Art Basel Miami is returning in 2023 for one of the largest and most comprehensive annual art fairs in the region. For a week, Art Basel Miami culminates exhibitions from artists all over the world and brings a wide-ranging list of galleries representing the height of art to be explored and enjoyed, creating a hotspot not to be missed.
El Espacio 23
Currently showing To Weave the Sky: Textile Abstractions
El Espacio 23 originated as a storage facility for the extensive personal collection of over 1,500 pieces belonging to collector and philanthropist Jorge M. Perez. Situated in a renovated 28,000-square-foot warehouse in Miami's Allapattah neighborhood, El Espacio 23 now functions as a venue for artists, curators, and the wider public, hosting frequent exhibitions and residencies. The space also showcases noteworthy projects stemming from the Perez Collection.
El Espacio 23, Lead image, To Weave the Sky Textile Abstractions. Photo courtesy of El Spacio 23.
To Weave the Sky: Textile Abstractions from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection celebrates an array of textile-based masterpieces from the Pérez collection, many of which have yet to grace public exhibition spaces. This curated collection serves as a catalyst for imaginative dialogues, interweaving these acquisitions as pivotal focal points around which to construct artistic conversations spanning diverse mediums. Encompassing the contributions of over 100 artists from different generations and corners of the globe, To Weave the Sky draws inspiration from the historical connections of weaving to abstraction, geometry, landscape, organic forms, tactile experiences, intimacy, and indigenous cosmologies and rituals. Crafted under the discerning curation of Tobias Ostrander, in close collaboration with Pérez Collection curators Patricia M. Hanna and Anelys Alvarez, the exhibition endeavors to unveil the contemporary allure surrounding this medium, historically relegated to the craft genre within Western art contexts.
Installation view, To Weave the Sky: Textile Abstractions from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection. Photo courtesy of El Espacio 23.
Rubell Museum
Opening on December 4th, 2023, Basil Kincaid: Spirit in the Gift and Alejandro Piñiero Bello
Basil Kincaid, The Courtship of Lightnin' Bugs, 2023. Photo courtesy of The Rubell Museum.
The Rubell Museum stands as a bastion of paramount importance housing one of the world's most extensive and influential collections of contemporary art. Among its treasures are masterpieces by luminaries such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cecily Brown, Keith Haring, Rashid Johnson, Jeff Koons, William Kentridge, Cindy Sherman, and Mickalene Thomas, to name but a few. Notably, the collection not only showcases pivotal works by established artists, but also places a deliberate emphasis on the contributions of emerging, yet under-recognized, artistic voices.
Alejandro Piñiero Bello, Emigran en la noche de la tormenta, 2023. Photo courtesy of The Rubell Museum.
In the early 1990s, the Rubell Museum took its roots when Mera and Don Rubell relocated their remarkable collection to a repurposed U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency building in Miami. Guided by the visionary expertise of Annabelle Selldorf, known for her artfully transformative spaces at Hauser & Wirth in New York—where she converted a former roller rink and nightclub into a gallery—and her remarkable conversion of a 16-acre rail depot into the Luma Arles art complex in France, the Rubell Museum came to life. The decision to open its doors to the public played a pivotal role in the metamorphosis of the industrial neighborhood, catalyzing the evolution of the once-sleepy enclave into the vibrant and eclectic Wynwood Arts District.
The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA)
Currently showing, Juan Francisco Elso: Por América and Jamea Richmond-Edwards: Ancient Future
Exterior of MOCA. Courtesy of MOCA.
The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA), emerged as a beacon of artistic curation during a period when no other cultural institution in Miami dedicated itself to the assembly of a comprehensive collection of contemporary art. MOCA's avant-garde vision not only attracted the philanthropic support of esteemed figures in the industry, such as Richard and Ruth Shack, and Ruth Sackner, but also saw the institution making strategic acquisitions. Through a fusion of generous donations and astute purchases, MOCA meticulously cultivated a collection comprising paintings, sculptures, and works on paper.
Keith Haring, USA-19-82, 1982 from MOCA's permanent collection. Photo courtesy of MOCA.
Within the hallowed halls of MOCA, a permanent residence is provided for over 400 works of art, showcasing the creative brilliance of contemporary artists from around the globe. The distinguished roster includes luminaries like Keith Haring, Alex Katz, Edward Ruscha, George Segal, Roy Lichtenstein, and James Turrell. MOCA's cultural significance extends beyond its physical walls, as evidenced by substantial loans to esteemed institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Contemporary Art Museum in Barcelona, affirming its standing as a vital hub for the global dialogue on contemporary artistic expression.
Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
Currently showing, Joan Didion: What She Means and Yayoi Kusama: LOVE IS CALLING
At the forefront of Downtown Miami's cultural landscape stands the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), a captivating nexus of diverse exhibitions, enlightening educational programs, thought-provoking lectures, and vibrant community events. Crafted by the acclaimed Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron, the building itself is a critically acclaimed masterpiece, serving as a fitting vessel for the awe-inspiring collection of 21st-century art within. PAMM's distinctive allure lies in its deliberate emphasis on the cultural richness of Miami, celebrating the city's ethnically diverse community. The museum's curated collection extends its embrace to encompass the artistic expressions of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the African diaspora. In this architectural marvel, PAMM not only showcases the evolution of contemporary art but also serves as a dynamic hub where the global and local narratives converge, fostering a dialogue that resonates beyond the museum's walls.
