The Dos and Don’ts of Art Basel
“Overwhelming” and “intimidating” are words people have often used to describe Art Basel, the one week of the year when 60,000 artists, art dealers, art lovers descend on Miami to appreciate and celebrate all things art. Every available gallery space both on Miami Beach and the Mainland is filled and displaying the extraordinary to the questionable. To prime our clients and friends for this annual Miami ritual, I hosted Felipe Grimberg of Felipe Grimberg Fine Art for an evening entitled, “The Dos and Don’ts of Art Basel” when I was brokering at Opulence International Realty.
Felipe has been dealing and collecting art for nearly 30 years and is the preeminent dealer in the works of Fernando Botero. He recently published “Selling Botero,” a beautiful book detailing his lifelong relationship with the artist.
“The Dos and Don’ts” was a fabulous and informative evening. Below are the most important points from Felipe. Wishing a happy Basel to everyone!
Art Basel Dos
Do act quickly if you find what you are looking for.
Do make your own plan of what you want to do.
Do check the satellite fairs for newer, fresher, edgier and more accessible prices.
Do study, learn, and develop your own taste. Define your intention; to buying to invest, decorate, or collect.
Do create a relationship with a trusted gallery, dealer or adviser.
Do ask questions at the different fairs and don’t limit to just buying what you first see.
Do use the services and help of a trusted person/gallery or dealer that you can work with the entire year, not just this one week.
Do ask about the artist, his career, in what museums he has exhibited and what collections.
Do be prepared to feel that you may be at the wrong place and wrong time. As a colleague wrote, “Miami is where you can be in a room with 17 celebrities and know that down the road there is a room with 18 celebrities.”
Art Basel Don’ts
Don’t buy on impulse.
Don’t limit yourself to buying art just once a year during the art fair. Try to establish a relationship with a person who is a dealer, adviser or gallery.
Don’t buy just to feel power or because it is social.
Don’t take it personally when a gallerist leaves you to say hello to someone else.
Don’t get upset when a gallerist tells you, “We’re sorry, but that piece is unavailable,” and it may not be sold. Some galleries want to place certain pieces with special collectors and not to the public. Sometimes they want to have a museum patron buy the piece to protect the career and investment of the artist the gallery is representing.
Don’t feel ignorant if the names you are seeing aren’t known to you and people give you looks like OMG!