What to See and Do During Art Basel Miami Beach 2017

Every year, for all who attend Art Basel Miami Beach—or are simply in Miami during, not necessarily for, the flagship fair—decision fatigue can set in. What to do when there are hundreds of events through the week, or even dozens at the same time? To help visitors wade through this paradox of choice, we’ve compiled the things we’re looking forward to the most. Here, in chronological order by opening date, our must-sees and -dos during the frenetic week.

Casacor Miami (Dec. 1–18)
The first edition of this experiential exhibition, curated by Jessica Acosta-Rubio, gathers more than 20 international architects and interior designers (Fernando Wong, Suchi Reddy) to present curated environments and innovative furnishing solutions. Lectures and interactive demonstrations round out the program. casacormiami.com

“Katie Stout: Narcissus” at Nina Johnson (Dec. 4–Jan. 6, 2018)
The new work of Katie Stout, an interior designer with a conceptual bent, reimagines the residential home as a seedy, sinister environment. Decked out with lurid wallpaper and historic furniture arranged around absent bodies, the panorama underscores the power of the domestic space to define its inhabitants. ninajohnson.com

Oliver Peoples, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Prada Boutique Openings (Dec. 4 and 5)
The eyewear label, the fine-jewelry house, and the fashion brand are each setting up shop with new outposts in Miami Design District. On Dec. 5 at Prada, there will be an exclusive preview of the Prada Double Club, a project created by artist Cartsen Höller. oliverpeoples.com, vancleefarpels.com, prada.com

Scope Miami Beach 2017 (Dec. 5–10)
Alongside the work of its 140 international participants, the 17th edition of this contemporary art show will feature such highlights as “unaffiliate.us,” an exhibition by artist Tom Fruin that addresses drug addiction, and an installation by NBA all-star Amar’e Stoudemire’s art platform, the Melech Collection. scope-art.com

Design Miami (Dec. 6–10)
The acclaimed design fair marks its 13th edition with shows in 32 leading international galleries, as well as a feast of talks, collaborations, commissioned installations, and satellite events. Read on for some program highlights. designmiami.com

Design Curio
In its fourth year, the fair’s exhibition platform mounts a record 11 presentations—from Lindsey Adelman’s kinetic lighting to David Lindberg’s electrically engineered art to John Keith Russell’s survey of historic Shaker furniture.

Louis Vuitton “Objets Nomades”
The French fashion house unveils the latest additions to its growing collection of limited-edition furniture inspired by its Art of Travel campaign, including the Bomboca sofa by Fernando and Humberto Campana and the Palaver chair by Patricia Urquiola.

“Nuage” by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec 
In this satellite installation, the French designers bring shaded seating to the Miami Design District with a glass-and-steel pergola organically designed to engage with nature and the surrounding architecture.

Luftwerk and Perrier-Jouët 
The Champagne maison is partnering with Petra Bachmaier and Sean Gallero of the firm Luftwerk to create an installation using projected color and light that references Perrier-Jouët’s Art Nouveau background.

“Spatializing Blackness” Conversation Series 
Organized by University of Southern California architecture dean Milton S. F. Curry, this three-part panel discussion focuses on creative thinking in relation to black aesthetics and the contemporary black experience. Panelists include Hank Willis Thomas, Amanda Williams, David Adjaye, Marshall Brown, and others.

“Time For Oatmeal” at Liz Works
Fernando and Humberto Campana takeover New York gallerist Liz Swig’s booth, which will be dishing out inventive takes on oatmeal throughout the fair as part of a new initiative to “rebrand” the hearty breakfast grains.

Untitled, Miami Beach (Dec. 6–10)
In its sixth edition, the contemporary art exposition’s diverse program includes site-specific installations such as Thiago Martins de Melo’s “Deus Cortado” and a re-creation of Gordon Matta-Clark’s “Garbage Wall,” as well as a dance performance by Jamie Felton, and Untitled Radio, a platform for public engagement and discussion. untitledartfairs.com

“Chance Encounters III” at Loewe (Dec. 5–Feb. 4, 2018)
The third iteration of the Loewe Foundation’s Chance Encounters series—in which the fashion house’s creative director, Jonathan Anderson, selects artists to present in Loewe’s Miami Design District boutique—features Sara Flynn, artist Richard Smith, and Lionel Wendt. loewe.com

“Allison Zuckerman: Stranger in Paradise” at the Rubell Family Collection (Dec. 6–Aug. 25, 2018)
The Rubell Contemporary Art Foundation’s 2017 artist-in-residence showcases her latest large-scale paintings and sculptures, which blend historical images and internet culture to form acute social critiques through a pop-surrealist framework. rfc.museum

