Art Basel, Miami Beach “Observing the Observer” 2021

MSA-eXperimental we decided to observe the  Observer

PRESS RELEASE
MIAMI BEACH | DECEMBER 4 | 2021

Art Basel stages highly successful return to Miami Beach, with strong sales and
outstanding presentations marking a landmark 2021 edition
• Art Basel’s first show in Miami Beach since the start of the pandemic
closed on Saturday, December 4, 2021, amid reports of vigorous sales
across all sectors of the market and throughout the duration of the show
• The fair reinforced its position as a singular cultural event in the Americas,
attracting major collectors and institutions from 72 countries across the
United States, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and beyond
• The fair attracted an overall attendance of 60,000 throughout its VIP and
public days
• Following successful iterations in Hong Kong and Basel, Art Basel Live
amplified the show’s participating galleries to online audiences around the
globe
• The show, whose Lead Partner is UBS, took place from December 2 to
December 4, 2021 at the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC)
The 2021 edition of Art Basel Miami Beach – Art Basel’s first in–person fair in the United
States since 2019 – brought together 253 leading international galleries from 36 countries
and territories, presenting the highest quality of artworks across all media, from painting
and sculpture to photography and digital works. 44 galleries joined the fair for the first
time this year, including: Central Galeria and Galeria Estação from São Paulo, Curro from
Guadalajara, Galeria Patricia Ready from Vitacura, Proyectos Ultravioleta from
Guatemala City, Wilding Cran Gallery from Los Angeles, Reyes Finn from Detroit, Daniel
Faria Gallery from Toronto, and Gallery Hyundai from Seoul.
This year’s show was more diverse than ever before and welcomed four first–time
participants from Africa, including Afriart Gallery from Kampala; First Floor Gallery Harare
with spaces in Harare and Victoria Falls; SMAC Art Gallery with spaces in Cape Town,
Johannesburg, and Stellenbosch; and Rele Gallery with spaces in Lagos and Los
Angeles. In recognition of the changing gallery landscape, this year Art Basel and its
Selection Committee relaxed many of its exhibitor application requirements, including the
minimum number of exhibitions a gallery must hold per year, the need to have a
permanent space, and the number of years the gallery must have been in operation. The
changes allowed the fair to welcome a broader range of first–time participants, including
the newly–opened Nicola Vassell in New York and the roaming Kendra Jayne Patrick
Gallery.
Collector attendance this year was similarly international as in years past, with leading
private collectors and institutions from 72 countries across North and South America,
Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East visiting the fair, as well as leading patrons and
curators from over 170 museums and cultural organizations including: Blanton Museum
of Art, Austin; ICA Boston; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; MOCA Los
Angeles; MUAC (Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo), Mexico City; Museo
Tamayo, Mexico City; Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham; New Museum,

