Art Basel 2024- A Summary of Miami's Favorite Event of The Year

By: Samantha Shaffer, Jorge Herrera, & Joaquin Winter

This December, the international annual art fair Art Basel Miami Beach, turned the tropical tourist destination into a center of the arts. The renowned event is for acclaimed artists to display their works to other artists, and the purchasing public. Miami Beach Art Basel is especially famous for its unmatched collection including modern artists from all over the world. The gallery itself attracts an average of 80,000 visitors per year, and has now been going on for 22 years as of 2024. This year it was held between the 6th through the 8th of December in the Miami Beach Convention Centre. The larger gallery includes 286 smaller galleries within, and in total 38 countries are represented in that space. 

Besides Art Basel's impressive lineup of modern and contemporary art, the fair has stately exhibits that showcase haute couture, including state-of-the-art collaborations between artists and luxury fashion brands. Basel is famous for showcasing modern fashion trends, but certain designers or fashionistas will take advantage of the creative environment to present their new pieces, whether aligning with recent trends or not. Around the gallery, an incredible diversity of people and style is overwhelming, but again so is art. Additionally, the event attracts all sorts of A-list celebrities from athletes to actors to politicians. Many arrived sponsored by designer brands, representing their clothes and accessories. The art fair sponsors multiple other events including mini exhibitions, collaborative initiatives, cocktail events, and parties. 

Modern art is not the only category of art you will find, among every few galleries is a fine arts presentation including classical pieces from renowned artists like Pablo Piccasso, who used polygons and circles to develop his own style, called Cubism, an important sub-style of Modern Art today. Historical works from the Post-impressionist era are selectively placed into the few commemoration galleries. 

This showcase of varied styles and artists, is an important cornerstone in the Decembrine economy of Miami. This 22nd installment brought in $500,000,000 for the economy of the city. Making it one of the highest-grossing events that was hosted in the city in the past years. The event leaves a profound impact on the city, which is growing exponentially every year. It leaves a blueprint for other artistic events, diversifying the creative scene in Miami.

ICONIC PIECES FROM THE 22ND ANNUAL INSTALLMENT:

(Herrera, 2024)