Posts tagged with "Miami art week"

Eva Lanska

Live and Breathe the Film Industry: Israeli’s Star Artist Eva Lanska’s take on the Film Industry and NFT Spaces

The NFT space is a haven for art lovers and artists all over the world. Our recent conversation with the Israeli star Eva Lanska provides an intimate understanding of her experience in the NFT space and the film industry. Being an Israeli film director and artist, she sells and promotes her work in the NFT space while also working as a film director in her Tel Aviv studio. Eva claims that film direction and art have been her passions since the age of seven, but it has taken her twenty years to realize her dream. She discusses her struggles as a female director and artist, highlighting the challenges she has faced in the industry. “Art, film, this is what we choose, these are our lives, one day the door will open and we will become who we want to be, and we will take our place,” she encourages women in the industry. Eva reveals that she does not come from an influential family of Hollywood personalities and as such, she has had to work her way into the Hollywood family.

The story behind the exceptional woman reveals the reality in Hollywood. “If you do not come from a famous Hollywood family, you have to work extra hard to get noticed in the industry…because the Hollywood inner circle is a very small, closely knit family,” Eva states. “Before getting noticed, one has to live and breathe Hollywood,” she confesses. We all admire the stunning Israeli artist for navigating the difficult path into Hollywood’s inner circle. “Talent is simply not enough, knowledge is not enough; you must become one with the community,” Eva says, possibly the most candid advice she has for people trying to make it in the entertainment industry.

The conversation quickly shifts to the NFT space and what it means to artists around the world. Eva describes the NFT space as a platform that offers artists the freedom of expression. At first, she finds it intimidating, particularly as a woman new to the platform. It becomes even more intimidating for her when she meets award-winning scholars, but she overcomes her fears and eventually establishes a reputable name in the industry. Eva also expresses her dissatisfaction with the platform’s marginalization of women, claiming that their projects often take longer to be approved or funded. “We can only go forward, never look back, and we are gonna go till we achieve,” she encourages women in the industry. “Stopping, giving up is not an option,” she adds, “we have to keep going and moving forward.”

Miami Art Week is a celebration and appreciation of the world’s best art collections, it is no surprise that Eva Lanska’s collection is featured. The NFT exhibition will display some of Eva’s large-scale sculptures and paintings, along with Michael Benisty, WhIsBe, Noah Becker, Lauren Baker, Maxim Zhestkov, and more, at the Bagatelle Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Photographic works from Lanska’s Gematria collection and The Existential Choice are featured exclusively at the NFT event. For the opening event, Eva collaborated with SmartMedia to produce a special limited edition (1000) NFT from her Gematria series called Gematria 596. She proudly describes this piece as a symbol of purity. Eva’s art is celebrated for the messages it conveys, she has previously used art to address gender equality and societal injustices. This event serves as a reminder of the powerful woman Eva Lanska is and how her art will leave a lasting impression on the world.

Gematria by EVA LANSKA via 360 MAGAZINE.

The Existential Choice by Eva Lanska via 360 MAGAZINE.

Miami Art Week 2022

Miami Art Week 2022 – Gnazzo Group Highlights

With Art Week just a few days away, here is a list of must-see highlights to look forward to this year–ranging from art galleries, to fashion happenings, new and exciting openings, premier dining destinations, and more.

What to do in the Miami Design District:

Germane Barnes’ Design Commission “Rock | Roll”
Craig Robins Collection’s “Two of The Same Kind”
Gagosian and Jeffery Deitch’s “100 Years”
Mario Carbone’s “Our Lady of Rocco” Pop-up
New openings: Balenciaga (biggest store in the U.S), Moncler, FENDI Casa

*Additional galleries, dates and assets listed below

Where to Eat in Miami:

Major Food Group:
- Contessa (just opened) & ZZ’s Club | Miami Design District
- Sadelle’s | Coconut Grove
- Carbone and HaSalon | Miami Beach
- Dirty French Steakhouse | Brickell
From the creators of Mandolin Aegean Bistro
- Mandolin Aegean Bistro & Mrs. Mandolin | Miami Design District *2nd locations recently opened in LA*
- The Drexel | Miami Beach

Where to Stay in Miami:

Pelican Hotel | South Beach **Owned by Renzo Rosso, newly reopened after a 2 year hiatus. Renzo is hosting a private opening preview. More info available upon request**

