Art Basel Miami Beach lived up to its name for the 2018 season with celebrities, parties, and one-of-a-kind exhibitions. In case you missed it, here are some highlights about what went down:
Tuesday, Dec. 4
The Mana Wynwood Party:
InList kicked off Miami Art Week and celebrated Wynwood God Father Moishe Mana’s birthday with a Royal Racer-themed party, emceed by *NSYNC’s Lance Bass at the RC ColaPlant in Mana Wynwood.
Urban Realist Artist Miguel Paredes curated and co-created the event, using 30 original works from his retro Japanese Pop Art Collection. The RC Cola plant was transformed into the world of Speed Racer. After DJ Siso warmed up the crowd, Sonic Butterfly took the stage weaving her original compositions on an earth harp. Three high-speed drone races kept attendees’ heads up as they cheered on the buzzing flying crafts by SBPC Systems.
The evening’s master of ceremony and singer Bass, InList Owner Gideon Kimbrell, and Paredes presented Mana with a custom painting in his own likeness. Mana, of course, took the mic to thank Miami for making his birthday special and demanded they party until the sun comes up.
Closing the night, Grammy Award-winning DJ Cedric Gervais took over the turntable for a high-energy two-hour set. Notable guests including Party Legend James Goldstein, Xuitcasecity, Gilda Garza, Miguel Ferro, Talina Navide, Model Shaun Ross, Tiffany Meia, Valeria Orsini, Millionaire Mentor JasonStone and wife Cristi Stone, Commissioner Michael Gongora, and more enjoyed a premium open bar libation and VIP table service by Alacran Tequila, Deep Eddy Vodka, and Fun Friends Wine.
The fun continued at the after party hosted at E11EVEN.
Favela Beach:
Mr. Brainwash hosted his 5th Annual Favela Beach: Life is Beautiful at WALL with Art Department and Salome.
Thursday, Dec. 6
LA Kennedy’s Solo Debut:
Seattle-based artist LA Kennedy made her solo debut with an exhibit featuring intimate receptions and discussions at The Generator Miami on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7.
Attendees enjoyed passed hors-d’oeuvres, a hosted bar and conversations with the self-taught artist.
Kennedy, who was excited for her first showing at Art Basel, cited her inspiration for the exhibit as her unconventional view of the world.
“I consider myself a translator more than an artist. I view the world in full color and it’s rare for me to go 24 hours without feeling inspired,” said Kennedy. “Things pop out as I’m going about my day; the architecture that surrounds me, the colors and light dancing together around buildings, the texture and sounds of the street, and music in particular – it’s sensory overload. I am constantly seeing and feeling all of these things as if they are begging to be translated for others to experience as well.”
Kennedy also regularly draws inspiration music legends like Michael Jackson and merges pop art influences from Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. Her ability to hear colors while seeing sounds, allow her to translate audio into the visual, creating awe-inspiring textured images. She juxtaposes crisp imagery and rough texture that pull viewers in and dare them to reach out and touch the canvas.
Humbled by the experience and overall positive reception she received, Kennedy thanked guests for their support and feedback of her unique art.
Friday, Dec. 7
Paris Hilton’s Annual Party:
Paris Hilton bounced back from her breakup with her annual Art Basel party at WALL. With a diamond-studded dress and headphones (possibly repurposing that $2 million 20-carat ring), she played a set of tracks for independent ladies with her sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild and actor Simon Rex.
Cavallaria Exhibition:
BrightFox’s Art Basel party brought Brazilian and French flair with the Cavallaria Exhibition. Celebrity and fashion photographer Marcos Mello captured supermodel Isabeli Fontana and dancer Loic Mabanza in an experiential live video.
Mello developed his Art Light Series exhibition inspired by the concept of the “Theory of Strings.”
“Bringing the invisible to the visible, it is like a transition between dimensions. Projecting possible reality into another is one of the purposes for my artistic craft,” said Mello.
Fontana and Mabanza brought his vision to life with a series of interpretive dances.
Jeffrey Jah hosted the night with the W South Beach’s iconic pool as the backdrop. Produced by Osham Group, notables included Jeff Gordon, Francis Williams, Arista Meneve, Jahan Khubani, Kristen Lee, Karen Mullane, and Rachel Helle. They enjoyed BrightFox cocktails made with Belvedere Vodka and Volcan De Mi Tierra Tequila underneath Miami’s starlit evening sky.
Mello ended the evening with a speech expressing what an honor it was to share his artistic point of view and look forward to a grander vision for 2019.
Saturday, Dec. 8
Art Maison:
Art Basel’s annual private event produced and hosted by Duane McLaughlin and Amber Ridinger of DNA Atelier, ArtMaison, honored and featured the works of Shepard Fairey and YoungArtsFoundation (YoungArts).
The 60-person sit-down dinner let collectors and preview the cuisine of Osaka ahead of the award-winning Peruvian Nikkei concept restaurant’s opening in 2019.
Celebrity guests performed a spontaneous acapella version of Frankie Valli’s “Can’tTake My Eyes Off of You” led by Steven Bauer. Not bad for a guest list that included Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Fat Joe, ChrisBosh, Adrienne Bosh, Steven Bauer, Gabrielle Anwar, Micheal Bay, Jonathan Cheban, and Alec Monopoly.
The dinner was followed by a waterside Gatsby/Monte Carlo casino-themed TOAST Vodka cocktail event. Guests enjoyed passed bites by Osaka while viewing the debut of the impressive 63m Utopia 4 Yacht.
The annual art event, done in collaboration with DNA Atelier, Market America, SHOP.COM, Osaka and TOAST Vodka, celebrated the announcement of Paloma Izquierdo as the Second National YoungArts Foundation Daniel Arsham Fellow.
Daniel Arsham, Naomi Fisher, and José Parlá, a jury of internationally acclaimed artists, selected Izquierdo to receive an unrestricted prize of $25,000 and a yearlong mentorship with Arsham. The program supports emerging visual artists up to three years out of their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Named in honor of acclaimed contemporary artist Daniel Arsham and supported by SHOP.COM and DNA Atelier, the fellowship supports alumni as they pursue careers in the arts.
Other notable individuals celebrating the night included Amanda Fairey, Danielle Garno, Stacey Glassman Mizener, DJ Henri, Jeff Gordon, Jason Binn, Karlea Lynné (2016YoungArts Winner in Voice), Hrush Achemyan, Steven Bauer, Truman Brooks, Sabine Brown, Dejha Carrington, Cliff Floyd, Martin Fritsches, Danielle Guarino,Therese Gibb, Ashley Gibb, Chelsea Hirschhorn, Eric Hirschhorn, Kamal Hotchandani, Deyvanshi Masrani, Nicole Khaled, Shareef Malnik, Jewel and Adam Malone, Jared Margolis, Jared McGriff, Joy McLaughlin, Joe Mizener, Keith Menin, Eric Milne, Larsa Pippen, Tommy Pooch, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Rodriguez, Nicole Kaufman Simkins, Michael Simkins, Erinn Valencich, Andrew Weissman, Natalia Weissman, Rich and Dawn Chere Wilkerson and Sean Wolfington.
You can stay up- to-date with future Art Basels at www.artbasel.com.