New York; Palais de Lomé; SAHA, Istanbul; Serpentine Galleries, London; Tel Aviv
Museum of Art; The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Tate Americas
Foundation, New York; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; and Whitney Museum of
American Art, New York.
‘This show marks the first truly international art fair to take place in the United States
since the beginning of the pandemic,’ says Marc Spiegler, Global Director, Art Basel. ‘It
has been incredible to witness again the energy in the halls and the enormous pent–up
demand for seeing, buying, and selling art in person. We featured a much more diverse
range of voices than ever before, making this show particularly vibrant and rich in new
discoveries.’
Following its success in Basel and Hong Kong, Art Basel Live amplified onsite
presentations in Miami Beach, with a digital program comprising Online Viewing Rooms,
virtual walkthroughs, livestreamed conversations, and social media broadcasts
transmitting the vibrancy and excitement from the show floor to the broadest possible
global audience.
In light of the ongoing pandemic, Art Basel implemented comprehensive measures to
create a safe fair environment, including a mandatory mask policy inside the venue. In
addition, timed entry system was put in place to control occupancy inside the halls.
Galleries exhibiting in all sectors of Art Basel shared their enthusiasm about this year’s
edition:
‘As a first–time exhibitor at Art Basel Miami Beach and as a gallery based in Kampala,
Uganda, Africa, we were more than thrilled to be at the fair and do so well. Our presence
here proves that the world is opening up to a variety of artistic voices, and I am leaving
the fair more optimistic about the future of the art world.’
Daudi Karungi, Director, Afriart Gallery, Kampala
‘A huge win for Miami and the metaverse this week! We were thrilled to place so many
works from the fair in great collections, including pieces by Robert Nava and Marina
Perez Simão with museums. Art Basel brought us new opportunities in the digital sphere
too — the coming–together of creative minds and tech innovators at the fair provided
rocket fuel for our digital artists, including the debut of several NFTs.’
Marc Glimcher, President and CEO, Pace Gallery, New York, Palo Alto, Palm Beach,
Hong Kong, Seoul, Geneva, London
‘We were so pleased to see Art Basel Miami Beach back in full swing, and really
encouraged to have met so many new people at this edition of the fair. It felt like a shift in
gear, even more energy than the previous fair pre–pandemic. The week was certainly a
great success for us, with swift sales, and it was really rewarding to be making these
sales in person on the booth again. We’re leaving on a high having really enjoyed all that
Miami’s expanding art scene has to offer.’
Thaddaeus Ropac, Founder, Thaddaeus Ropac, London, Paris, Salzburg, Seoul
‘It felt great to be back in Miami. The enthusiasm among the collectors, curators and
advisors was wonderful, and the conversations were incredibly lively – all a reassuring
reminder that the art world is truly a community and that Art Basel Miami Beach is its
leading fair in the United States. We had an amazing first day with almost 20 works sold,
including several, like paintings by Christina Quarles and Rashid Johnson, going to major
institutions. Every work in our stand came from our gallery artists and estates, so the
enthusiasm from private and institutional collectors was even more gratifying for us. It’s

clear that American art continues to lead the market with top quality being the north star
on the compass.’
Marc Payot, President, Hauser & Wirth, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New
York, Somerset, St. Moritz, Zurich, Gstaad, Menorca
‘We were thrilled to participate in Art Basel Miami Beach for the first time with Karon
Davis. Sales couldn’t have been stronger, and it was an honor to exhibit with the other
galleries in the Positions sector. We look forward to returning next year.’
Anthony Cran, Owner, Wilding Cran Gallery, Los Angeles
‘We had a very successful Art Basel Miami Beach and were happy to be back at the fair.
The quality of visitors at the preview days was excellent with top–tier collectors, curators,
and museum directors all attending. The slightly more relaxed pace suited us very well,
giving us the chance to have in–depth conversations about our artists and the works on
view. Sales were very strong across the board, and we left Miami with high spirits!’
Monika Sprüth, Co–Owner, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Hong
Kong
‘Our first presentation at Art Basel Miami Beach’s Galleries sector has been a fantastic
experience. We met new collectors and reconnected with many old friends. Sales have
been strong and we placed work for every artist in our booth, including a Jameson Green
paint to the ICA Miami and a sold-out Ellen Lesperance Kabinett booth.’
Derek Eller, Owner, Derek Eller Gallery, New York
‘We returned to Miami Beach after two years to tremendous energy and great colleagues,
clients, and curators from around the world — many old and many entirely new to our
program. US collectors, in particular, arrived with a real desire to buy — sales were swift
and strong for a wide variety of our artists and estates, with placements in prominent
private collections and institutions. We are reminded once again how vitally important the
art fair is to our community and ecosystem.’
Xavier Hufkens, Owner, Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
‘Miami is back with a bang. It’s clear that there was demand and desire to see art in
person, resulting in strong placements with museums and private collections including the
acquisition of Dominic Chambers’ work by a prominent museum in China, to the
placement of multiple works by Teresita Fernández for over $1.3 million. Together with
our seasonal presentation of new works by Do Ho Suh in Palm Beach, the fair gave us
confidence closing out 2021 and looking ahead to next year.’
David Maupin, Co–founder, Lehmann Maupin, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, and
London
‘This year we came hoping and expecting the fair to be very focused on collectors from
the Americas but were very pleased to see that Europeans and Asians also came in solid
numbers. We met a number of new clients and also reconnected with so many ongoing
clients. The results were really strong and reconfirmed for us the leading position of the
fair in the US and their support for our program.’
Javier Perés, Founder, Peres Projects, Berlin
‘It was important that Art Basel Miami Beach happened this year. We have connected
with new local collectors and started planning for new institutional projects. It feels great
to be back again and to finally offer a physical experience to art. So far the best fair we
have done for years.’
Mariane Ibrahim, Founder, Mariane Ibrahim, Chicago, Paris
‘Art Basel Miami Beach is officially back. This was a truly exciting fair where enthusiasm
about Qualeasha Wood’s work resonated between art collectors, art institutions, and the