LOUIS VUITTON’S ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH EXHIBIT

ABOUT: Louis Vuitton will exhibit selected works by a curated ensemble of the world’s most-renowned artists as part of Art Basel Miami Beach, held at the Convention Center in Miami Beach from November 29 – December 3. Standout artist collaborations on display in the Louis Vuitton lounge include two wax figures of Yayoi Kusama, created by the artist herself; a panda figure sculpture by Takashi Murakami on a vintage Louis Vuitton trunk; paintings by Richard Prince and Alex Katz; a photo by Jean Larivière, and the now iconic Artycapucines collection. As a celebration of the Maison’s relationship with Yayoi Kusama – and to mark the 10-year anniversary of the first collaboration – exclusive new pieces will be showcased for the first time as a teaser of the upcoming collaboration.

Louis Vuitton will present during Art Basel Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139.

2022 MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT DESIGN COMMISSION: ROCK | ROLL BY GERMANE BARNES

ABOUT: The Miami Design District has awarded Miami-based architect and designer, Germane Barnes, the 2022 Miami Design District Annual Design Commission. Barnes’ winning installation, Rock | Roll was designed as a celebration of the BIPOC communities who have shaped Miami’s one-of-a-kind, polyethnic culture, from the city’s foundations to today. Curated by Anava Projects, Rock | Roll marks is conceived as a love letter to the people of Miami, Barnes’ multi-scale installation draws on the vibrant visual language of Miami Carnival. It will be realized across the Design District’s public spaces as well as a special installation at the entrance of the Design Miami/.

Dates: Mid-November onward

Location: Miami Design District

MUSEUM OF ART AND DESIGN AT MDC PRESENTS RAFAEL DOMENECH: ESTUARY [PAVILION for MOAD]

ABOUT: The Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at Miami Dade College (MDC) presents Estuary [Pavilion for MOAD], a work by Cuban American artist Rafael Domenech, opening Friday, Nov. 18, during the 39^th Miami Book Fair at MDC Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami. The exhibition will remain on view through January 2023. Free and open to the public with Miami Book Fair admission.

Estuary is the second iteration of MOAD Projects, series of exhibitions that features work by Miami-based artists, including distinguished MDC and New World School of the Arts alumni and faculty. The project is curated by Isabela Villanueva. Commissioned by MOAD, it functions on multiple levels—as a public sculpture, a reflection on the written word, a platform for live performances and public gatherings, and a meditative environment. It is made from everyday construction materials, such as aluminum framing, and can mutate into a variety of distinct spatial configurations. Large panels or “pages” of construction mesh feature laser-cut texts that will change throughout the duration of the project.

Dates: Nov. 18, 2022 – January 2023

Location: Wolfson Campus, Kyriakides Plaza (Between Building 1 and 2)

300 N.E. 2^nd Ave.

CRAIG ROBINS COLLECTION: TWO OF THE SAME KIND

ABOUT: The Craig Robins Collection consists of contemporary art and innovative design, displaying within the Miami Design District headquarters of DACRA and rotating on a bi-annual basis. This year, “Two of The Same Kind” highlights the work of Marlene Dumas and Jana Euler, two artists whose painting and drawing practices are broadly represented in the Collection holdings. The theme of dualism threads through two portraits by pop icon Andy Warhol, both commissioned decades ago by Craig Robin’s mother and Jackie Soffer’s mother separately, acting as a spectacular coincidence. The multifaceted Collection also features design pieces by the recently acquired Sasha Gordon and by established favorites such as Zaha Hadid, Jean Prouvé, Marc Newson and Maarten Baas.

Dates: November 30 – onward

Hours: 10am – 12pm

Location: DACRA Headquarters, 3841 NE 2nd Ave.

GAGOSIAN & JEFFERY DEITCH | 100 YEARS

ABOUT: Gagosian is pleased to announce 100 Years, the sixth group exhibition—including an online incarnation in 2020—organized by Gagosian in collaboration with Jeffrey Deitch in Miami’s Design District during Miami Art Week. 100 Years—on view at the historic Buick Building—explores the interplay of past, present, and future through works by contemporary artists who are in dialogue with the sweeping cultural and environmental changes of the past century—as well as those who anticipate future possibilities. The contributors to 100 Years, who include Refik Anadol, Theaster Gates, Douglas Gordon, Urs Fischer, Tom Friedman, Austin Lee, Jamian Juliano Villani, Rick Lowe, Keiichi Tanaami, and Taryn Simon, among others, recognize the critical nature of the titular period, sloughing off a sense of weariness with time itself to consider past and future with new optimism.

