It’s beginning to look a lot like Art Week! Art Basel is returning to the shores of Miami in what’s set to be the biggest edition yet with 283 exhibitors from 38 countries and territories. Marking its 20th anniversary this year, Art Basel Miami Beach has become one of the biggest art events of the year in the Magic City and the country.
This year, Art Basel Miami Beach is kicking off Thursday, December 1 with tons of digital art, dozens of public art installations and plenty of more stunning artworks! We’ve put together this quick guide to Art Basel answering everyone’s most pressing questions about the arts fair and helping you make the most of Art Week in Miami!
What is Art Basel Miami Beach?
Art Basel is a world-renowned art show that holds three major fairs across the world — Basel, Hong Kong and Miami Beach — each year. Art Basel Miami Beach, which was first held in 2002, focuses on contemporary art and each year it features hundreds of galleries from across the world putting them in front of the art world’s most famous curators, museums and collectors. Throughout the year’s Art Basel Miami Beach has grown in popularity giving rise to Miami’s Art Week that features tons of satellite exhibits, parties and all other kinds of artistic events.
When is Art Basel Miami Beach?
This year, Art Basel Miami Beach is taking place from Thursday, December 1, through to Saturday, December 3. Here are the public opening hours for Art Basel’s main show floor:
- Thursday, December 1, 2022, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday, December 2, 2022, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, December 3, 2022, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where is Art Basel Miami Beach?
Art Basel Miami Beach will be taking place at the state-of-the-art Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive.
How do I get into Art Basel Miami Beach?
Tickets are required to go into Art Basel’s main showcase and can only be purchased online through the fair’s website (Note: tickets will not be available for purchase on-site). This year, Miami Beach residents will also be able to get discounted tickets at 50% off on November 20 and November 21.
Other satellite events and parties may require purchasing separate tickets or RSVPing prior to your attendance.
What to see in Art Basel Miami Beach
There are tons of things to see in Art Basel Miami Beach and its surroundings. The main fair is comprised of five sections including Galleries which showcases works from leading galleries; Edition featuring print and edition pieces; Nova that displays works created in the last three years; Positions that’s dedicated to emerging artists and Survey, a section showcasing works created before the year 200. The fair will also present 20 large-scale artworks as part of its Meridians sector; 29 curated exhibitions as part of its Kabinett sector; and nine moderated panels that will comprise its renowned Conversations series.
But the fun doesn’t end there, there are still plenty more events to check out as well, some satellite event highlights include:
Pinta Miami Art Fair in Coconut Grove
Explore the artwork of emerging and established Latin American artists linked to Miami at the historic Pan Am Hangar. From November 30 to December 4, Regatta Harbor’s The Hangar will be home to Pinta, an ambitious art gallery split into several sections, each with their own curators. Spend your afternoon perusing the art, listening to local DJs, lounging outdoors — all while enjoying drinks and bites from the Bayshore Club! You can book your tickets here.
Brickell’s Spectacular Spectacular burlesque show
A dazzling show featuring Miami’s most talented entertainers will open at the Flamingo Theater Bar in Brickell — just in time for Art Basel! Burlesque production Spectacular Spectacular features an enthralling narrative, astounding acrobatics, and even an aerial show. So get your tickets and enjoy these stunning performers in a classy and seductive performance unlike any other you’ve seen.
NightGarden: A Magical Light Experience
Don’t let the visual magic end at Art Basel; take a stroll through NightGarden too! Art goers can use the code ARTBASEL20 on the Fever app to enjoy the dazzling light show at the best price. Each year, the NightGarden transforms the 83-acre Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden to take you on a magical journey through rainbow colored paths, technicolor flowers and interactive technology like a motion sensing feature and outdoor holograms. You can book tickets here.
“Into the Wild (Future)” at Sagamore South Beach
This year, the Sagamore South Beach, Miami Beach’s historic art deco hotel, will host a five-day Art Week takeover titled “Into the Wild (Future)”, featuring hotel-wide gallery displays, immersive audiovisual experiences, a hugely anticipated exhibition from a famous high-end gallery, and mural artists like Sebastien “Mr. D 1987” Boileau. From November 30 through December 4, the hotel’s two-story bungalows will also be turned into mini-galleries where visiting artists sleep upstairs and display their work downstairs. You may even catch them working on projects as you stroll through the hotel’s gardens.
Spectrum Miami & Red Dot Miami – under one roof
Kick off your Art Basel experience with a bang by visiting this year’s Spectrum Miami and Red Dot Miami – two art fairs under one roof at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center. Returning for a 12th year and 17th year respectively on Nov. 30 to Dec. 4, see the artwork of more than 1,000 artists showcased by over 280 exhibitors. Both shows will cover 150,000 square feet of indoor exhibition space, all within walking distance of Wynwood’s coveted restaurants, bars and retail. Click here to learn more.
SCOPE Miami Beach
Returning to the sands of Miami Beach, the 2022 edition of this contemporary art fair features over 150 exhibitors and marks the 10th anniversary of The New Contemporary, the fair’s multidisciplinary initiative—and this year’s is planned to be the largest to date. Honored by the City of Miami Beach Mayor’s Office and Commission for its extraordinary cultural impact, SCOPE will run for its 21st edition November 29 through December 4.
“Rock & Roll” at Miami Design District
Miami-based architect and designer Germane Barnes is bringing a multi-scale installation, “Rock | Roll,” to the neighborhood in November. Pulling influence from Miami’s vibrant history with Carnival and the contributions of BIPOC communities, you can expect a series of whimsical capsules that rock back-and-forth when activated by users and a free-floating dome reminiscent of a giant disco ball. With a nod to steel drums and Soca music, Barnes also designed brightly-hued wind chimes, hundreds of which will be hung in the neighborhood’s trees.
William Kentridge’s THE HEAD & THE LOAD at the Adrienne Arsht Center
Head on over to the Ziff Ballet Opera House on December 1-3, for an epic theatrical piece that tells the story of the millions of African porters and carriers who served British, French and German forces during World War I. With the wings and backstage of the Opera House reconfigured to become a unique, site-specific performance space large enough to accommodate this monumental work, the audience will take its place directly onstage. Created by Kentridge, one of the most renowned contemporary artists in the world, THE HEAD & THE LOAD takes its title from the Ghanaian proverb — “the head and the load are the troubles of the neck.” Find out more here.
Art Plug Powerhouse: Myami Edition at The Wharf
Art Plug Powerhouse is four-day experiential art exhibition that will feature over 25 local and international artists, and celebrates the diversity and unique spirit of Miami with a variety of nostalgic activities, as well as VIP experiences for communities such as Web3 enthusiasts, art collectors and families. Participating talent include award-winning mural artist Jason Naylor and L.A.-based painter Allison Bamcat. The weekend of Dec. 1-4 will be full of transformative art, water performances, interactive branded installations, live DJs, a full bar, food collaborations, a jewelry pop-up, and lots more! Admission is free. Learn more here.