art–seeing public alike. Sales were immediately strong, and we are pleased to have found
wonderful and notable homes for her work.’
Kendra Jayne Patrick, Director, Kendra Jayne Patrick Gallery, New York
For further quotes, please click here.
Galleries
The main sector of the fair featured 185 of the world’s leading galleries presenting the
highest quality of painting, sculpture, drawings, installation, photography, video, and
digital works. Five galleries that previously exhibited in Nova graduated into Galleries:
Barro, Galerie Crèvecœur, Mariane Ibrahim, Patron, and Galerie Jérôme Poggi.
For the full gallery list for Galleries, please visit artbasel.com/miami–beach/galleries.
Positions
This year, the Positions sector brought together 19 solo presentations by emerging
talents from across the globe. Sector highlights included: first–time participant African
Gallery’s presentation of a series of four paintings by Sungei Mlengeya, on the lives of
four Black women from East Africa and their views on womanhood; Claudia Peña
Salinas’ project, which continues her ongoing research into Aztec mythology, exploring
indigenous notions of verticality and symbolism of water, presented by Curro; ‘The New
Americans’ by Vincent Valdez, a series of portraits that inspire viewers to challenge the
notions of the American perspective, presented by Matthew Brown Los Angeles; and
Rele Gallery’s booth with Marcellina Akpojotor, featuring a series of works that honor
the life and legacy of the artist’s great–grandmother and explore ideas of memory, history,
and remembrance. For the full gallery list for Positions, please visit artbasel.com/miami–
beach/positions.
Nova
Nova featured 25 presentations of newly created works. Highlights included: a solo
exhibition of recent works by 2021 BMW Art Journey winner Julien Creuzet at
Document; a group presentation of works by Patricia Belli, Mónica Bengoa, and
Catalina Swinburn, inspired by the artists’ local stories of gender inequality, geopolitical
diasporas, and the daily use of textiles in Latin America, at Galería Isabel Aninat; new
works by Diedrick Brackens and Jessie Homer French, exploring themes ranging from
climate justice to racial violence and historical memory, at Various Small Fires; a
selection of never–before–seen works by Felipe Mujica, jointly presented by Proyectos
Ultravioleta and von Bartha; and an immersive installation by Ambera Wellmann on the
politics of queer space and futurity at Company Gallery. For the full gallery list for Nova,
please visit artbasel.com/miami–beach/nova.
Survey
Featuring 17 focused presentations of work created before 2000, Survey introduced five
new galleries to the Miami Beach edition, including Welancora Gallery from New York
and Galerie lange + pult with spaces in Zurich and Auvernier. Further highlights included:
the room–sized installation ‘Harlem Quilt’ (1997) by June Clark at Daniel Faria Gallery; a
presentation of rare 20th–century works by Dindga McCannon at Fridman Gallery;
paintings and sculptures spanning nearly three decades by María Freire at Piero
Atchugarry Gallery; and a selection of works by Tina Girouard from her early years in
New York at Anat Ebgi. For the full gallery list for Survey, please visit artbasel.com/miami–
beach/survey.
Edition
Five global leaders in the field of prints and editioned works were featured in the sector
this year: Carolina Nitsch, Cristea Roberts Gallery, Polígrafa Obra Gràfica, Susan

