With only the Aqua Art Fair and Pulse (now called Volta) were unable to setup this year. All else was back to normal with the exception of some shows asking for proof of vaccination and asking that you put on a mask to enter the fair. Once inside there was a 65/35 spread of no masks to masks. Scope seemed to be the most popular on social media posts but was one of my least favorite shows this year.
I noticed in 2019 there was a strong showing from Okuda at Scope but saw only 2 pieces from him this year. Other major galleries seemed to not make it but were filled in with local South Florida and Miami galleries. Red Dot & Spectrum which I wasn't able to get to until Saturday was a packed house and had a massive amount of booths second only to Basel Convention Center & Art Miami/Context. The artists were mostly under represented artists or contemporary artist prints.
The best shows this year? Art Basel & Art Miami take the cake. If you only have time to go to two fairs take 2-4 hours (depending on how you peruse) and visit Art Miami/Contest and Art Basel at the Miami Beach Convention Center. I found a beautiful double sided Picasso that's peaked my interest along with Javier Calleja & George Condo Paintings.
Untitled Art Fair was the first fair to open and I attended on Monday for the preview (if you can do the previews and art a serious art collector this is the way to go before the crowds pile up). Untilted has an artist Bradley Hart out of Canada who uses bubble wrap as part of his paintings and creates two pieces out of one when he removes the bubble wrap and you get an abstract piece. Pinta Miami was an easy access as was NADA but I was left unimpressed this year. If there were events for Satellite Art Fair and Art Now I was unable to make them.
One thing I did notice was NFT Drops and parties were all the rage. Maybe because us in the crypto community like to rage and party or because there's been a lot of potential with the way NFTs are going.
P.S. I also was told that if you have a VIP Basel pass that you can gain access to the other fairs.
From Marc Spiegler Global Director of Art Basel Miami had this to say:
"Art Basel Miami Beach 2021 attracted over 60,000 visitors, once again proving to be a vibrant meeting place for the international artworld. The show drew a particularly strong turnout of both established and new private collectors, from over 72 countries, as well as leading cultural institutions. They include: The Met, Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Musuem of American Art, New Museum, Tate Americas Foundation, Walker Art Center, MOCA Los Angeles, ICA Boston, Blanton Museum of Art, Nasher Museum of Art, Serpentine Gallery from UK, SAHA from Turkey, Museo Tamayo and MUAC from Mexico, Tel Aviv Museum of Art from Israel, and Palais de Lomé from Togo."
There's an Art Basel in March of 2022 in Hong Kong but due to the quarantine restrictions I won't be attending as you'll have to quarantine 21 days upon arrival so that turns the 4 day fair into a 25 day venture. I'll add some photos when I get a chance.
-Richart Ruddie Art Enthusiast