday through Sunday first week in December
Hours: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where?: The Miami Beach Convention Center at 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
How Much? Day Ticket (select entry time slot during buying process from 12:00 to 4:00 pm) $85+, Early Access (from 11:00 am) $120+, Residents of Miami Beach, Students and Seniors 62+ $65+, Children under 12 $10.
Art Basel and Design Miami Combo $110+
Premium tickets including Vernissage available
The Satellite Fairs and Exhibitions, Official and Unofficial
Part of the "Art Basel Experience" is the series of official and unofficial events taking place at the same time which make up the "Miami Art Week"
Hotel lobbies along the Art Deco District in South Beach transform into mini-galleries, and beyond the beach, a lot of the action will be at Miami's up-and-coming neighborhoods: the Miami Design District and Mid-Town and the Wynwood Arts District
In fact, this is probably the best time to check out these areas which are otherwise quieter during normal times of the year. During Art Basel they will be bustling with activity with large tents, temporary warehouses, make-shift galleries and stores popping up all around. The atmosphere here is quite different from the main venue, specially at Wynwood, reflecting on the very unique and spirited edginess of the alternative exhibitors.
These are some of the most popular "satellite fairs" and events taking place this year during Basel Week. Check their locations in the map.
Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami
Art Miami is the longest-running art fair in Miami. Before Art Basel arrived on the scene, it used to take place every January but has since moved to December and continues to showcase the best in modern and contemporary art.
What?: Over 130 international art galleries exhibiting modern and contemporary art. Also related and located next door is CONTEXT Art Miami, dedicated to the development and support of emerging and mid-career artists.
The combined efforts of CONTEXT Art Miami and Art Miami provide a unique and alternative opportunity for leading primary dealers and their artists to be marketed and promoted internationally during the most important week for contemporary art in America.
Where?: Downtown Miami at One Herald Plaza at NE 14th Street On Biscayne Bay between the Venetian & MacArthur Causeways, Art Miami will be serviced by a water taxi that connects to the Miami Beach shows!
How much?: One day pass Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami $60+, Multi-Day $150+, Students and Seniors 62+ $40+, VIP, Multi-day and Group rates available.
Design Miami
Welcome to the world of interior design, furniture, lighting, art objects... The exhibition contains works by pioneering modernists to one-off and limited-edition pieces by cutting edge contemporary designers. Design Miami/ is the global forum for design with annual shows in Miami and Basel.
What?: At the core of the Design Miami/ forum is a marketplace for collectible design, amid which the most reputable international design galleries present curated exhibitions of museum-quality furniture, lighting and objets d'art, attracting the highest level of private and public collectors of historical and contemporary design.
The galleries invited to exhibit in Design Miami/ deal mainly in exceptional design objects from the advent of Modernism (circa 1900) to the present day, with select galleries specializing in outstanding 18th and 19th century antiques.
Where?: Adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center and just a short walk from Art Basel at Meridian Avenue and 19th Street
How much?: One day pass $40+, Students and Seniors $35+, Group and VIP also available.
Aqua Art Miami
What?: Dozens of dynamic young galleries from North and South America, Europe and Asia exhibiting performance art, new media and solo installations in a wonderful setting at the Aqua Hotel in South Beach with spacious exhibition rooms opening onto a breezy intimate courtyard.
Where?: Aqua Hotel, 1530 Collins Avenue, South Beach accross from the Loews Hotel
How much?: One Day Pass $30+, Students and Seniors $20+, $130+ Multiday, VIP and group rates available
Spectrum / Red Dot Miami
What?: Mana Wynwood is where contemporary meets extraordinary. This fantastic space will be hosting some high-caliber exhibitions. Spectrum Miami and Red Dot Miami are set to showcase innovative new sculpture, painting, photography, music and other works back in Wynwood, Miami's artsiest neighborhood.
Spectrum will feature over the course of this five-day fest an assortment of Art Labs, the Spotlight Program, Directors' Picks, and the Discoveries Collection.
