"The Great Elephant Migration" made a splash on the sands of Miami Beach throughout the week.Photo: Lee Smith
MIAMI—The 2024 installment of Art Basel Miami Beach, in collaboration with UBS, brought more than 75,000 spectators and collectors to the Miami Beach Convention Center floor Dec. 3-8. A total of 286 galleries from 38 countries and territories exhibited with first-time director Bridget Finn at the helm—Finn brought 34 new galleries to the floor and revealed the rollout of the new booth model while Yasmil Raymond curated the reconfiguration of Meridians, the show’s anchor for monumental works, which included 17 new and historical projects. “Conversations,” the show’s renowned talks program, saw its highest turnout to date.
Additionally, Art Basel partnered with Microsoft to launch a new app to enhance the visitor experience, which included Art Basel Companion and the Art Basel Lens, the first use of Microsoft’s computer vision technology at a global art fair.
“I am extremely proud of innovations we introduced this year—from the repositioning and reconceptualization of Meridians to the rollout of a new booth model, which allowed us to welcome many vital new voices and perspectives in the main sector of the show,” shares Finn.
Just days after the iconic Art Basel Banana sold at Sotheby’s auction for $6.24 million, Chiquita was on the scene doing Art Basel Miami Beach ticket giveaways and activating at the Miami Beach Convention Center with a banana stand and banana handbags that were spotted around Miami all week long. Brand reps claim it was a coincidence and that plans were in place to activate despite the recent auction.Photo: Courtesy of Chiquita
Leading up to the week, Maurizio Cattelan’s wall-taped Art Basel Banana from 2019 fame made new headlines when it sold for $6.24 million at Sotheby’s auction. Chiquita simultaneously entered the spotlight (its camp states it was coincidental) by running Art Basel ticket giveaways on social media and activating inside the Miami Beach Convention Center with a banana stand where the brand gave away yellow handbags. Banana installations and artworks were also spotted at SCOPE Art Show and CONTEXT Art Miami.
Ruinart’s ground-floor Champagne lounge showcased its 2024 Carte Blanche initiative entitled “Conversations with Nature” with a Wednesday cocktail party honoring artist Henrique Oliveira’s freestanding sculpture made from recycled plywood and papier-mâché reinforced by metal, which stands in Maison Ruinart’s headquarters in Reims, France.
Upstairs in the Collector’s Lounge, tequila brand Casa Dragones opened its four-artist Art-Tender series to the public for the first time with a dedicated space on the floor underneath a showstopping 500-bottle chandelier crafted by renowned Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao.
"The Great Elephant Migration" public beach exhibit featured 100 elephants—which were all sold—and attracted thousands of spectators, collectors, influencers, and families who wanted to pose with the collection. This leg of the Migration partnered with fragrance brand Xerjoff to create a custom scent to honor the experience.Photo: Lee Smith
But the “it” exhibit of the year was not an official work showcased at Art Basel Miami Beach. In fact, it was stationed 17 blocks north on the sand. "The Great Elephant Migration" made its third scheduled stop with a herd of 100 Indian elephants on public display overlooking the Atlantic Ocean Dec. 2-8. A preview party was held Monday night in collaboration with fragrance brand Xerjoff, which created a custom scent for this leg of the global fundraising tour. Once the private preview party concluded, the herd was the talk of the town, attracting thousands of South Florida locals, families, influencers, collectors, and visitors who stopped to pose with the elephants. All 100 elephants were sold before the end of the week.
“We were delighted for the elephants to be part of the official program for Miami Art Week, allowing them to share their story on the beach with an international audience,” shares Ruth Ganesh, principal trustee of Elephant Family and co-founder of The Real Elephant Collective. “We did indeed need permits, as is the case in each location we visit. We always work closely with the city and local authorities to ensure a smooth arrival for the herd."
Other sandy highlights included activations inside two art fairs that took place on the beach in Lummus Park, parallel to Ocean Drive. This year, Chase Sapphire Reserve officially moved inside SCOPE Art Show with an extensive and immersive footprint catering to cardmembers and VIPs. On the south end of the tent, the outside of the lounge was wrapped in sapphire-hued metallic with a Chase logo-themed entrance and illuminated tunnel installation (and popular photo stop) leading into the lounge. Inside, cardmembers could peruse exclusive art installations; create DIY swag bags with Vacation suncare products; and enjoy cocktails, savory bites from chef Sebastián Vargas of Krüs Kitchen and Los Félix, and doughnuts from The Salty.
