The event not to be missed for all art lovers, collectors and dealers of the world, is the famous Art Basel! Although I have not had the good fortune to travel to the original art fair held in the spring in Basel, Switzerland, the first week of December attracts the largest collection of art exhibitors in the world in beautiful Miami. The festivities start the Monday after Thanksgiving with parties and previews and fabulous art buying opportunities.
(Picasso - $10MM)
Approximately 250 of the most important art galleries in the world exhibit in the main convention hall in Miami Beach which opens to the VIP crowd on Wednesday morning through Sunday. As you walk in the door of this enormous convention hall, you feel a virtual spiritual experience because of the extensive collection of magnificent art works.
Incredible art by Alexander Calder at a cool $35M
The worldwide energy and effort that goes into this event is staggering. To study the art carefully in this massive exhibition will take you many many days. When you return each day, you tend to gravitate to the works of art that attract you the most. I have included here a few of my favorites which I photographed. Interestingly, I neglected to photograph the iPad art of David Hockney, which has been extremely tempting as a possible purchase.
Astounding beauty by Anish Kapoor
It was great seeing so many friends from all around the world, as well as attending the amazing social events connected to all of the artists. Nick Jones, Soho owner, hosted a fantastic luncheon in the Soho House tent on the beach next to the water with his many wonderful friends and artists that are part of the extraordinary Soho House family. One of the tickets was a personal visit with Peter Marino at the Bass Museum, which had a special exhibition of his astounding architecture, as well as his own personal art collection.
Another sold out event was a Miley Cyrus concert at the Raleigh Hotel. Crowds began to gather quite early, and we were all warned to pick up our wrist bands in advance. She puts on quite a show, and certainly energizes the crowd! Who doesn't love rock and roll - 2014 style!
Having a blast with Mohammed Hadid
Coldwell Banker joined in the festivities by hosting a VIP dinner with Haute Living, Hublot Watch Company, and Dom Perignon at the magnificent estate of William Dean, with an after party where everyone danced the night away.
I'm pictured here with Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot, who joined Coldwell Banker and Haute Living in hosting the very exclusive Art Basel VIP dinner and after party at the exquisite Villa Terra Veritatis on the water overlooking Miami Beach.
The yacht on the front dock was to die for! I loved dining with friends at Mr. Chow, and visiting the additional fairs for emerging artists as well as the terrific Design Fair showing extraordinary interior design and the list goes on and on. This sell out event, sponsored by UBS gets bigger every year! One of the fun points of the week was a tour of some of the top Miami residential properties for sale with "the Jills". Coldwell Banker has a corner on that Miami market. I am looking forward to a return trip next year.
