MIAMI — There’s nothing quite like Miami Beach when Art Basel is in town: the stunning installations, the VIPs and celebrities on every corner, and that see-and-be-seen vibe.
This year, the annual international art fair returned to the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) from December 8-10 with 277 galleries on-site, in addition to museum and private collection exhibitions. The fair was attended by prominent patrons and private collectors from 92 countries. In all, as the flagship event of Miami Art Week, Art Basel drew 79,000 visitors to Miami to enjoy the festivities, soak up the sun, and party the night away alongside a slew of celebrities. This year’s guests included Shakira, Leonardo DiCaprio, Janelle Monáe, and Cindy Crawford.
“The remarkable success of Art Basel Miami Beach is a testament to Miami and Miami Beach’s commitment to cultural diversity and artistic excellence,” said David Whitaker, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Each year, the world witnesses how Miami and Miami Beach seamlessly blend art, culture and innovation, which also provides an ideal setting for the meetings and conventions industry. Just as our destination captivates with its creative energy during Art Basel Miami Beach, it inspires meetings and fuels collaboration in the business world.”
The Miami Beach event is considered Art Basel’s “Americas” fair (its other venues include Basel, Switzerland, where it was founded, Paris, and Hong Kong) and is inspired by Miami’s position as a gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. Speakers included Cuban-born artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons; collector, curator, and philanthropist Estrellita Brodsky; and singer-songwriter, producer, and activist Chance the Rapper.
“The Miami Beach Convention Center has hosted Art Basel Miami Beach for 21 years and this year’s event was a huge success,” said Freddie Peterson of OVG360, MBCC Managing Director. “I am extremely proud of our MBCC team, our venue partners, our contractors and our close partners at the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, the City of Miami Beach and of course our incredible client, Art Basel Miami Beach. Year-round planning and close on-site collaboration brought the world’s largest art fair to life, while providing first-class services, unique culinary experiences and top-notch event logistics.”
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While contemporary art is Art Basel’s main attraction, the tens of thousands of people who attend also come to enjoy the weather, dine at the city’s world-class restaurants and party the night away at the clubs. The fair is estimated to have an economic impact of $500 million, and Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber has said that more private jets fly to Art Basel than to the Super Bowl.
“Art Basel Miami Beach has once again proven itself as the most important art fair in the Americas,” said Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel’s Director of Fairs and Exhibition Platforms. “The quality and ambition of the works presented at this year’s fair are nothing short of extraordinary, and have been met with exceptional participation from local and international collectors. New galleries and concepts, as well as a reimagined floor plan, have brought a fresh feel to the fair, amplified by the richness of the offerings in Miami Beach’s thriving cultural landscape. The impact the fair has had on the region is simply undeniable.”
Art Basel will take place December 6-8, 2024 in Miami Beach under the direction of Bridget Finn, who was recently appointed director of Art Basel Miami Beach.
Contact Freddie Peterson at Freddie_Peterson@miamibeachconvention.com ; Vincenzo de Bellis at vincenzo.debellis@artbasel.com