Art Gaysel
The date for this annual event has passed. A new date will be provided when available.
Free
Art Gaysel is Back at Hotel Gaythering
After a one-year hiatus, Art Gaysel, dubbed the “Queerest Art Fair,” is back and better than ever. Taking place at the popular gay-owned and operated Hotel Gaythering on Lincoln Road in South Beach from Thursday, December 2 through Saturday, December 4, 2021, Art Gaysel will showcase more than 30 artists who identify as LGBTQIA+ from all around the world. This is the sixth edition of the fair, which has grown since its inception to become a highlight of the Miami Art Week satellite fairs surrounding Art Basel Miami Beach.
The participating Art Gaysel artists will be taking over the entire property, exhibiting in 23 hotel rooms that will be turned into mini-workshops and galleries. Alex Guerra, the hotel’s co-owner as well as a co-organizer of the show, is personally involved in selecting the exhibiting artists. “I am an artist and my basis of contact is always from an artist perspective. At Art Gaysel, the chosen artists have complete control of their space and experience,” he says. “This year is no different. I have continued to follow queer-identifying artists over the years, and each year I reach out to them to participate.”
Free and Fun for All
A key aspect of Art Gaysel is its accessibility, with the fair being completely free to any and all visitors. During the three-day fair, the rooms will open daily at 5 p.m. for guests to meet the artists and, of course, purchase unique pieces of art. “Art Gaysel is unapologetically queer,” shares Guerra. “The fair gives emerging queer artists a platform during arguably the most prestigious art week in the country. We cannot think of a better way to use our platform and our hotel than to showcase such talents.”
The P-Town Connection & Beyond
A unique aspect of this year’s Art Gaysel is a new partnership with the Provincetown Commons, a collaborative workspace for artists based in Provincetown, Massachusetts (or P-Town for those in the know). Guerra and his partner are part-time residents in Provincetown, so it felt only natural to include artists from the area. “Provincetown is such an iconic and historic art colony that we decided to mesh our dual lives by incorporating Provincetown artists,” he says. “This collaboration is very exciting to us, as a piece of our heart is deep within the Provincetown gay community.”
Art Gaysel will certainly be a melting pot of artists from around the globe, including Spain, Greece, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Milan and more. The U.S. is well represented, with artists hailing from Los Angeles, Mississippi, New York and, of course, Miami. “Local artist and designer DePaul Vera returns with his bright and innocent take on homoerotic mixed-media collage,” Guerra says. “DePaul is also the artist behind Hotel Gaythering’s weekly animated events and social media fliers, along with our iconic penis-mural bathroom.” Returning this year is an Art Gaysel favorite, Daniel “El Dibujo” from Spain, who will be showcasing his new work.
One of the featured artists Guerra is most excited about is Zain Curtis, from California. “Zain is known as ‘Happy Devil Boy,’ and his work embodies that name. Nostalgic, vintage gay erotica meets a 1970s grunge clown.” Another artist Guerra looks forward to welcoming is Pietro Spirito, from Milan, Italy, who specializes in ceramic sculptures and watercolor drawings. “Pietro takes influence from the human figure and animals in his humanoid sculptures,” Guerra says.
Why Art Gaysel is Different
Ultimately, what sets Art Gaysel apart is its commitment to showcasing new, emerging queer artists and popular favorites from around the world. It’s an opportunity for the LGBTQIA+ community to gather together and celebrate art. “Art Gaysel is the party fair by default and by definition if you ask anyone that has previously attended,” says Guerra. “While most fairs run all day and close before dinner, we open for happy hour and close late at night. This timing structure sets us apart as a more relaxed fair where collectors, gallerists and other artists can meet, mingle and admire the work the other fairs are starved of.”
As Art Gaysel continues to grow, evolve and gain in popularity, there are far too many artists to mention here. You will have to visit Hotel Gaythering this December to see them all for yourself. Bring a friend (or two) and get ready to purchase some art and have a gay ol’ time.
By: Gino R. Campodónico | November 17, 2021