Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Week

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. After last year's cancellation due to the pandemic, Art Basel Miami Beach is back again in 2021, now on its 18th year. 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...

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. Check out Spectrum Miami and Red Dot Miami at Mana Wynwood and the Miami Mural Festival at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center.

What is Where? Art Basel Venues Map

Please note that some fairs have changed location from the prior year.

Art Basel	Spectrum and Red Dot	Perez Art Museum
Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami	Design Miami	Aqua
NADA Art Fair	Satellite	Scope
Miami Mural Festival	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, Nova, Positions, Survey and Edition. For this year's exhibitors click here.

New this year, is an interactive exhibition of NFTs which will be hosted in collaboration with the open source blockchain Tezos, so if you are into cryptos don't miss it as you will be able to create an AI "generative self-portrait" which you can mint as a takeaway NFT!

When? Thursday through Saturday December 2 - 4, 2021:

Hours: Thursday and Friday - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday - 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 $65, Students and Seniors 62+ $50. Tickets must be purchased online, they will not be available at the door. Arrive after 5:00 pm and save, evening tickets are $50.
Children 12 and under FREE when accompanied by an adult.

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.

When?: November 30 - December 5, 2021
Where?: Downtown Miami at One Herald Plaza at NE 14th Street On Biscayne Bay between the Venetian & MacArthur Causeways
There is a Courtesy shuttle from the fairs to the JW Marriott Marquis and the Perez Art Museum Miami during fair hours.
How much?: One day pass Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami $55, Multi-Day $100, Students $35, VIP, Senior 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.
This year's edition of Design Miami will be presented in a hybrid model, you can xperience and shop the fair in-person and online at designmiami.com.
Where?: Adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center and just a short walk from Art Basel at Meridian Avenue and 19th Street
When?: December 1 - 5, 2021
How much?: One day pass $35, Students and Seniors $30, 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
When?: December 1 - 5, 2021
How much?: One Day Pass $25, Students and Seniors $20, $100 Multiday

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
When?: December 1 - 5, 2021
How much?: Spectrum and Red Dot $25
Red Dot / Spectrum Tickets at Groupon $11

Miami Mural Festival

What?: Established to provide a platform for local and international street artists, the Miami Mural Festival supports community initiatives, leading to more vibrant neighborhoods and cities.

The event pushes the boundaries of street art with over 500,000 square feet of massive murals that surpass any existing installation in scale and significance.

Open Call for Artists!: The Miami Mural Festival is searching for multiple artists to both design a concept for and execute a mural. Painting begins on November 15th.

Where?: Mana Wynwood Convention Center at 318 Northwest 23rd Street, Miami, FL 33127
When?: November 29 - December 5, 2021
How much?: FREE

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.

When?: December 1 - 5, 2021
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 over 100 exhibitors across three sections: Galleries; NADA Projects, an open, exhibition-like presentation of new art from emerging voices; and the latest addition, Publishers, presented by Printed Matter and Exile Books.

Where?: Ice Palace Studios at 1400 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33136
When?: December 1 - 4, 2021
How much?: $45

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 140 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
When?: November 30 - December 5, 2021
How much?: General Admission $40, VIP and Platinum available

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?: 1655 Meridian Avenue. Miami Beach, FL 33139
When?: November 30 - December 4, 2021
How much?: Day Pass $20, Week Pass $40

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, in dialogue with an architecturally designed venue. Untitled, Miami Beach will take place on the beach at Ocean Drive and 12th Street.

Untitled Art Miami Beach is pleased to present a program of curated Special Projects, installations, performances, podcast conversations, Monuments and events for the 2021 edition of the fair.

Where?: Ocean Drive and 12th Street
When?: November 29 - December 4, 2021
How much?: General Admission $40, 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.
Parking: Valet available for $15–25 outside of the Victor Hotel, 1144 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139

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. 2021 date TBA.

Some of the current exhibits during Art Basel and Miami Art Week:

• George Segal: Abraham's Farewell to Ishmael
• Felipe Mujica: The Swaying Motion on the Bank of the River Falls
• Zhivago Duncan: Pretentious Crap
• Meleko Mokgosi: Your Trip to Africa
• Allied with Power: African and African Diaspora Art from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection
• Jedd Novatt: Monotypes and More
• Marco Brambilla: Heaven's Gate

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 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, closed Wednesdays, open until 9:00 pm on Thursdays
How much?: General Admission $16, students, youth (7-18) and seniors (62+) $12, free for Museum Members

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!

• Miami Art Tour: Design District, Midtown and Wynwood

• Wynwood Graffiti Golf Cart Small-Group Tour

• The Official Art Deco Walking Tour by The Miami Design Preservation League

• Wynwood Insta Tour (this one sells out quick)

• Miami Food and Art Walking Tour of Wynwood Neighborhood

Transportation, Getting Around and Parking

Options for getting around Miami Art Week include the Free Trolleys and Shuttle Buses, Uber, Lyft, Water Taxis and Citibikes.

UberBOAT: For special events like Miami Art Week, Uber offers boat rides that run between mainland Miami and Miami Beach. Fares vary depending on the event, but past rates have started at a flat rate of $35 per ride for groups of up to 6 riders.

Art Week shuttle stops and schedules for 2021 have not been released, this is what we had in prior years for reference as it's likely to be a similar set up:

Stops on the FREE Art Week shuttle which runs every 20 minutes include:

• The Main Art Basel site at the Convention Center
• Scope and Untitled Fairs at Ocean Drive between 9th and 10th Streets

Stops on the Miami Beach FREE Trolley system which includes 4 loops. See Miami Beach Trolley Map here:

On the route of the FREE Trolleys you will find some of the most popular satellite fairs and exhibitions:

• The Main Art Basel site at the Convention Center
• Design Miami
• Scope
• Untitled
• Faena
• The Betsy Hotel
• 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 as well as the stops on the FREE Art Week Shuttle 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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