“Jacob Fellãnder: How to Unlock a Portal” at the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (Dec. 6–Feb. 11, 2018)
In his U.S. debut, the Swedish-born photographer offers a meditation on the ongoing movements between physical and virtual worlds with an exhibition that journeys from the flat surfaces of traditional photography and painting to three-dimensional sculptures and VR landscapes. mocanomi.org

Art Basel Miami Beach (Dec. 7–10)
The country’s premier art fair marks its 16th edition with 268 international galleries presenting a range of classical works and new art in sectors such as Positions (for emerging talents), Edition (printed and editioned work), and Nova (new work by contemporary artists). As always, films, conversations, and public installations are also on the agenda. artbasel.com

NADA Miami 2017 (Dec. 7–10)
The 15th edition of the annual art fair remains dedicated to showcasing emerging art and artists with a lineup of 108 international exhibitors and the inaugural New Art Dealers Alliance Acquisition Gift for the Pérez Art Museum Miami, a fund that enables the museum to acquire an artwork from the fair for its permanent collection. newartdealers.org

Pulse Contemporary Art Fair (Dec. 7–10)
The fair’s 13th edition brims with site-specific programs: Projects, which has commissioned a large-scale sculpture by Hector Arce-Espasas, among other installations and performances; Play, a new media platform featuring young artists such as Adama Delphine Fawundu and Ventiko; and Perspectives, a series of talks on themes in contemporary art. pulseartfair.com

“Franchise Freedom”
A collaboration between Studio Drift and BMW, this flying sculpture will comprise 300 drones—each outfitted with a light source to mimic the experience of an actual flock of birds. Final viewing dates and times will be announced on Instagram, via @studio.drift and @pacegallery, and on Facebook #bmwgroupculture. bmwgroup.com

“Room 2022” at Miami Beach Edition (Dec. 7–15)
British stage designer Es Devlin—known for her work with the likes of Kanye West, Beyoncé, and Jay Z—unveils a 7,000-square-foot site-specific installation that transforms parts of the Ian Schrager and Marriott International hotel into an immersive, transporting experience. editionhotels.com/miami-beach

Mika Rottenberg at the Bass Museum (Dec. 7–April 30, 2018)
The Argentinian multimedia artist continues to blend historical realism and fiction as part of her interrogation of hypercapitalism. Exhibited here, her video installations “NoNoseKnows”and “Cosmic Generator” illuminate the tensions between global systems and human existence through a poetic and absurdist lens. thebass.org

Editors’ Picks
Tips for how to make the most of this year’s Miami Art Week (or even escape the frenzy for an hour or two).

Le Sirenuse Miami at the Four Seasons
sirenusemiami.com
“I still haven’t been to the Miami outpost of the Positano getaway, but I hope to squeeze in a meal here during the week. Our CEO is a stickler when it comes to service, and rarely, if ever, does he say anything is perfect. He did, however, describe a recent dinner at Le Sirenuse Miami this way.” —Spencer Bailey, Editor-in-Chief

Waowig Studio
waowig-llc.myshopify.com
“As the shelves of my apartment attest, I’m perpetually on the hunt for unconventional, out-there objects. The delightfully eclectic work on view at Waowig Studio offers plenty to peruse. Merchandised by George Oh, veteran of Odin and Comme de Garçons, the space itself is a treat for the imagination.”  —Tiffany Jow, Design Editor

Employees Only
employeesonlymiami.com
“Yes, it’s a satellite of the original in New York, but this version of Employees Only comes packaged in South Beach deco. What hasn’t changed: the tarot card-reading psychic at the front, the hand-cut steak tartare, and those damn good cocktails. I always order a second round of the Billionaire, a lemony bourbon drink kicked with absinthe bitters.” —Nate Storey, Travel Editor

An Insider’s Itinerary 
Artist Derrick Adams shares some of his plans for the week.

“Sure, there are art and artists in Miami year-round, but December is when art takes over the city. I’ll be down in Miami for my curated exhibition ‘IMAGINATION LAND: Fantastical Narrative’ (on view through Dec. 15) presented at the National YoungArts Foundation, featuring the works of alumni, as well as my solo exhibition “Black White and Brown” (Dec. 5– Jan. 27, 2018) at Primary Projects gallery. Pérez Art Museum Miami is top on my list of places to visit, then I’m off to Wynwood Walls to enjoy the rotating mural commissions mostly created by local artists. Tap Tap Restaurant is my go-to spot for classic Haitian food, a vibrant gem in South Beach. Late at night, I’m for sure at The Corner, located on North Miami Ave., which serves craft beers, cocktails, and good food.”

For even more things to do and see while in Miami, check out our deep dive into the city, here.