“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, Opulence International Realty hosted Felipe Grimberg of Felipe Grimberg Fine Art for an evening entitled, “The Dos and Don’ts of Art Basel”.
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.
Part of the Opulence Event Series, “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!
Major Art Fairs in the Miami Area
Upcoming Events in Miami Beach
Art Basel Miami Beach
When: Dec. 1 – 4, 2016
Where: Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive in Miami Beach
Tickets: $50 day ticket; $105 permanent pass (if purchased online in advance)
More info: artbasel.com
Aqua Art Miami
When: Nov. 30 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: Aqua Hotel, 1530 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach
Tickets: $20 one-day pass; $90 multi-day pass (multi-day pass includes access to Art Miami and Context)
More info: aquaartmiami.com
Design Miami
When: Nov. 30 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, Miami Beach Convention Center
Tickets: $25 one-day pass; $65 combo ticket
More info: designmiami.com
Ink Miami Art Fair
When: Nov. 30 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: Suites of Dorchester, 1850 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach
Tickets: Admission is free
More info: inkartfair.com
Lingerie Francaise
When: Nov. 28 – Dec. 6, 2016
Where: The Sagamore Hotel, 1671 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach
Tickets: Admission is free
More info: eventbrite.com
NADA Art Fair Miami Beach
When: Dec. 1 – 4, 2016
Where: Deauville Beach Resort, 6701 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach
Tickets: $20 single day; $40 run of show
More info: newartdealers.org
Pulse Miami Beach
When: Dec. 1 – 4, 2016
Where: Indian Beach Park, 4601 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach
Tickets: $25 one-day pass; $40 multi-day pass
More info: pulse-art.com
Scope Miami Beach
When: Nov. 29 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: Scope Pavilion, 801 Ocean Drive on Miami Beach
Tickets: $35 general admission; $100 VIP
More info: scope-art.com
Untitled Art Fair
When: Nov. 30 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: Ocean Drive and 12th Street on Miami Beach
Tickets: $30 general admission
More info: art-untitled.com
Miami Project
When: Dec. 1 – 4, 2016
Where: 6625 Indian Creek Drive on Miami Beach
Tickets: $20 one-day pass; $35 multi-day pass
More info: miami-project.com
Fridge Art Fair
When: Dec. 3, 2016
Where: The Betsy Hotel, 1440 Ocean Drive on Miami Beach
Tickets: $10 suggested donation
More info: fridgeartfair.com
Satellite
When: Dec. 1 – 4, 2016
Where: The Parisian, 1510 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach
Tickets: $10
More info: satellite-show.com
X Contemporary
When: Nov. 30 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: Nobu Hotel, 4525 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach
Tickets: $20 one-day pass
More info: xcontemporaryart.com
Upcoming Events in Mainland Miami
Art Miami
When: Nov. 29 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: Art Miami Pavilion, 3101 NE 1st Avenue in Wynwood/Midtown
Tickets: $45 one-day pass; $90 multi-day pass (multi-day pass includes access to Context and Aqua Art Miami)
More info: art-miami.com
Art Beat Miami Art Fair
When: Nov. 29 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: Caribbean Marketplace, 5925 NE 2nd Avenue in Little Haiti
Tickets: Free entry to the fair daily
More info: artbeatmiami.com
Context
When: Nov. 29 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: The Context/Art Miami Pavilion, 2901 NE First Avenue in Wynwood/Midtown
Tickets: $45 one-day pass; $90 multi-day pass (multi-day pass includes access to Art Miami and Aqua Art Miami)
More info: contextartmiami.com
ArtSpot Miami
When: Nov. 30 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: ArtSpot Miami Tent, 1700 NE 2nd Avenue in the Miami Arts & Entertainment District
Tickets: $25 general admission; $75 five-day pass (includes access to both Spectrum Miami and Red Dot Miami)
More info: artspotmiami.com
Spectrum Miami
When: Nov. 30 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: Spectrum Miami Tent, 1700 NE 2nd Avenue in the Miami Arts & Entertainment District
Tickets: $25 general admission; $75 five-day pass (includes access to both ArtSpot Miami and Red Dot Miami)
More info: spectrum-miami.com
Red Dot Miami
When: Nov. 30 – Dec. 4, 2016
Where: Red Dot Miami Tent, 1700 NE 2nd Avenue in the Miami Arts & Entertainment District
Tickets: $25 general admission; $75 five-day pass (includes access to both ArtSpot Miami and Red Dot Miami)
More info: reddotfair.com
Pinta Miami
When: Dec. 1 – 4, 2016
Where: Mana Wynwood, 318 NW 23rd Street in Wynwood
Tickets: Donation suggested
More info: pintamiami.com
Miami River Art Fair
When: Dec. 1 – 4, 2016
Where: Miami Convention Center, 400 SE Second Ave in Downtown Miami
Tickets: $100 VIP Vernissage
More info: miamiriverartfair.com
Prizm Art Fair
When: Nov. 29 – Dec. 11, 2016
Where: 7230 NW Miami Ct., in Little Haiti/Little River among other locations
Tickets: $15 one-day pass; $40 multi-day pass
More info: prizmartfair.com
Art of Black Miami
When: During Art Basel and year round
Where: Kroma Art Space, 3670 Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove among other locations
Tickets: Prices vary depending on event
More info: miamiandbeaches.com/events/art-of-black
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