“Each lounge we design is unique and inspired by its location, but we also want it to be recognizable to our cardmembers as a Sapphire Reserve lounge,” says Kristin Faucher, head of brand strategy and advertising, card, travel, and commerce at JPMorgan Chase. “At SCOPE, our entrance, with its glowing geometric design, was a nod to our iconic card and captured the modern, lively spirit of Miami Art Week. We loved seeing it turn into a hot photo spot—we even heard some cardmembers referring to it as a runway.”
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers could also access tickets for morning workout classes by Alo and evening Sapphire Presents music programming, including Friday night’s high-energy show featuring Eli Fola, Disclosure, and Black Coffee.
Inside Untitled Art, eligible Delta Air Lines American Express Card Members and select VIPs enjoyed the spacious Resy Lounge. Seating inside and cabanas outside invited guests to kick back and relax. Jon & Vinny’s catered the lounge each day with salads, pasta, meatballs, toasts, pancakes, desserts, and a coffee bar. Helen’s Wines provided vino and cocktails, and cardmembers took home gift bags.Photo: Jordan Wise
A few blocks up at Untitled Art, the indoor-outdoor Resy Lounge presented by Delta Air Lines and American Express invited Delta Air Lines American Express Card Members and select VIPs in to take a load off and enjoy a hearty spread of eats, sweets, and a coffee bar from Jon & Vinny’s; sips from Helen’s Wines and Helen’s exclusive cocktails; curated gift bags; and a meet and greet with artist Justin Lim. Before and after fair hours, the partnership extended to the green pizza box-decked Rubell Museum, which simultaneously launched the new home of the Miami Jon & Vinny’s pop-up with breakfast pizzas in the morning and a bustling Thursday Night Shift party with plenty of pizza, pours, and James Blake on the decks into the late hours.
Off the sand, hotels all around the Magic City were outfitted with art and threw parties to celebrate the colorful collaborations. The oceanside Ritz-Carlton, South Beach hosted two artsy events. On Tuesday, “Women in the Spotlight” celebrated contemporary artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya’s reveal of her intriguing lobby ceiling sculpture entitled “As Her Hands Move, Her Heart Beats in the Rhythm of Monsoons.” Her work explores themes of loss and renewal to amplify marginalized voices while weaving cultural identities with bodily and psychic impacts.
On Saturday night, José Andrés Group’s DiLido Beach Club hosted Art by the Beach produced by Caché Life. The boutique festival displayed works from 11 emerging artists with sounds from five acts along with a vibrant fire dancer.
“At The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, we celebrate the transformative power of art and its ability to connect people and communities,” says general manager Stephen Power. “Through our partnerships, we are proud to spotlight diverse voices and honor their legacies during Miami Art Week 2024.”
A few blocks down the street on Washington Avenue, Kimpton Angler’s Hotel invited California-based artist The Tracy Piper to take over the public spaces. She stretched portable murals along the entryway and second-floor breezeway and displayed her full "SEEN" collection in the lobby, along with other acrylics on canvas. On Wednesday, the artist hosted Party with a Purpose benefiting Lotus House Women's Shelter. In partnership with Ashley Voss’ Voss Gallery in San Francisco, Piper and the Angler’s offered art enthusiasts the opportunity to explore like an insider with the three-day VCC Art Insider Pass. Voss and Piper led tour groups to Art Basel Miami Beach, SCOPE Art Show, and Untitled Art. Each day kicked off with coffee and tea to go and wrapped with wine and conversation back at the hotel.
On Lincoln Road, the newly opened citizenM Miami South Beach hosted a Tuesday night VIP mixer. The event kicked off at the hotel bar and then unfolded on the rooftop, where guests were treated to a one-of-a-kind pool projection performance from New Orleans artist Jessica Bizer. There was also a meet and greet with Eli Sudbrack (aka assume vivid astro focus), who created the hotel’s iconic rooftop mural.
House concepts were also popping up all around the Magic City. Inside the penthouse at Faena Hotel Miami Beach, guests registered to enter House of Robb by Robb Report Tuesday through Thursday, which included panels moderated by Robb Report staff featuring art, design, and lifestyle talks with guests like Alan Faena, Mario Carbone, Dwight James, Jago, Simon Kim, and various art and museum directors and representatives. Attendees enjoyed Hennessy tastings in the Cohiba Cigar Lounge, art-printed and custom-embroidered canvas swag bags from Delta Air Lines, and products by Alchemy Beauty, with cocktail service daily and nightly passed bites and culinary offerings.
In Wynwood, Sacred Space welcomed a decorated three-day, day-to-night schedule of events at Gallery Art House by Gallery Media Group, a traveling creator house that offers brands and creators the chance to collaborate and tell stories at scale (it has also curated at SXSW and Formula 1). The concept took six months to plan and a 15-person team to execute.
