At the weeklong extravaganza of Miami Art Week, where Art Basel and its satellite fairs drew crowds to events in Miami Beach and beyond, some of the biggest events and activations came from media companies. Harper's Bazaar, Architectural Digest, Saveur, Flaunt, Interview, Niche Media, and Paper were among those sponsoring festivities during the busy week.
One of the largest undertakings was Flaunt magazine and Wildfox’s “Affordable Care” show, which attracted art and music lovers for six days of performances and appearances by Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Vanessa Beecroft, Darkside, Boy George, and others. Wynwood soundstage the Mana Production Village was decked out in tree-scapes, red lighting, a main stage, and a pop-up gallery. Sunday saw a closing party featuring top DJs and Miami’s own hip-hop legend Trick Daddy.
Harper’s Bazaar had one of the most ambitious lineups with a full week of programming at multiple venues within Soho Beach House. The centerpiece was its ShopBazaar pop-up boutique, which showcased brands such as Acne, Proenza Schouler, and Dion Lee. MCM’s Craig & Karl hosted a bash to launch a new collection, and a “Day of Beauty” offered appointments for makeup applications and hairstyling courtesy of Givenchy and Moroccanoil.
Under the direction of designer Mark Cunningham, Architectural Digest returned to South Beach with its AD Oasis lounge at a new venue, the James Royal Palm. The space was outfitted in a serene color scheme of shades of blue and neutral tones and had its own undulating logo created by Wilcox LA. Wicker furniture by Dedon provided comfortable nooks throughout the outdoor space, while Sunbrella showcased new patio decor. The lounge also became a venue for events from other brands including a breakfast and paddleboard clinic hosted by Dedon and a happy hour hosted by Caesarstone.
Saveur partnered with Heineken for an intimate dinner December 5 to honor local up-and-coming artist Alexander Mijares (the talent behind the rubber ducky Art Basel attraction at SLS Hotel South Beach). The dinner and cocktail pairing took place at the Gale South Beach’s Dolce, where the artist collaborated on a menu in which each course evoked one of his works.
Haute Living sponsored a fashionable bash along with Hublot, the Mourning Foundation, and artist Hebru Brantley Friday night at 5 Star Island. A bevy of Ferraris and statues and art by Brantley served as spectacles for the exclusive event that included a Dom Pérignon champagne and caviar lounge. Another eye-catching component was the Hublot helicopter, which shuttled A-list guests to the affair, as well as Ferrari-inspired Hublot timepieces displayed in poolside cases that incorporated hologram technology.
The most significant event of the week, though, was the debut of the Perez Art Museum Miami downtown. A series of launch events, including Saturday night’s PAMM Premiere Gala for 750 guests, invited the Miami elite and art world V.I.P.s to the Herzog & de Meuron-designed contemporary art museum. The evening, produced by Cream, began with a lavish cocktail reception followed by a seated dinner from Stephen Starr Events; Marc Anthony also performed.