From Pablo Picasso’s masterpieces to a striking xenomorph Alien sculpture, Art Basel Miami Beach has something for everyone. Here’s your guide.
Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the undisputed highlights of the international art calendar, has officially landed, and this year’s edition is nothing short of spectacular!
Showcasing over 280 galleries from 38 different countries across nearly 500,000 square feet of exhibition space, the fair is welcoming its largest cohort of new exhibitors in over a decade.
This year’s edition brings together a curated blend of iconic masterpieces, cutting-edge contemporary pieces, and larger-than-life installations, making it an unmissable destination for art enthusiasts. And if that’s not enough, there’s even a Santo-style sculpture of Justin Bieber as a Christ-like figure. You read that right!
Here’s your guide to this year’s edition:
Where is Art Basel Miami Beach taking place?
Art Basel Miami Beach 2024 is taking place at the Miami Beach Convention Centre. Although, there are events and public installations to look out for all over the city.
When is it taking place?
After a VIP preview, where the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio were seen browsing, the fair opens to the public from 6-8 December 2024.
What are some of the highlights from this year’s edition?
Alright, let’s get to the good stuff! There’s A LOT of incredible art to discover just by wandering around and getting lost. But here are a few standout showcases and pieces that caught our eye and are definitely worth checking out.
Galleries
If you’re after some big names in the art world head to Helly Nahmad Gallery’s booth. They’re presenting an impressive selection of works by 20th-century masters, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, and Joan Miró. If you like Cubism, Surrealism and Abstraction, this is a must-see!
The Gagosian booth is also home to a lineup of heavy hitters. Featured works include ‘Airplane’, a bronze sculpture by influential Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, along with paintings like ‘Diptych’ by Richard Serra, ‘Spellbound’ by Helen Frankenthaler, and ‘Vine Street’ by Nathaniel Mary Quinn.
For one of the most intriguing and bizarre works at the fair, swing by the Paula Cooper Gallery showcase to see ‘Incarnator’ by Paul Pfeiffer. Known for exploring the intersection of media and identity, Pfeiffer recasts pop culture imagery to investigate how media shapes our perception of ourselves and the world. This particular piece features deconstructed, hand-carved wooden body parts of pop star Justin Bieber, drawing inspiration from the encarnadores – master sculptors in the Philippines renowned for their lifelike depictions of Catholic icons.
For movie buffs, it’s also worth checking out Mai 36 Galerie’s presentation, specifically to see Swiss artist HR Giger’s iconic Necronom (Alien III) sculpture, which heavily influenced the design and aesthetic of Ridley Scott’s Alien series.
The Meridans sector
Known for its experimental nature and monumental, large-scale artworks, the Meridians sector is celebrating its fifth anniversary with 17 impressive works this year.
Among the standout pieces is Untitled (2014–2020), a 12-metre-long artwork by Greek artist Antonis Donef, presented by Athens-based Kalfayan Galleries and Galeria Casado Santapau. This incredibly intricate ink-on-collage piece weaves together personal memories and archival materials like books, dictionaries, and encyclopaedias, showcasing Donef’s exceptional attention to detail and stunning calligraphic technique.
If you’ve caught Wicked-fever and you can’t get enough of witches, it’s worth checking out Metal Storm (2024), a new bronze sculpture by American artist Rachel Feinstein, presented by Gagosian. Inspired by Hans Baldung Grien’s 16th-century drawing Witches, the piece is composed of interlocking wooden planes that represent three female witches engaged in a ritual, soaring and spinning mid-air.
Nova sector
Dedicated to emerging galleries, the Nova sector features works created in the past three years, spotlighting fresh and innovative talent.
One standout is Deborah Willis’ photographic series Meditations on Civil War and Reflections of Civil War. These powerful images juxtapose dancers with historical and contemporary visuals to reimagine the American Civil War. In these works, projections of Black women, children, soldiers, workers, and sculptures by her son, Hank Willis Thomas, appear on walls behind two dancers performing a waltz. Eight large-scale photographs from this series are presented by Welancora Gallery.
Galerie Bosco also makes its debut this year in the Nova sector, with a captivating theme: “sanctuary amongst the grotesque.” The gallery features intriguing works like painting by Dutch artist Jacqueline de Jong, Trevor Yeung’s aquarium installations, and Tarek Lakhrissi’s hand-blown sculptures of tongues.
Positions sector
The Positions sector focuses on individual international artists, providing a platform for deeply personal and thought-provoking practices.
A highlight is Guatemalan artist Paula Nicho Cúmez, represented by Proyectos Ultravioleta (Guatemala City). Her art depicts women paired with geometric motifs or dressed in huipiles -traditional handwoven Mayan garments rich with symbols of collective memory.
As a member of the Kaqchikel people, Nicho Cúmez channels her dreams, Mayan traditions, and the sacred text Popol Vuh to portray the delicate balance between the natural, spiritual, and cosmic worlds.
Away from the Miami Beach Convention Centre
Outside the convention centre, public art displays are adding to the week’s celebrations. Among the most striking is ‘The Great Elephant Migration’, a beach installation featuring a herd of life-sized wooden elephants on Miami Beach. Each sculpture is modelled after an individual elephant, primarily from South India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Created by the Coexistence Collective – a group of 200 local Indigenous artist – and designed by Shubhra Nayar, the elephants are made from lantana camara, an invasive weed threatening Indian elephant habitats.
Art Basel Miami Beach 2024 is taking place from 6 to 8 December 2024.