Sheehan Gallery, and Two Palms. For further information, please visit
artbasel.com/miami–beach/edition.
Kabinett
Providing galleries with an opportunity to present curated exhibitions separately
delineated spaces within their booths, this year’s Kabinett sector included 25
presentations by established and emerging artists. Highlights included Jorge Mara – La
Ruche’s presentation of Ellen Auerbach, Horacio Coppola, and Grete Stern, three
influential figures of avant–garde photography who established themselves as a visionary
modernists in Europe and South America during the 1930s; Sies + Höke’s presentation of
rare early drawings by Sigmar Polke and Gerhard Richter, which trace the differences
and the common ground in their artistic approaches; and Mayoral’s presentation of works
by Manolo Millares, one of the most important Spanish artists of the post–war European
Informalist movement. For the full list of artists and galleries represented in Kabinett,
please visit artbasel.com/miami–beach/kabinett.
Meridians
Curated by Magalí Arriola, Director of Museo Tamayo, the sector featured 16 ambitious
presentations pushing the boundaries of a traditional art fair layout. The sector was newly
staged in a dedicated space on the main show floor. Highlights included new work by
Maxwell Alexandre as part of the artist’s ‘Pardo é Papel’ series, presented by A Gentil
Carioca; a site–specific installation and a performance–based activation of six body
devices by Brendan Fernandes titled ‘Contract and Release’ (2019–2021) presented by
Monique Meloche; David Lewis’ presentation of Todd Gray’s ‘Sumptuous Memories of
Plundering Kings’ (2021), a 14–part work exceeding 30 feet in length, explores the history
and enduring impact of European colonialism, slavery, and the African diaspora; and
‘Moving Up’ (2021) by Yinka Shonibare, CBE, an installation presented by James
Cohan Gallery capturing the vertical movement of six million African Americans from rural
Southern states to the cities of the North, Midwest, and West from 1916 to 1970, known
today as the Great Migration. For the full list of artists and galleries represented in
Meridians please visit at artbasel.com/miami–beach/meridians.
Conversations
Art Basel’s renowned talks series brought together leading artists, gallerists, collectors,
art historians, curators, museum directors, and critics from across the world. Programmed
for the second time by private art dealer and author Edward Winkleman and Art Basel,
Conversations featured 10 panels offering perspectives on diverse issues from the rise of
the NFT art market, to the resilience of the post–pandemic market, and the need to re–
invent the museum. Free and open to the public, All panel discussions were also live–
streamed on Facebook. Recordings will be available at
artbasel.com/miamibeach/conversations shortly.
The Legacy Purchase Program by the City of Miami Beach
As part of the City of Miami Beach’s new Legacy Purchase Program, the city acquired
work by emerging artist Farah Al Qasimi represented by Helena Anrather. This
acquisition prize deepens Miami Beach’s longstanding partnership with Art Basel, building
a legacy for the future.
Museums Shows and Private Collections
Visitors to Art Basel Miami Beach will have the opportunity to experience South Florida’s
leading museums and private collections, including:
• The Bass
‘Naama Tsabar: Perimeters’
‘Alex Israel x Snapchat’
‘Abraham Cruzvillegas: Agua dulce’

