Art Basel Miami Beach 2023 returns to the Magic City for its 21st edition. The Miami Beach Convention Center is hosting 277 galleries. It's the largest art fair in North America. In the Galleries sector, I see lots of mirrors this year. Take the work "He Ram" by Chilean artist Alfredo Jaar at Goodman Gallery. It’s a reflection on the seven Social Sins outlined by Mahatma Gandhi: “Politics without principles, wealth without toil,’ it’s sold for $2.5m. Or, the double-mirrored work at Gladstone by Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija from 2023. Mega-galleries such as David Zwirner, Gagosian, Pace, Hauser & Writh have group presentations, which is always a safe bet. One of the highlights here is painting “Schoolboys” by South African artist Marlene Dumas, which is sold for $9 million! And of course, there is a big presence of Latin American art here. There’s a pair of Brazilian galleries - Mendes Wood DM and Nara Roesler, and a gallery from Mexico, Travesía Cuatro. Claudia Llanza, the gallery director, gives a short introduction to their booth. At the Meridians sector, which is dedicated to large-scale installations, the theme this year is Saving the Planet. There are 19 projects presented. In the VIP lounge, LA-based artist Alex Israel has AI installation called “REMEMBR.” It uses visitors’ smartphone videos to create an immersive experience. The event is sponsored by BMW which presents an all-electric BMW i5. At Casa Dragones, the Mexican tequila brand is hosting cocktail hour in a Tasting Room designed by Gloria Cortina Studio. Who is tending the bar? Artist Miles Greenberg and former director of Art Basel Marc Spiegler. One of the attendees, Danish collector Morten Aagaard, is thrilled to see what has happened to Miami over the past 25 years that he has lived here. Before leaving the venue, check out LVMH’s display in the lobby. A new limited-edition collection of handbags presented here is a collaboration with architect Frank Gehry. And if you are leaving via Collins Avenue, it's hard to miss gigantic sculpture “R-Evolution” by Marco Cochrane which arrived from Burning Man site. The 47-feet-tall, 32,000-pound-sculpture is on view through April 2024. Miami Beach, FL December 7, 2023
Tag: Gagosian
Frieze London 2023
This year, Frieze London celebrates its 20th-anniversary. Some of the highlights are Yinka Shonibare's works, also new additions, such as Artist-to-Artist initiative at Frieze London, and Modern Women section at Frieze Masters. The fair runs October 11 - 15, 2023.
Frieze New York 2022
Frieze New York 2022 art fair is back in the Shed at Hudson Yards in lower Manhattan on the west side. The fair relocated here last year from Randall’s Island. With only 65 galleries, the new director, Christine Messineo says, “The scale of the fair is now more intimate and very manageable.” And it is. The booths mostly present a single artist. More than half are galleries from New York. Here are my highlights. Frame section designated for young galleries less than 10 years old. The section is curated by Sophie Mörner. Her own gallery, The Company, presents an orgy installation by Cajsa von Zeipel, who coincidentally is Mörner's wife. And perhaps, the most buzz-worthy booth is the Gagosian, which has a vending machine that sells (gives away) Kafftee, a caffeinated drink designed by German artist Albert Oehlen. Special project “Zero Nukes” by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes serves as a warning, especially in the current unstable political situation, about the danger of nuclear war. Finally, I can't not mention a presentation at the Breguet stand in the upstairs lounge. It's part of the two-year Swiss watchmaker Breguet collaboration with Frieze.
Greaves Productions 