Red Dot Miami features an impressive array of specially curated programs showcasing exhibitors, art industry professionals, and select nonprofits and institutions.
Where?: Mana Wynwood at 2217 NW 5th Ave., Miami, FL 33127, there is convenient parking
How much?: Spectrum and Red Dot advanced purchase $50+, students, seniors, military $25+, opening night $85+
Ink
What?: The Fair is unique among Miami's fairs for its focus on modern and contemporary works on paper by internationally renowned artists. The INK Miami Art Fair transforms the historic Suites of the Dorchester hotel into distinctive art galleries, surrounded by a verdant and tranquil courtyard.
The fair has distinguished itself by the quality of its works and exhibitors, as well as its lush open-air courtyard, with surrounding suites transformed into uniquely defined galley spaces.
Where?: Suites of Dorchester, 1850 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, Florida 33139
How much?: Free! Register to attend.
NADA: New Arts Dealers Alliance
What?: NADA showcases art from the world's youngest and strongest art galleries dealing with emerging Contemporary Art. NADA Miami is the only major American art fair to be produced by a non-profit organization. NADA's renowned art fair vigorously pursues the goals of exploring new or underexposed art that is not typical of the "art establishment."
This year's NADA Miami will feature 140 galleries, art spaces and non-profits spanning over 50 cities around the globe including San Juan, Paris, Chicago, Memphis, Brussels, and Beijing. The fair will also feature once again the Curated Spotlight section highlighting a selection of galleries organized by a renowned curator.
Where?: Ice Palace Studios at 1400 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33136
How much?: $45+ early bird, $65+ multi-day, $35+ student and senior +65, $150+ Vernissage
SCOPE
What?: With the crystal blue waters of the ocean as backdrop, the SCOPE Pavillion right on the sands of South Beach will be again the launching pad for emerging contemporary artists and galleries and music artists as well.
SCOPE Art Show in Miami, New York, and Basel, Switzerland is celebrated as the premier showcase for international emerging contemporary art and multi-disciplinary creative programming. Renowned for its uncanny ability to forecast new visual trends that are embraced globally, SCOPE has garnered extensive critical acclaim with cumulative sales well over one billion dollars and attendance of 1.2 million visitors.
With stunning views of the ocean, SCOPE Miami Beach's extraordinary selection of contemporary art from 150 international exhibitors will be presented alongside museum-quality installations, panel discussions, and nightlife events.
Where?: In the sands of South Beach at Ocean Drive and 8th. SCOPE Pavilion, 801 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
How much?: General Admission $60+
Satellite
What?: Satellite breaks away from the traditional fair model, it is an alternative art fair that presents new and exciting projects that span the gamut of art, music, performance, installation, new media and tech.
"An Anti-Mainstream Art Fair Feels More Like an Immersive Bazaar - from the outset Satellite establishes a vibe that's more experiential, with late-night hours, after parties, and the kind of creative energy we don't often associate with art fairs." - HYPERALLERGIC
"...an experience that's less about the money and more about the artists, with a focus on the independent and experimental." - BEDFORD AND BOWERY
Where?: Inside the Spirit Halloween Megastore at 700 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach FL 33139
How much?: FREE, must register
Untitled
What?: Fairly new to the Basel circuit, Untitled, Art innovates the standard fair model by selecting a curatorial team to identify, and curate a selection of galleries, artist-run exhibition spaces, and non-profit institutions and organizations.
Untitled Art continually invests in new technologies to make contemporary art collecting more accessible to new audiences and is dedicated to advancing responsible culture by actively using its platform to amplify under-represented voices.
Untitled, Miami Beach will take place on the beach at Ocean Drive and 12th Street within a custom-built, air-conditioned structure.
Where?: Ocean Drive and 12th Street
How much?: General Admission $45+, multi-day $75+, reduced-rate tickets will be available on-site during the fair for Students, Seniors and Miami Beach residents who present a valid ID. Children under 12 are admitted free of charge.