Brigitte Lacombe, Joan Didion, New York, 1996, 1996. Photo courtesy of the artist and Lacombe, Inc.
Curated by the esteemed writer and New Yorker contributor Hilton Als, the exhibition, Joan Didion: What She Means, showcases the works of approximately fifty artists, including luminaries like Betye Saar, Vija Celmins, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Maren Hassinger, Silke Otto-Knapp, Ana Mendieta, and Pat Steir. Comprising over 200 objects and artworks, the collection encompasses a diverse array of mediums, from family heirlooms and paintings to ephemera, photographs, sculptures, videos, and excerpts from films for which Didion penned screenplays. The exhibition unfolds as a chronological exploration of Didion's life, delving into the intimately connected yet distant evolution of her voice as a writer and trailblazer in New Journalism. Organized around the locales she called home, the chapters—Sacramento, Berkeley (1934–1956); New York (1956–1963); California, Hawai‘i (1964–1988); and New York, Miami, San Salvador (1988–2021)—unveil the profound intersections of Didion's personal journey with her incisive critique of power and emphasis on subjectivity.
Yayoi Kusama, LOVE IS CALLING, 2013. Photo courtesy of David Zwirner and Ota Fine Arts.
LOVE IS CALLING stands out as the most extensive and immersive of the artist's Infinity Mirror Rooms. It marks the pinnacle of her creative journey, showcasing the diversity of her artistic language - from her iconic polka dots and gentle sculptures to vibrant hues, spoken expression, and the captivating interplay of reflections creating the illusion of infinite space. The dimly lit room is brought to life by inflatable tentacle-like forms, and with Kusama's recognizable polka dots, extending from floor to ceiling, undergoing a mesmerizing transformation of colors. As visitors navigate through this unique installation, they are accompanied by a continuous sound recording of Kusama reciting a love poem in Japanese, titled 'Residing in a Castle of Shed Tears,' a personal creation that delves into timeless themes of life and death.
Institute of Contemporary Art Miami (ICA Miami)
Opening soon on 5 December, Ahmed Morsi in New York: Elegy of the Sea, Sasha Gordon: Surrogate Self and Anne Collier work on the stairwell
Ahmed Morsi, Four Eyes, 2011. Photo courtesy of ICA Miami.
The artistic legacy of Ahmed Morsi, a significant figure in Egyptian modernism and the broader contemporary art scene, is now gaining recognition in the Western art world with the exhibition Ahmed Morsi in New York: Elegy of the Sea. This retrospective brings together a collection of paintings spanning from 1983 to 2012, a period during which Morsi resided in New York. Emerging in the 1940s as part of the influential Alexandria School, Morsi played a crucial role in establishing the city as a burgeoning Mediterranean cultural hub in the postwar era. Upon his arrival in New York in 1974, Morsi's artistic expression underwent a notable transformation, adopting a lyrical blue palette and solemn landscapes that reflected the maritime essence of his hometown, Alexandria. The exhibited body of work showcases Morsi's ability to craft surreal and fantastical landscapes populated by recurring figures—both real and imagined, such as fish out of water, androgynous subjects, mythological horses, and human-size clocks. Rooted in Morsi's sense of displacement, memories of Alexandria's city and sea, and the complex emotions of living in the diaspora, this distinctive Surrealist vocabulary captures the essence of his experience, oscillating between crowdedness and solitude.
Sasha Gordon, Concert Mistress, 2021. Photo courtesy of ICA Miami.
ICA Miami is showcasing the inaugural solo museum exhibition for Sasha Gordon, a New York–based artist. Gordon's mesmerizing paintings and drawings delve into the intricate dimensions of the human experience, rendered with exquisite and hyper-realistic detail. In her artwork, Gordon frequently portrays herself, demonstrating a profound awareness of the historical themes inherent in portraiture and self-portraiture, as well as the complexities of representation. Her approach to these themes is characterized by creativity, humor, and a unique talent for transforming fantasy into reality. Gordon's visual narratives encompass a broad spectrum of emotional experiences, delving into the diverse facets of her identity as a queer Asian American woman. Through depictions of intimacy, empowerment, vulnerability, and the feminine form, her work critically addresses issues such as self-image, racial bias, interpersonal relationships, and their associated psychological impacts. Simultaneously, her art is not afraid to evoke discomfort, adding another layer to the exploration of these profound subjects.
Anne Collier, Eye #1, 2014. Photo courtesy of the artist.
ICA Miami is unveiling a recently commissioned piece by Anne Collier in the central stairwell of the museum. This marks the artist's first venture into site-responsive wallpaper and represents her inaugural major presentation in Miami. Collier, known for her photographic compositions that blend staged and often borrowed images, delves into the examination of representation, circulation, and the nature of images. Her photographic work critically engages with the portrayal of women in mass media. Using analogue photography, Collier incorporates found imagery, such as posters, records, and comic strips from the 1950s and 1960s. Through a juxtaposition of a methodical, almost forensic approach to image creation and the charged gender dynamics inherent in the appropriated found images, Collier presents the camera apparatus as both an instrument of dominance and liberation. Her work invites contemplation on the complex interplay between the act of image-making and the broader socio-cultural contexts they reflect.