by Nicole Kasak
Redwood Media Group, parent company of Artexpo, SPECTRUM Art Fairs, DECOR Expo and Art Business News, today announced significant sales and high attendance at SPECTRUM Miami and ArtSpot International Art Fair. The show took place Wednesday, December 4 – Sunday, December 8, in the heart of the Wynwood Art District, and welcomed a crowd of more than 4,200 guests on its opening night and more than 26,000 collectors, buyers, art supporters and guests for the duration of the show. SPECTRUM Miami and ArtSpot International’s guests enjoyed artist unveilings, a live photo shoot with Miami City Ballet Dancers and NY Times bestselling author Jordan Matter, as well as a wide array of innovative, contemporary art works, including photography, works on paper, sculpture, and installations from emerging and established artists.
The art fair, which showcased pieces from mid-career artists and established national and international galleries, caters to high-end collectors, buyers and art enthusiasts. Housed within the SPECTRUM tent was the independent show, ArtSpot International, organized by Aldo Castillo. ArtSpot 2013 presented carefully selected, modern and cutting-edge galleries exhibiting contemporary art. The show merged a range of international art with Chinese and Latin American influences and represented an underserved international art community, while offering gallery owners, designers, architects and collectors extraordinary creations by innovative, established artists.
There was a dynamic mix of compelling contemporary art at this year’s show – from sculpture to photography, mixed media, abstract art and more. As a result, artist and exhibitor sales were plentiful and collectors walked away with some exceptional new pieces.
Here are some highlights from SPECTRUM and ArtSpot International:
- The Selby Fleetwood Gallery brought works that were displayed both inside and outdoors. They sold five pieces, including Susan Stamm Evans’ “Threads” for $40,000 and a piece by Kevin Box for $20,000.
- Gordon Huether had a remarkable show as well. His “Stix & Stones” went for $28,000, his “Sweet Orange Lens” at $9,500,” items from his “Silver Lens” series at $8,500 each and in the last three minutes of the show collectors claimed $18,500 worth of exceptional works.
- The Americas Collection gallery has sales in process for $76,000 from highlighted artists Pablo Martinez and Wladimiro Politano.
- Ford Fine Art sold a Diego Rivera to a collector from Mexico and has sales in process for $140,000 overall.
- Aldo Castillo Gallery sold seven works by Emil Alzamora, three works by Fredy Villamil, four works by Adriana Carvalho and eight installations by Ancizar Marin among others.
- Cuban artist Humberto Benitez sold a total of seven works; his highest-selling piece was “Los Invitados,” which went for $23,000.
- Ben Joyce moved three pieces and lined up ten commissions for his signature “Abstract Topophilia” works (inspired by Google Earth images). His highest-seller was “San Francisco,” which sold for $11,000.
- Sculptor Thomas Wargin came close to selling out his booth. His top-selling piece was “A Ride with the Angel of Death,” which sold for $7,000.
- 33 Contemporary Gallery—featuring the Zhou Brothers along other artists from China, Europe, the United States and Mexico—has sales in process for $36,000 from Harry Sudman, Dana Major and Christine Forni.
- There were many other sales as well. Nicole Furman sold three pieces (“Kissin’ Minnie” was the highest seller at $5,000), Art Company Misoolsidae sold five (their highest seller was $5,700), and Current Art Group sold a $9,000 piece by artist Magaly Barrola Otola and has sales in progress for up to $60,000, among others.
- In addition to the vast array of contemporary works at the show, SPECTRUM and ArtSpot saw some classics from Chagall, Picasso, Latin American masters born before 1940 and other masters shown by Old Towne Gallery.
SPECTRUM After Dark, a VIP opening preview party, included artist unveilings and musical entertainment from Miami’s DJ What, along with passed hors d’oeuvres, complimentary products from VitaCoco and KIND snacks, as well as complimentary cocktails and wine from Tanduay Asian rum, Belaya Rus vodka and Repeat Wines. The evening also featured a live photo shoot with Miami City Ballet dancers and Jordan Matter, photographer and New York Times bestselling author of “Dancers Among Us.”
This year, show organizers partnered with Life Is Art, a local not-for-profit organization that works to promote and support the arts and the community in South Florida through events and education. As such, SPECTRUM donated a ticket portion of its sales to benefit Life Is Art and its initiatives from the opening night party, and requested donations from guests throughout the show. Redwood Media Group is pleased to announce that the art fair raised more than $5,000 for Life Is Art.
Following the show, Redwood Media Group announced that SPECTRUM will be returning to Miami next year during Art Week Miami from December 4-7, 2014 (preview party slated for Dec. 3). The show will be located at a new location in the Wynwood Art District: adjacent to Art Miami and Context.
For more information, visit: www.spectrum-newyork.com, www.spectrum-miami.com, www.artbusinessnews.com, www.artexponewyork.com, www.artexponewyork.com/solo and www.artexponewyork.com/decor-expo.
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