‘Najja Moon: Your Mommas Voice in the Back of Your Head’
‘Open Storage: Selections from the Collection & Works on Loan’
‘The Willfulness of Objects’
‘Art Outside’
• de la Cruz Collection Contemporary Art Space
‘There Is Always One Direction
• Espacio 23 / Jorge Pérez Collection
‘Witness: Afro Perspectives from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection’
• Frost Art Museum – Florida International University
‘Bob Dylan: Retrospectrum’
• The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami)
‘Hugh Hayden and Jade Fadojutimi’
‘Betye Saar: Serious Moonlight’
• Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA)
‘My Name is Maryan’
• Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
‘Allied with Power: African and African Diaspora Art from the Jorge M. Perez
Collection’
‘Meleko Makgosi: Your Trip to Africa’
‘Zhivago Duncan: Pretentious Crap’
‘The Artist as Poet: Selections from PAMM’s Collection’
‘Jedd Novatt: Monotypes and More’
‘Marco Brambilla: Heaven’s Gate’
‘Felipe Mujica: The Swaying Motion on the Bank of the River Falls’
‘George Segal: Abraham’s Farewell to Ishmael’
• Wolfsonian – Florida International University
‘Shameless’
• Margulies Collection at the Warehouse
‘Arte Povera’
• Rubell Museum
‘Hernan Bas’
‘Yayoi Kusama’
‘Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe’
‘Genesis Tramaine’
‘Kennedy Yanko’
Design Miami
Taking place concurrently with the Art Basel fairs in Miami Beach and Basel, Design Miami
is the premier venue for collecting, exhibiting, discussing, and creating collectible designs.
In its 17th edition this year, Design Miami took place from December 1 to December 5,
adjacent to the MBCC (at Meridian Avenue and 19th Street). For more information,
please visit designmiami.com.
NOTES TO EDITORS

About Art Basel
Founded in 1970 by gallerists from Basel, Art Basel today stages the world’s premier art
shows for Modern and contemporary art sited in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong.
Defined by its host city and region, each show is unique, which is reflected in its
participating galleries, artworks presented, and the content of parallel programming
produced in collaboration with local institutions for each edition. Art Basel’s engagement
has expanded beyond art fairs through new digital platforms and a number of new
initiatives such as the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report and the BMW Art
Journey. Art Basel’s Global Media Partner is The Financial Times. For further information,
please visit artbasel.com.
Partners
UBS & Contemporary Art Global
Lead Partner of Art Basel, UBS has a long history of supporting contemporary art and
artists. The firm has one of the world’s most important corporate art collections and seeks
to advance the international conversation about the art market through its global lead
partnership with Art Basel and as co–publisher of the Art Basel and UBS Global Art
Market Report. UBS also has partnerships with fine art institutions including the
Foundation Beyeler in Switzerland, the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Russia,
and the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Australia. UBS provides its clients with insight
into the art market, collecting, and legacy planning through its Collectors Circle and UBS
Art Advisory. For more information about UBS’s commitment to contemporary art, visit
ubs.com/art
Art Basel’s Associate Partners are Audemars Piguet, whose program in contemporary
art: ‘Audemars Piguet Contemporary’ commissions’ international artists to create
contemporary artworks; and NetJets – the world leader in private aviation. Art Basel is
also supported globally by BMW, who has co–developed with Art Basel the BMW Art
Journey, and La Prairie, Ruinart, Sanlorenzo, and On.
Art Basel’s show in Miami Beach is also supported by Tezos, Douglas Elliman
Development Marketing, Nespresso, and Chubb, as well as Casa Dragones, Château
d’Esclans, Perrier, Kannoa, Saint Laurent and Quintessentially. Hotel Partners include
Grand Beach Hotel Miami Beach and W South Beach. Art Basel’s Global Media Partner
is The Financial Times. For further information about partnerships, please visit
artbasel.com/partners.
Important Dates for Media
Upcoming Art Basel shows
Hong Kong, March 24–26, 2022
Basel, June 16–19, 2022
Miami Beach, December 1–4, 2022
Media information online
Media information and images can be downloaded directly from artbasel.com/press.
Journalists can subscribe to our media mailings to receive information on Art Basel.
For the latest updates on Art Basel, visit artbasel.com, find us on Facebook at
facebook.com/artbasel, or follow @artbasel on Instagram, Twitter, Weibo, and WeChat.
Press Contacts

Art Basel, Sarah Degen
Tel. +41 58 206 27 06, press@artbasel.com
PR Representatives for North and South America, the Middle East, and Africa
FITZ & CO, Yun Lee
Tel. +1 646 589 0920, ylee@fitzandco.art
PR Representatives for Europe
SUTTON, Joseph Lamb
Tel. +44 7715 666 041, joseph@suttoncomms.com
PR Representatives for Asia
SUTTON, Carol Lo
Tel. +852 2528 0792, carol@suttoncomms.com