Maybelline decked the Teddy After Dark party on Thursday night with fuzzy pink elements, including a massive 3D-printed teddy bear covered in fur and a double-sided buildout (pictured). It featured a branded photo backdrop with a lip-shaped couch and pillows on one side and a lip gloss bar with complimentary products on the other.Photo: Courtesy of Gallery Art House
Thursday night’s Teddy After Dark party by Maybelline celebrated its new Super Stay Teddy Tint lip product. Friday’s Method lunch included product integration and food artistry by Emilie Baltz, while Friday night, presenting sponsor Patrón hosted Shark Attack with photographer Ben Watts and a bottle-etching station. Saturday’s Ulta House of Joy included a beauty bar and brunch bites, and Saturday night’s INFINITI innovator dinner wrapped the week. Gatorade was on hand with a hydration-boosting and water bottle customization station and St. Jude Children’s Hospital allowed attendees to make a donation in exchange to collaborate with Miami artist JC Rivera.
“Part of the power of the Gallery Houses is the puzzle of bringing multiple brands under one roof, and we absolutely love that,” says Anna Plaks, chief creative officer at Gallery Media Group. “It's an incredibly rewarding challenge to have and always uncovers exciting synergies and massive earned reach for all brands and collaboration opportunities.”
On Saturday night, NYLON House presented by e.l.f. Cosmetics in partnership with Movado returned with a more intimate event at the same Star Island mansion as the 2023 NYLON Nights party. E.l.f. Cosmetics created an immersive experience inspired by its recently released playlist, “Get Ready With Music,” and guests enjoyed glam touch-ups and complimentary products as well as fragrance giveaways by Diesel. HUGEL warmed up the crowd before Ludacris delivered a headlining set of all his hits. Caracas Bakery offered sweet and savory treats while Casamigos poured palomas and spicy margaritas.
During dinner, guests were invited to listen to locusts in nature, pairing the sounds inspired by Formafantasma’s two sound sculptures.Photo: Jeff Thibodeau
Miami’s booming culinary scene was also on the pulse catering to the art world with a slew of private dining events. On Tuesday night, the intimate Perrier-Jouët Banquet of Nature, in partnership with Formafantasma, took place at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Opulent larger-than-life floral works and brand projections greeted guests upon entry to the main lobby.
The Champagne pairing dinner, which took place oceanside and alfresco at La Côte, began with a cocktail hour and a chat with Glenn Adamson, Caroline Bianco, Simone Farresin, and three-Michelin-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire to provide an overview of the brand’s presence at Design Miami and spotlight the Champagne house’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity. Gagnaire’s culinary artistry was matched with an elegant lineup of Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque pours served in special-edition Formafantasma glasses designed for the week’s programming. During dinner, guests were invited to join a multisensory experience: Wear headphones to listen to melodies of locusts in nature; the insect was featured on two sound sculptures designed by Formafantasma.
On Wednesday night, chef Nobu Matsuhisa invited a small group of guests to celebrate the launch of the 25-year-old 2025 QUI Tequila Nobu Rare, with a limited production of 1,650 units priced at $1,000 per bottle featuring art by KAWS. Matsuhisa and his team delivered an array of pass-arounds, including sashimi and sushi, tuna tacos, and rock shrimp tempura, and guests sipped QUI Tequila cocktails and Matsuhisa wines.
On Friday night, Villeroy & Boch partnered with TikTok sensation chef H Woo Lee for a collaborative dinner served on limited-edition, seven-piece, uniquely stackable La Boule Miami tableware at W South Beach. The tablescape featured tropical hues of florals and palms to celebrate Miami and complement the La Boule Miami collection. Lee’s menu was paired with wines from Wölffer Estate and cocktails by Suntory.
“Art Basel week is a vibrant hub of creativity, a confluence of artistic energy that makes it the ideal time and place to launch the new La Boule Miami,” says Victoria Azzara, head of marketing at Villeroy & Boch USA. “We chose Miami and W South Beach to celebrate the launch and the recent Red Dot Design Award, recognizing La Boule’s innovative design for Villeroy & Boch.”
Keep scrolling to see more of the highlights mentioned above, along with other standout moments and activations that topped our list at Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Week 2024...
“We really wanted to help diversify and elevate Miami Art Week's lineup of events to offer a safe space and community for those in search of inspiration, rejuvenation, and real connection,” shares Jared Schoenfeld, co-founder of The Wellness Oasis. “The Wellness Oasis is a true gathering of like-minded humans determined to prioritize their well-being. Through a curated blend of deep conversations, workshops, movement exercises, immersive self-care experiences, nourishing food, and the empowered feeling of togetherness, our goal is to help the mind, body, and spirit.”
