MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Nearly 290 galleries worldwide exhibited contemporary and modern art during Art Basel Miami Beach VIP previews on Wednesday and Thursday at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
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The fair’s booths and spaces exhibiting works by 20th-century masters, and established and emerging artists are set to open to ticket holders for the 21st year from Friday to Sunday.
“Among the highlights was Couple with Cup (1969), a $30 million Picasso painting of intertwined lovers, the priciest piece at the event,” Maude Michali wrote on X and Linkedin.
The fair is so massive that comfortable shoes and a floorplan are necessary. Esthella Provas, an art advisor, shared some tips with the Art Basel editorial team.
“Preparation is key. Bring a notebook setting out which galleries to visit first, a fully charged phone (plus a backup battery and cord), and water ... I always carry red lipstick, blush, and a pair of heels, just in case I don’t make it back to my room to change before dinner,” Provas said.
There are many rules to follow, but the basics are do not touch the art, and do not get in the way of business.
Katya Kazakina, of Artnet, reported the fair drew top collectors like Steve Wynn and Dan Sundheim, actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Jared Leto, the singer Jewel, and Dutch DJ Martin Garrix on Wednesday’s opening.
“By the end of the day, top reported sales included a $4.75 million David Hammons (Hauser and Wirth), a $3.5 million Yayoi Kusama (David Zwirner), a $2 million Keith Haring (at Gladstone), a $1.5 million Suzanne Jackson (Ortuzar), and $1 million Sam Gilliam (Pace),” Kazakina wrote.
For locals who love art but can’t afford it, visiting the fair year after year is like having a dynamic museum. Organizers divided the center into six sectors: Galleries, Kabinett, Nova, Positions, Survey, and Meridians.
Galleries, the fair’s main sector, is a maze of nearly 230 galleries, including seven exhibiting for the first time. Each gallery has a marked and divided area to curate an exhibit.
Kabinett includes over 24 galleries highlighting historical practices. Nova and Positions are the sectors for emerging galleries and artists. Survey is the sector where 17 galleries exhibit projects created before 2000.
Meridians is the sector for large-scale projects. Look out for the three flying witches in “Metal Storm,” a bronze fantasy-inspired sculpture by Rachel Feinstein, a Ransom Everglades High School graduate; and for the towering “Goya Twister” by Alice Aycock.
General admission is $85 per person. Miami Beach residents, students, seniors, and veterans are $65. There is a $5 fee for onsite ticket purchases.
There are security inspections. Fair organizers only allow one bag per person and do not allow backpacks, suitcases, trolleys, large cameras, selfie sticks, tripods, or outside food or drinks.
The hourly-entry periods are from 12 to 4 p.m. There is a $120 ticket to enter the fair at 11 a.m. The convention center closes at 6 p.m.
The fair, with entrances at 1901 Convention Center Drive and 1900 Washington Ave., is close to several public parking garages and lots. The city’s hourly and flat rates vary.
Art Nexus offers tours for an additional $40 to $50 ticket in both English and Spanish. The fair’s Conversations with experts are free from Thursday to Saturday.
For information, tickets, or a link to download the Art Basel app, visit this page.
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