Art Gaysel

Art Gaysel, the highly anticipated annual queer art fair hosted by Hotel Gaythering in South Beach, returns December 3-5. Coinciding with the international art world converging in Greater Miami & Miami Beach for Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Week, Art Gaysel will bring together over 30 queer artists from around the world, including the United States, Brazil, Greece, Italy, Spain and more.

This year marks the 11th anniversary of Art Gaysel showcasing contemporary queer identity through the lens of LGBTQ artists while providing them with an inclusive, supportive environment to exhibit their work and interact with fairgoers. The title of the fair – a playful blending of the hotel’s name and Art Basel, which is often mispronounced as “basil” – reflects the event’s cheeky personality and sassy energy, two of the ingredients that have made it so beloved by locals and visitors.

Gayseling Into The Night

Art Gaysel’s distinctive approach is key to its popularity too. Unlike most fairs, which wind down before dinnertime, Art Gaysel kicks off its energy in the evening, often running until midnight. This schedule encourages a casual, social environment where collectors, gallerists and artists can mingle and engage with work that’s often overlooked by larger, more traditional fairs. Another thing that sets Art Gaysel apart is its artist-to-audience connection. Visitors aren’t greeted by gallerists but by the artists themselves, creating a more personal and authentic experience.

Art Gaysel is spread throughout Hotel Gaythering – inside, outside and with live art in the hotel’s courtyard – and its 5 p.m. opening time aligns with the start of Gaythering Bar’s daily happy hour. The award-winning bar is known for its craft and seasonal cocktails, locally brewed IPAs and fun themed nights. Special programming during Art Gaysel will include live talent that aligns with the fair’s overall vibe.

A Place To Discover New Artists

The fair is an unapologetically queer experience that’s personally curated by Alex Guerra, co-owner of Hotel Gaythering and co-organizer of the fair. This hands-on process has resulted in Art Gaysel being referred to as an artists-for-artists fair and recognized for providing visibility to emerging artists. None of the artists who participate in Art Gaysel have gallery representation, though as a testament to Guerra’s keen eye, past participating artists have gone on to have such affiliations.

With mediums spanning from painting and drawing to photography and ceramics and in styles ranging from figurative and abstract to pop and surreal, the works exhibited at the fair are as diverse as the queer artists – all of whom will be present – featured in it. The common thread through it all is the exploration and mining of today’s queer culture and lived experiences through the creative eyes of the artists. The fair gives emerging LGBTQ artists a vital platform during what is arguably the most prestigious art week in the nation.

New participants at Art Gaysel this year include Los Angeles-based artists Amit Greenberg and Kory Alexander and New York City-based Chris Minard. Returnees include Raphael Hubner from Brazil, Spanish artists Daniel El Dibujo, Pascual Rodriguez and Bran Solo, and American artists Jonathan Kent Adams and Max Chen.

All This And It’s Free

Yes, that’s right. Admission to Art Gaysel is free and open to everyone. And with all the art on view available for purchase, it’s easy for fairgoers to add to – or start – their queer art collection.

By: Jeffrey Wilkinson | October 22, 2025