The Art F City Miami Fair Guide: You Can’t Do It All

Last year, PULSE underwent a makeover courtesy of its then-new director, Helen Toomer: she hand-selected the galleries, did away with separating the emerging from the established, and moved the fair to the beach. General consensus was that the fair was less the commercial behemoth its known to be, and surprisingly had the vibe of an intimate group show.

WHAT’S NEW THIS SEASON The debut of Conversations, a presentation of galleries showing dual-artist exhibitions. One of the galleries participating in the program is TRANSFER, who will be showing the work Kate Durbin and Faith Holland (a detail of her work, “Sub/emissions”, is featured above).

You’ll get to see an Edward Hopper hung next to the work of a mid-career artist. Known for its classy restraint, Miami Project offers up a mix of modernism and contemporary, making it a less flashy alternative to ABMB.

WHAT’S NEW THIS SEASON Location—NADA’s former home, to be precise. Organizers cite the construction on the Causeway as the reason.   

It’s a shame Prizm hasn’t gotten the traction it deserves. Now in its third edition, the satellite fair focuses on local African American art and artists of the African diaspora. Curated by former Art Africa Miami assistant producer Mikhaile Solomon, Rosie Gordon-Wallace and independent curator/frequent Art in America contributor A.M. Weaver, this seems like an obvious destination for all those institutional curators looking to know the next black artists they should be acquiring.

WHAT’S NEW THIS SEASON Prizm has kept their roster of exhibiting artists tight, but highlights include Jefferson Pinder (Blake Gopnik was a fan of his Ferguson-inspired video Dark Matter, featured above), and veteran photographer Dr. Deborah Willis (she organized the Black Portraiture{s} II conference and exhibition in Florence last Spring).

What art do the rich buy? Miami’s collectors are often perceived as having a far too looming influence on the city’s cultural institutions, so of course you’ll get your fill of private collection showings. While the ellipsis in the exhibition’s title seems totally unnecessary, the expansive group show on how artists “broke the rules” is a good excuse to see their German collection, featuring works by Martin Kippenberger, Isa Genzken and Sigmar Polke.  

The original satellite fair is celebrating its 15th anniversary, going to great lengths to promote its veteran status as one of the first to focus on emerging art. Also: no booth grid here!

WHAT’S NEW THIS SEASON Scope’s founder Alexis Hubshman says that the open plan will include close encounters with dunes, the ocean, and a big cantilevered structure: “think Lawrence of Arabia on steroids.”

It’s like a Bruckheimer buddy pic: Deitch and Gagosian, together again, running the town. It’s an all figurative show, with over 50 artists from the 1980s on. Bonus: there will be a voguing parade by video artist Rashaad Newsome.

Miami’s longest-running fair is one AFC has always been non-plussed about, but since this is a fair round-up, we’re obligated to include. They also oversee CONTEXT (dedicated to emerging and mid-career) and Aqua.

Self-interested plug: We’re exhibiting our F.A.G. bar at Artist Run at The Ocean Terrace Hotel. This show is going to be the bomb. Every artist run center has transformed their room into an installation space. There is a hotel in a hotel, three bars, a travel agency and more. Participating spaces include: Platform, Open Space, Tiger Strikes Asteroid (the show’s organizers), Transmitter and more.

Probably one of the better boutique hotel fairs—come for the South Beach art deco, stay for the art installed in intimate rooms on the first and second floors. It’s also part of Art Miami.

As Miami’s only curated art fair—not to mention one of the best beachfront ones—Untitled has benefited in letting the fair’s Artistic Director Omar López-Chahoud in collaboration with curators Christophe Boutin and Melanie Scarcigilia select the participating galleries but also the works that will exhibit. While in the past, a few dealers complained about this approach, it’s become the fair’s distinguishing factor, as well as its strong authoritative presence of South American art.

WHAT’S NEW THIS SEASON For Untitled’s fourth edition, a web radio station will be broadcasting live its program of conversations and talks. Of particular interest is Sara Ludy’s WARZONE, a Second Life field recording presented by bitforms gallery (Wednesday, December 2, 4:30-5PM). You can chill and listen to the station at the fair in Lawrence Weiner lounge chairs.

The main blue-chip hunting grounds! 

WHAT’S NEW THIS SEASON Former Armory Show head Noah Horowitz is now running the ABMB show. The “Nova” and “Survey” sections are apparently worthwhile to check out.

The private collection to end all private collections. The Rubell Family is showcasing works by female artists in their 45,000 square foot museum, and even rotating the works throughout the show’s run. Expect to see Yayoi Kusama, Sarah Sze, Kara Walker, Cindy Sherman, Ana Medieta, Isa Genzken and more.

If you’re looking to get a download on emerging artists to watch—like the Artspace-cited Heidi Hahn, above, showing in the booth of Jack Hanley Gallery—this is the place.

WHAT’S NEW THIS SEASON In May, NADA announced its move to the the Fontainebleau, which means you won’t have to deal with the gnarly traffic and maybe you’ll even get a wifi internet connection. (Don’t worry—it looks like the ballroom has somes of chandelier action going on.)