Over the course of a week in Miami Beach, there was one question on everyone’s lips: “Is it pronounced BAY-sil, BAA-zuhl, or BAZ-uhl?” Art BAA-zuhl had begun. One of three international Basel events (Switzerland and Hong Kong), Art Basel Miami Beach has become world renowned as the premiere art fair in the United States. Basel has transformed over the course of its 14 years in a way that remains true to the spirit of Miami.
Just as it attracts art aficionados from around the globe, the fair has also evoked a party atmosphere unlike any other. Around-the-clock music, fashion, and foodie events share the spotlight with the main art event—not to mention the 20+ satellite fairs that are also set up around the city. To survive the mayhem (and to do it in style), one needs to go in with a game plan, but be ready for anything. Here’s our first timer’s guide to navigating Art Basel Miami Beach:
Art
Miami is bewitching to visitors on its own thanks to its weather, reputation for luxury, and its blend of cultures. Art Basel does the already alluring city the favor of highlighting its most fascinating assets. To say that the event is big would be a misnomer. Art Basel is huge. Now in its 14th year, the fair showed work from over 260 galleries and 4,000 artists from around the world in the 1.2 million-square-foot Miami Beach Convention Center. All of those pieces were in addition to creating space for free-standing sculptures in nearby Collins Park and unveiling their new film and artist-guided talks programs.
According to the Miami Herald, the fair attracted 77,000 visitors over the course of four days, a steady increase from the 75,000 and 73,000 visitors in 2015 and 2014, respectively. When entering the Convention Center, be sure to grab a site map from one of the many volunteers offering them. You’re going to need it. A dizzying array of original Basquiat, Warhol, Dorothea Lange, Chuck Close, and other namedrop-worthy pieces are on display, many of which are for sale. Be prepared to set aside an afternoon to take it all in, or at least break it up by lounging outdoors next to the pond in the Miami Beach Botanical Garden across the street.
One of the largest satellite festivals occurring alongside Art Basel every year is put on by Design Miami/ and the Pérez Art Museum Miami. The events put on by Design Miami/ are generally more collaboration-focused than Basel, offering visitors unique experiences that bridge design with food, fashion, sustainability, and a number of other topics in an arts-marketplace atmosphere. This year, one of the most interesting partnerships the design behemoth presented was with the United Nations.
“Building Legacy” was a series of talks aimed at bringing together designers, architects, and other stakeholders in a push towards green building initiatives that support the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainability. For those trying to get to as much art as possible, head directly to the Pérez. The building itself is beautiful; don’t miss the chance to have a cup of tea on the outdoor terrace overlooking the bay before going indoors to tour their vast display of modern, contemporary, and international art.
Ask any local and they’ll tell you that Wynwood is the place to be. Located west of Miami Beach, this sector of the city was once a dead zone made up of a series of warehouses. These days, it's a haven for the artistically-inclined looking for a good place to create. In addition to the dozens of tiny contemporary art gallery spaces and studios that have opened up in the area, literally every square inch of outdoor space (including the sidewalk) has been made available for artists, graffiti or otherwise. While in the area, be sure to check out Wynwood Walls, which is the heart of the scene. In 2010, Tony Goldman began the city's legacy when he saw an opportunity for giant, empty warehouse walls to become canvases for local artists. The rest, as they say, is history.
Cuisine
Between gallery openings, lounging by the pool, and party hopping, it can be easy to forget to squeeze in a solid meal at Art Basel. One of the best things about Miami is its reputation as a melting pot, and visitors should expect no less from its culinary scene. In South Beach, snag a reservation at Bazaar in the SLS Hotel, a Spanish-inspired eatery helmed by James Beard-award winning Chef José Andrés. Ask to be seated upstairs in the private dining area, which provides guests with a more intimate space to sample tapas such as coffee-rubbed churrasco, conch fritters, and croquetas de pollo.
If tapas aren’t your cup of tea, another culinary hotspot can be found at Pao in the Faena Hotel. Outfitted in modern, golden décor with live plants in abundance, the space is almost as tropical indoors as the environment is outdoors. The kitchen is run by Paul Qui, a James Beard and Top Chef award-winning chef that specializes in mixing modern Asian cuisine with a variety of international styles. The menu rotates seasonally, but often features unique seafood plates such as Giant Clam Aguachile served alongside Wagyu Beef Carpaccio.
No Art Basel trip is complete, however, without a visit to Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink. Tucked away behind an ivy-covered exterior in Miami’s Design District, this eatery is where the art world’s elite go to break bread. With fresh, locally-sourced fare, the food at this hotspot is second only to the people watching atmosphere—celebrities like Pharrell, Jennifer Aniston, and Calvin Klein are known as regulars.
Nightlife
There is no doubt about it: Miami is a musical place. The heartbeat of the city is set to a steady, thunderous din comprised mainly of salsa, hip hop, and EDM. One thing to make note of is that there is no last call at the bars or clubs in the city, many of which stay open until 5 a.m. or later. Rubbing elbows with the famous and fabulous is never an issue in Miami, but if you’re really looking to be star struck then LIV is the place to be. Virtually every well-known DJ, hip hop group, and singer (we’re looking at you, Justin Bieber) has graced the stage of this iconic South Beach staple. Located in the historic Fontainebleau Hotel, it’s best to kick off your night with drinks in the aptly-named Bleau Bar before heading in to the club for the main event.
If you can’t make it out on the dancefloor at LIV, but still want to boogie down while getting bottle service, be sure to visit Story. Owned and operated by the same group that created LIV, Story boasts a 27,000-square-foot space with 60 VIP tables in a circus-inspired setting. Expect to find just as many big name acts here as you would at LIV, including Diplo, DJ Mustard, and many more.
Fashion
This may be the one time in life that you should ignore the rule of thumb about traveling light. Art Basel is an art fair, and that art extends to what its attendees are wearing. Chanel bags abound, and you’re sure to spot one of your favorite models strutting across the beach in the latest off-the-runway look if you’re observant. Fashionistas seeking retail therapy amidst the madness of Basel take a break in the artsy Design District. Along NE 2nd Avenue, you’ll find high-end heaven with stores like Celine, Louis Vuitton, and Hermés, to name a few. This part of the city is ever-growing, with a planned escalation of 100 new stores opening in the next two years, as well as a push to install a significant number of public art pieces.
So there you have it. If you're a first-time Art Basel patron, the most important thing to remember is to have fun. Basel only comes around once a year (in the United States, at least) so expect the unexpected, and be ready for everything.