Faena Art Miami Art Week
Faena Art staged in the popular Faena District is a non-profit that bridges the popular and the experimental making art accessible to all.
Faena Art celebrates "...the artists, the rebels, the eccentric, the agents of change. Those who explore, those who inspire..."
Where?: Faena District, the diverse venues of the district will be activated: Faena Beach, Faena Forum, Faena Hotel, Faena Theater, etc. including the public areas of the street, sidewalk and beach.
How much?: FREE and open to the public
Perez Art Museum Miami
What?: PAMM is a year-round treasure trove for contemporary and modern art right in downtown Miami and makes for a perfect Art Basel detour.
One of the showstealers is the fantastic building (designed by Herzog & de Meuron) and fantastic waterfront location in Museum Park in itself worth a visit. The grounds and open spaces, the hanging gardens, the art scattered around Sculpture Garden, and beautiful views of the Biscayne Bay...
PAMM Presents is the museum's signature Miami Art Week celebration. Throughout the evening, guests from the worlds of art, fashion, business, and philanthropy, including PAMM members and donors, will enjoy drinks, live music, and dancing on the museum's waterfront terrace.
Besides the permanent collection, come and check out some of the current exhibits during Art Basel and Miami Art Week!
Where?: Museum Park in downtown Miami at 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132 between the Arsht Center and the American Airlines Arena
When?: PAMM is open daily 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, open until 9:00 pm on Thursdays
How much?: General Admission $18, students, youth (7-18) and seniors (62+) $14, free for Museum Members, active military and veterans, persons with disabilities and their carer, health care professionals and first responders and Florida educators
So there you have it! That's only a portion of what will be going on. There are still the gala parties, vernissages, concerts, private and invitation-only events...
There are many ways to enjoy this spectacular week that is Art Basel Miami Beach, and unless you are itching for some tremendous piece of art, it doesn't have to cost much. So come for the art, the fashion, the people watching... enjoy and get ready to do it again next year!
Art Walks and Small Group Tours
A bit overwhelmed with so much going on? Here are some fun ways to make the most of it! Book early as most are likely to sell out!
- Wynwood 1-Hour Street Art Tour by Golf Buggy - $45
- VIP Hidden World of the Miami Design District - $60
- Wynwood Arts District Walking Tour - $35
- Wynwood Graffiti Experience - Learn the basics of spray painting! $42
- The Official Art Deco Walking Tour by The Miami Design Preservation League - $40
- Wynwood Walls Skip-the-line entry ticket $12.84
Transportation, Getting Around and Parking
Options for getting around Miami Art Week include the Free Trolleys and Shuttle Buses, Uber, Lyft and Citibikes.
The Miami Beach FREE Trolley system which includes four loops with routes that will cover some of the most popular fairs and exhibitions:
- The Main Art Basel site at the Convention Center
- Design Miami
- Scope
- Untitled
- Faena
- Ink
- Satellite
This is by the way one of the best ways to see all the Art in Public Places which are on the trolley route, just hop-on-and-off!
The City of Miami FREE Trolleys connect you to the fairs in Wynwood and Downtown Miami.
There are three parking garages/lots convenient to the Miami Beach Convention Center if you are driving. The 17th Street Parking Garage, the Lot on Convention Center Drive and the Garage on 18th and Meridian. See Parking in South Beach for tips and map.
For latest on traffic patterns and transportation see https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/
Where to Stay: Art Basel Miami Beach Hotels
Art Basel and Miami Art Week are one of the most sought after weeks to be in Miami. Where to stay will depend largely on your preferences and budget. Hotels in close proximity of the Miami Beach Convention Center where the main Art Basel Exhibition show takes place are in high demand during this time, but with so many events and satellite fairs scattered around Miami and Miami Beach plus a fairly good shuttle / trolley system to get around, your options for convenient accomodation during Art Basel are vast.
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