The latest edition of the American art fair Art Basel showcased a rich and revitalized program, marking a turning point in the significant increase in participants. A closer look.

This 22nd edition of Art Basel Miami Beach, directed for the first time by American art dealer and gallerist Bridget Finn, was bigger than in previous years. In total, nearly 290 galleries were represented, from 38 countries and territories, mostly in North and South America. Around thirty exhibitors made their debut, some directly in the main section, such as Gallery Baton (Seoul), Pearl Lam Galleries (Hong Kong, Shanghai), Gallery Wendi Norris (San Francisco), and Tim Van Laere Gallery (Antwerp, Rome). For Bridget Finn, this was "the largest cohort of newcomers" in sixteen years, hailing from the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Since its creation in 2002, this American fair has reaffirmed its place in the Art Basel galaxy, for a week rich in exhibitions, events, performances and special projects, in Miami and South Florida.

MAKE WAY FOR MONUMENTALITY

The most significant change during this American leg of the fair was undoubtedly in the "Meridians" section, which reinvented the traditional art fair booths. Previously, this section, dedicated to large-scale works, was housed in a partitioned space within the Miami Beach Convention Center. This year, it was at the heart of the action, in dialogue with two other sections. This strategy was spearheaded by the new curator, Yasmil Raymond, formerly director of the Portikus Frankfurt gallery, rector of the Städelschule art school, and curator at, among other institutions, the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

In Miami, she highlighted 18 projects whose ambition is to change art through art. Her edition, titled "State of Becoming," explored "the unexpected contingencies of democracy and the ever-increasing anxiety brought on by climate change." Several internationally renowned artists, such as Alice Aycock, Rachel Feinstein, and Franz West, offered their visions. Also on display was the installation by Peruvian artist Roberto Huarcaya, previously exhibited at the 60th Venice Biennale (Acumen no. 45), with its large photosensitive scrolls displaying images of the Amazon rainforest. Similarly, the sprawling work by Zhu Jinshi, who was part of the Chinese delegation, was presented. His piece, exhibited by Pearl Lam Galleries, comprises 16,000 sheets of paper suspended above a bamboo and cotton frame.

Also noteworthy is the immense sculpture by Vietnamese artist Danh Vo, an American flag made of stacked and painted logs, supported by White Cube. Equally striking is the gigantic embroidery, hand-sewn by the Argentinian collective Chiachio & Giannone. This piece, exhibited by Ruth Benzacar Galeria de Arte, pays homage to the LGBTQIA+ community and the indigenous Guarani culture. All the works in this section were intended for public collections.

IN THE HEART OF THE FAIR

As usual, "Galleries," the main section of Art Basel Miami Beach, set the bar high with over 200 dealers of modern, contemporary, and postwar art from the Americas and beyond. Several exhibitors presented works by nearly 4 artists in four other sections of the fair. The Helly Nahmad Gallery, in particular, showcased 000th-century masters such as Kandinsky, Basquiat, Calder, Dubuffet, Picasso, Ernst, Léger, Fontana, and Miró.

For its part, the Martos Gallery highlighted the work of six artists from the 1980s who marked "a political, social, and cultural turning point." Examples include Keith Haring, a pioneer of street art; Michel Auder, an experimental photographer and filmmaker associated with Warhol's Factory; and Kathleen White, a member of the downtown scene and a friend and muse of Nan Goldin.

We also do not hesitate to mention the paintings of Paul Cadmus, presented by the DC Moore gallery – this 20th century New York artist used Renaissance techniques to create his avant-garde male nudes – or those of Judith Eisler based on her photographs of frozen, reframed and recontextualized film scenes.

