What To Check Out At Miami’s Art Week And Art Basel Festivals

Two of Miami’s most exciting art events are just around the corner: Miami Art Week held December 6-10 and Art Basel Miami Beach held December 8 -10. Stationed at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Art Basel Miami Beach features modern and contemporary art from over 250 galleries while Miami Art Week consists of over 20 international art fairs in and around Miami. With a dizzying array of gallery presentations, fairs, and culinary events to choose from, we’ve got the inside scoop on what you should check out at this year’s festivals.  

Art Around Town 
Festivals to check out beyond the Art Basel festival at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

The Mana Wynwood Convention Center is home to two of Art Week’s longest-running fairs, Spectrum Miami and Red Dot Miami. From December 6-10, the two fairs will showcase more than 1,000 different artists spread out over 280 exhibitors. 

From December 5-10, stop by Scope Miami Beach, an exhibit set up directly on the sands of Miami Beach. This year marks the program’s 22nd year, and visitors can look forward to over 150 international exhibitors. 

Head to the Little Haiti neighborhood for Art Beat Miami taking place December 6-10. The diverse festival showcases art from emerging and established artists from the Caribbean and African Diaspora. 

Downtown Miami welcomes back Art Miami, the city’s longest-running contemporary art fair. From December 5-10, festival-goers can view thousands of top works from modern, post-war, and pop eras. 

This year, the Museum of Graffiti in Wynwood is celebrating its fourth anniversary with a lineup of exhibitions and events during Art Week. On December 6, LA-based graffiti artist turned oil painter Mear One will open a solo exhibition entitled Metaphysical Surrealism which will showcase 8-12 oil and acrylic paintings, ranging from small to large canvases. 

Now in its 16th year, the INK Miami Art Fair focuses on works printed on paper. Held from December 6-10 at The Dorchester Hotel in Miami Beach, the festival includes printed works by internationally renowned artists.

The highly anticipated Context Art Miami fair features innovative, cutting-edge art, ideal for collectors looking for fresh work. The fair takes place December 5-10 and showcases new art by boundary-pushing artists. 

Culinary Events 
These can’t miss events are a delicious combination of art and food. 

Head to Miami’s Design District for the “Art After Dark” event at the Michelin-starred and James Beard-nominated COTE Miami restaurant. From December 7-10, guests will have the chance to dine on a specially curated menu and see a showcase of world-class art from private collectors. 

On December 6, The Balfour Hotel will host “Interstellar Rhapsody: Harmonizing Roots & Cosmos”, featuring local artist Gustavo Oviedo. The event will include passed bites, complimentary beverages, and live entertainment. 

From December 7-10, two blocks in Wynwood will be transformed into a Hive: A Culinary and Cocktail Village, a one-of-a-kind destination for enjoying food, music, and art. 

In Downtown Miami Kimpton EPIC Hotel will feature a special menu during Art Week that pays tribute to artist Liv Dockerty, whose work is currently on display at the hotel as part of the property’s artist residency program, EPIC Art. During Art Week, the hotel’s Area 31 restaurant will feature dishes and cocktails inspired by Dockery’s “Liv in the Clouds” series. 

Art Forward Accommodations 
Experience a bit of art with your stay at these hotels. 

Sonder’s The Deco opened in June and the hotel is just steps from the beach. Housed across four Art Deco buildings designed by famed architect Henry Hohauser, the modern hotel features a charming pool with breezy cabanas. 

In Wynwood, check out the neighborhood’s first hotel, Arlo Wynwood. In addition to several murals displayed decorating the hotel’s exterior, the property has over 250 permanent works of art on display. 

If you want to be immersed in art, check into Faena Hotel Miami Beach. The opulent beachfront hotel was founded by Argentinian art collector Alan Faena, and the hotel’s trademark piece of art is the Damien Hirst-created gilded wooly mammoth skeleton.