The eyes of the global art world remain fixed on Greater Miami & Miami Beach’s ever-evolving art scene and Art Basel Miami Beach, the annual premier art fair that art lovers and A-listers from all over circle on their calendars. Now celebrating 22 years, Art Basel Miami Beach will be open to the public on December 6-8, 2024, at the Miami Beach Convention Center in South Beach.

Art Basel Miami Beach always draws an international crowd, and this year, the fair will feature its largest number of new exhibitors in more than a decade. Fairgoers can expect more than 280 galleries from 38 countries and territories, including Europe, Asia, Brazil, Argentina, the Middle East and Africa.

But the love of art has expanded beyond the convention center. Throughout the years, the art extravaganza evolved into Miami Art Week, which is now comprised of lauded satellite fairs and programming at cultural institutions, private collections and galleries as well as parties sprinkled throughout the destination.

How It All Began

The original Art Basel started in Basel, Switzerland, in 1970. Launched by Swiss gallerists Ernst Beyeler, Trudl Bruckner and Balz Hilt, who wanted to woo a new wave of art buyers and collectors, the first fair began with 90 galleries and drew more than 16,000 attendees. Art Basel was an instant hit, and officials soon realized there was room to expand internationally.

Fast-forward to the early 2000s, when the fair’s organizers focused their sights on Greater Miami & Miami Beach and its distinctly multicultural spirit. Thanks to their belief in Miami’s potential, as well as the urging of local leaders and a host of private collectors, Art Basel expanded to the United States with its first sister fair, Art Basel Miami Beach, in 2002.

In Art Basel Miami Beach’s inaugural year, 160 galleries from 23 countries showcased their works, drawing 30,000 attendees, who were attracted by the chance to see and buy best-in-class art and hob-nob with the art elite while enjoying an experience only Miami can deliver. Art enthusiasts from all over the world were thrilled to mix a sun-drenched vacation with art appreciation, glittery parties and celebrity sightings.

Several people played important roles in bringing Art Basel to Miami Beach. Norman Braman, a prominent figure in Miami’s art scene, helped convince the Swiss art fair to consider expanding to Miami. The car dealer and art collector had developed relationships with fair officials when he began buying art at the Swiss fair. Mera and Don Rubell, whose impressive personal art collection is on display at the Rubell Museum in Allapattah, were also major players in attracting Art Basel to Miami Beach, as were other private collectors, including Martin Margulies of The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse in Wynwood.

Gallery spaces with sculptures and paintings to explore, Courtesy Art Basel — Experience the evolution of Miami Art Week, Courtesy Art Basel

Notable Fairs, Exhibitions and More

As Art Basel became a huge success and attendance grew, the fair evolved outside of the convention center. New satellite fairs, galleries and cultural institutions began adding their own events, exhibitions and parties, and Miami Art Week, which this year will take place December 2-8, has turned into a week-long collective of art-centric events across the area.

One of the most-notable fairs is Untitled Art, a contemporary art fair that was founded by Jeff Lawson in 2012 and takes place inside an expansive tent situated on the sands of South Beach with glorious ocean views. Lawson started Untitled after a decade of attending fairs he felt were exactly the same, from the featured artists to the layouts, and he wanted to create something fresh that felt more like an experience. This curated satellite art fair is the place to see live performances, join panel discussions and peep at diverse artwork from emerging artists and under-the-radar talent.

Other popular satellite fairs include SCOPE Miami Beach, which also takes place on the sands of South Beach, and after more than 20 years, continues to garner praise for its showcase of more than 130 international exhibitors, and Design Miami, which presents museum-quality exhibitions of 20th- and 21st-century furniture, lighting and objects as well as panel discussions, lectures and other programming at a location next to the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Another top Art Week fair, No Vacancy, Miami Beach, presented by the City of Miami Beach and the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, is free, open to the public and also pushes the boundaries of traditional art spaces. This annual exhibition stands out because it offers art lovers the chance to see exciting art, from sculptures to murals to site-specific installations, at 12 famed Miami Beach hotels (which flaunt their own artistic endeavors). The juried art competition launched in 2019 and mainly supports local artists; the 12 participating artists and collectives receive a stipend to craft their art project at a hotel and can win $35,000 in prize money.

Celebrating its 10th year during Miami Art Week, the AfriKin Art Fair is a signature event of AfriKin, a nonprofit group that highlights African contemporary art and innovation. During Art Week, the art fair at the Scott Galvin Community Center in North Miami will showcase an array of international, emerging and mid-career artists from around the world. From December 1-8, expect artist talks, performance art, such as African dance, immersive art works and even health screenings for the community.

Mary Sibande's life-size sculpture The Domba Dance, Courtesy Art Basel — Art lovers admiring Mary Sibande's The Domba Dance, Courtesy Art Basel

Art Basel Miami Beach’s Impact on Miami’s Art Scene

Since the inception of Art Basel Miami Beach, Greater Miami & Miami Beach has emerged as a global player in the art world and a full-time art destination. Incredible art in all mediums is now on display throughout various neighborhoods, with highly regarded art institutions and private museums finding new homes in areas such as Wynwood, known for its street art and Wynwood Walls’ ever-changing murals, and the Miami Design District, home to an array of public art and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA), which boasts three floors of permanent collections and exhibitions as well as a sculpture garden.

PAMM's exterior with hanging garden — Explore Pérez Art Museum Miami for a fusion of modern art and diverse cultures

Downtown Miami hosts one of the area’s most important cultural institutions, the  Pérez Art Museum Miami. PAMM, which fronts Biscayne Bay and is adorned with hanging gardens, contains a stirring collection of 20th- and 21st-century art that speaks to the destination’s diverse culture as well as the cultures of Latin America, the Caribbean and the African diaspora.

Allapattah is another burgeoning neighborhood with a diverse art scene well worth exploring during Miami Art Week. In addition to the Rubell Museum, at the experiential museum Superblue Miami, the walls come alive with vivid digital art and you’ll wander through mirrored labyrinths. Also in Allapattah, you’ll also find El Espacio 23, a contemporary art space founded by mega-collector Jorge Pérez.

While art buffs won’t want to miss Art Basel Miami, they’ll also discover plenty of opportunities to celebrate world-class arts and culture here all year.

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