THEMATIC PRESENTATIONS

In this vein, the "Kabinett" section was dedicated to group thematic exhibitions, art history, and solo presentations. More than twenty shows were presented. Hirschl & Adler Modern, in particular, highlighted the 1940s paintings and works on paper by the American abstract expressionist Franz Kline, offering a rare glimpse into his fundamental process. Galerie Lelong & Co. showcased little-known marble and bronze sculptures by Zilia Sánchez, a singular figure in Latin American modernism and geometric abstraction. Sies + Höke featured the abstract landscape installation by Costa Rican artist Federico Herrero. Created for the fair and inspired by the urban structures of his hometown of San José, it comprises wall canvases and a floor painting.

EMERGING ARTISTS AND YOUNG GALLERIES

The "Nova" space, dedicated to emerging galleries exhibiting works created within the last three years, was not lacking in impressive offerings. Gallery Vacancy, which champions young talent, is a prime example. Its name already hints at its ambition: a space "awaiting fulfillment by artists through a cross-media approach."

Henry Curchod illustrates this with his monumental paintings and sculptural installations, which are narrative-driven. The same is true for Michael Ho, who works with myths. This immigrant of Chinese origin, born in the Netherlands, explores notions of diaspora using archival images as the basis for his works. His dense jungle scenes thus occupy the canvas, layered with motifs drawn from his experiences and cultural heritage.

In the "Positions" section, dedicated to galleries and emerging artists, the choices were equally judicious. Take, for example, the paintings of the Mayan Cakchiquel artist Paula Nicho Cúmez, already exhibited at the 60th Venice Biennale. Her works, represented by the Proyectos Ultravioleta gallery, are inspired by her dreams and reference her heritage and memory. They depict natural landscapes populated by female figures whose Mayan clothing patterns become their skin.

Also mentioned is Julieta Tarraubella's installation, The Secret Life of Flowers, which draws on audiovisual production methodologies encompassing video, photography, sculpture, and performance. This series is based on the principle of monitoring flowers using a closed-circuit system of security cameras. The Argentinian artist thus explores the dialogue and relationship between the life of flowers, the space they inhabit, and their interaction with the beings that surround them.

For its part, Galeria Estação has chosen to host a diverse range of artists with varied educational backgrounds, such as the Salvadoran Aurelino dos Santos who, without knowing how to read or write, tells the world in his paintings.

CURATORIAL INVESTIGATIONS

We conclude with the "Survey" section, focused on works created before the year 2000 with the aim of broadening our understanding of the conventional canon of art history. Two exhibitors brought to light the work of French Surrealist women artists: first with an exhibition of paintings by the little-known Jacqueline Lamba at the Weinstein Gallery, and then with a theatrical presentation of photographs and original books by Claude Cahun at the Alberta Pane Gallery.

The Eric Mouchet Gallery, for its part, presented works by South African artist Kendell Geers, who addresses the social violence and inhumanity of apartheid. The work of Linda Kohen also captured our attention. This Uruguayan painter of Italian origin emigrated to Montevideo.
passing through Buenos Aires after fleeing Jewish persecution in Italy, showed a series of constantly evolving drawn reflections on his life's work.

ART INVADES MIAMI

Alongside this 22nd edition, art expanded into South Florida through Miami Art Week, satellite fairs, museums, and private collections. In Wynwood, the street art district, the Margulies Collection presented major works by Roy Lichtenstein, Louise Nevelson, and Isamu Noguchi. The NSU Art Museum in Fort Lauderdale also exhibited works by numerous artists, including 1,800 recently acquired photographs by Joel Meyerowitz.

Another interesting event is PhotoMIAMI. This brand new international fair is the only one focused on contemporary photography and showcased its selection over two days during Miami Art Week.

For its part, Design Miami continues to showcase the limitless potential of innovation, furniture, and collectibles. The same is true for Untitled Art, located on South Beach, which challenges traditional notions of creativity through the lens of contemporary art.
We extend this Floridian artistic richness a little further by closing with the "Complete" competition, which transforms hotels into showcases of contemporary art, inviting the public to immerse themselves in site-specific installations by local artists.

ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH 2024
FROM DECEMBER 4 TO 8, 2024
ARTBASEL.COM