History of Art Basel Miami Beach

The eyes of the global art world turn to Greater Miami & Miami Beach’s art scene during Art Basel Miami Beach, the premier annual art fair that A-listers from all over the world circle on their calendars. Art Basel Miami Beach will be open to the public on December 5 to 7, 2025, at the Miami Beach Convention Center in South Beach.

Art Basel Miami Beach draws an international crowd, and fairgoers can expect more than 280 galleries from 40 countries across 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, 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.

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 has turned into a weeklong collective of art-centric events across the area.

One of the most-notable fairs is Untitled Art, a contemporary art fair founded by Jeff Lawson in 2012 that takes place inside a tent 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, hear panel discussions and peep diverse artwork from emerging artists and under-the-radar talent.

Another popular satellite fair is 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. Meanwhile, Design Miami is a sister fair to Art Basel Miami Beach. It presents museum-quality exhibitions of 20th- and 21st-century furniture, lighting and objects and also hosts panel discussions, lectures and other programming under a tent 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, pushes the boundaries of traditional art spaces. This annual exhibition offers art lovers the chance to see exciting art, from sculptures to murals to site-specific installations, at various Miami Beach hotels, each with their own artistic underpinnings. The juried art competition launched in 2019 and mainly supports local artists. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

The AfriKin Art Fair is a signature event of AfriKin, a nonprofit group that promotes African contemporary art. During Art Week, the art fair, held at the Scott Galvin Community Center in North Miami, showcases an array of international, emerging and mid-career artists from around the world. Expect artist talks, performance art, African dance, immersive art works and even health screenings for the community.

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. Wynwood is known for its street art and Wynwood Walls' ever-changing murals. The Miami Design District is home to an array of public art and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA), which boasts three floors of exhibition space for both its permanent collections and special exhibitions as well as a sculpture garden. And admission is always free.

Downtown Miami is home to one of the Miami’s most important cultural institutions, 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 Miami’s diverse cultural melting pot, including Latin America, the Caribbean and the African diaspora.

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

While art buffs won’t want to miss Art Basel Miami Beach, they’ll discover plenty of opportunities to celebrate best-in-class arts and culture in Greater Miami & Miami Beach all year.