Dates: November 28 – December 4

Hours: Monday 5pm – 8pm; Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 8pm; Sunday 10am – 6pm

Location: Buick Building NE 2nd Ave

MARIO CARBONE’S OUR LADY OF ROCCO PART II | POP-UP

ABOUT: Following its hit 2021 debut, Our Lady of Rocco – the coveted collaboration between NYC-based womenswear brand La Ligne and famed chef and restaurateur Mario Carbone – is announcing the launch of Part II. Inspired by 1980s New York City and uniform dressing, the limited-edition collection offers streetwear pieces like a burgundy satin bomber, statement T-shirts, trousers and luxe wool cap, embroidered with the brand’s signature crown logo. This year, the brand extends to a new category: bespoke tailoring in the great Italian sartorial tradition. During Art Basel, the brand will host a pop-up offering one-of-a-kind vintage Nino Cerruti suits and blazers that have been reworked to include the brand’s signature lining and brass buttons. The Vintage Cerrutis will be available exclusively at the pop-up where customers can also get the suits further tailored.

Dates: November 29 – December 3

Hours: 12pm – 8pm

Location: ZZ’s Club | 151 NE 41st St.

PELICAN HOTEL OPENING

ABOUT: At Pelican Hotel, you can always expect the unexpected. The rooms, once relics of the past, have been meticulously refurbished to pay homage to their original state. First built in 1948, the property was purchased by Renzo Rosso, founder of DIESEL. In 1990 it was then designed and decorated by owner Renzo alongside the brand’s Creative Team. The exceptional and meticulously restored property will inject new life into the iconic strip, complete with its redesigned in-house restaurant, the Pelican Café. The legendary boutique hotel fuses distinguishing Miami style with a dreamy vibe to reflect a playful design throughout its 32 guestrooms, including seven suites, six ocean-view rooms and one super exclusive penthouse. Inspired by a variety of movie sets, each room is named after its own theme and features one-of-a-kind, original vintage artifacts and furniture which have been lovingly restored over the past two years, making the Pelican a unique Art Deco icon. Owned by Renzo Rosso, newly reopened after a 2 year hiatus. Renzo is hosting a private opening preview. More info is available upon request. PelicanHotel.com

Dates: Open November 24

Location: 826 Ocean Dr. – Miami Beach

NOW OPEN: MAJOR FOOD GROUP’S CONTESSA

ABOUT: Inspired by the old-world sophistication of Northern Italy’s iconic villas and estates, Contessa is a classic yet thoroughly contemporary dining destination by MFG Co-Founders Mario Carbone, Jeff Zalaznick and Rich Torrisi. This statement-making concept nods to centuries of Italian tradition and cuisine. Contessa, Miami Design District’s new neighborhood cornerstone, is a two-story crown-jewel situated at the intersection of art, culture & fashion. Encouraging guests to stay beyond the confines of its lunch, Aperitivo and dinner, Contessa presents an intoxicatingly elegant ambience. Authentic to Northern Italian fare, the menu offers the finest meats, antipasti, signature pizzas–a first for Major Food Group–and an extensive in-house gelato program. ContessaRistorante.com

Location: 111 NE 41st St. – Miami Design District

THE DREXEL

ABOUT: The Drexel is the latest culinary venture co-founded by beloved industry veterans, Anastasia Koutsioukis and Ahmet Erkaya of Mandolin Aegean Bistro, Mrs.Mandolin, and Mr.Mandolin. Nestled in the heart of Miami Beach, The Drexel is a Coastal Mediterranean restaurant offering elevated yet uncomplicated European-inspired dishes. Situated on the corner of Miami’s historic Española Way and Drexel Avenue, The Drexel is a hidden gem elevating Miami Beach’s dining scene, characterized by both a chic European atmosphere along with fresh, innovative Mediterranean flavors. DrexelMiami.com

Location: 1436 Drexel Ave. – Miami Beach

*Interviews with Anastasia and/or Ahmet are available upon request ranging from business features to design related stories, hospitality/culinary, profiles and beyond.

MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT PROGRAM OF GALLERIES AND CULTURAL EXHIBITIONS

Miami Design District’s Art Week Guide HERE

DANIEL ARSHAM | THE ROW’S ARES HOUSE
- Dates: December 1 – December 3

DOLCE&GABBANA CASA POP UP
- Dates: November 28 – December 4

OPERA GALLERY | PICASSO, MIRO, VALDES: SPANISH MASTERS, A RESONANCE
- Dates: November 28 – December 20

PRIZM ART FAIR | PRIZM 2022: CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART FAIR
- Dates: November 30 – December 4

RESY AND AMERICAN EXPRESS | DINNER SERIES FEAT. TOP CHEFS
- Dates: November 29 – December 2

SAATCHI YATES | TESFAYE URGESSA
- Dates: November 22 – December 20

THE OFFICE. & F2T GALLERY | I DON’T NEED IT, BUT I WANT IT
- Dates: November 28 – January 29

Miami Design District × Art Week 2022

Art Week 2022 in the Miami Design District & more

With Art Week around the corner, here are a few updates on fashion, hospitality, food, culture, and art initiatives set to debut in the Miami Design District in the coming weeks

POP-UPS

MARIO CARBONE’S OUR LADY OF ROCCO PART II | POP-UP

Dates: November 29 – December 3

Hours: 12pm – 8pm

Location: ZZ’s Club | 151 NE 41st St.

BASIC.SPACE | SELECT.MIAMI

ABOUT: On November 30th and December 1st, Basic.Space will host “Select.Miami,” a unique exhibition and shopping experience curated by a select group of best-in-class creatives including Juliet Johnstone, After That, RetroSuperFuture, and more. This 2-day event rooted in the concept of curation, community and discovery, will showcase a blend of new items, limited editions and brand collaborations, all exclusive to Basic.Space. In partnership with Secular Sabbath, this event will include an overnight ambient music experience from 12am – 7am on the 1st. Secular Sabbath is an ambient music centered event experience in which attendees are invited to relax, restore, and get inspired together through their sensory body.

Dates: December 1

Hours: 12pm – 7pm

Location: 3930 NE 2nd Avenue

RESY AND AMERICAN EXPRESS | DINNER SERIES FEAT. TOP CHEFS

ABOUT: Resy and American Express are creating a pop-up in the Miami Design District headlined by Michelin and James Beard Award winning chefs Massimo Bottura, Missy Robbins and Mashama Bailey. Artist Phillip K. Smith III – who showed at Art Basel Miami 2017 in the Faena Arts District – has created an immersive work for the space, Garden of Reflections. The pop-up will host three nights of dinners, exclusively for American Express Card Members enrolled in Global Dining Access by Resy, as well as an art-focused gallery day showcasing Smith’s art with food and cocktails by Chef Michael Solomonov. More information at resy.com/miami-dining-series.

Dates: November 29 – December 2

Hours: November 29: 6pm; November 30: 11am – 6pm; December 1: 5:30pm & 9pm; December 2: 5:30pm & 9pm

Location: 151 NE 41st St., 3rd Floor

FASHION NEWS

FENDI CASA | GRAND OPENING

ABOUT: FENDI Casa has chosen Miami for its first flagship store in the United States, in the heart of the Miami Design District. The opening of the boutique will coincide with the start of DesignMiami/, where FENDI has presented a series of special projects over time, together with established and emerging designers. The boutique in Miami spans 591 square meters within a concrete building enhanced by large windows on two levels, whose architecture is inspired by the Modern Movement.

Date: Opening November 30

Hours: M – F 10am – 6pm; Saturday 11am – 3pm; Sunday Closed

Location: 4120 NE 2nd Ave.

DOLCE&GABBANA CASA | GRAND OPENING

ABOUT: To feel at home: the Dolce&Gabbana Casa Collection dedicated to the universe of furnishing and furnishing accessories is a tribute to the excellence of craftsmanship, Italian design and the authentic codes of the brand’s DNA. The patterns of the Collection’s themes come to life on furniture, mise en place accessories, textiles and decorative objects that evoke a story of love and hospitality, passion and beauty, and the art of living one’s daily life. From sofas in fine jacquard to lacquered oak tables, from accessorized bar cabinets to armchairs upholstered in petit point embroidery, the furniture pieces realized in partnership with Luxury Living Group present both elements of harmony and contrasts, rendering a unique narrative that gives no limits to creativity.

Dates: November 28 – December 4

Hours: 10am – 10pm

Location: 50 NE 39th Street

STELLA MCCARTNEY | B&B ITALIA

The Stella McCartney x B&B Italia three-piece capsule collection is officially launching at Art Basel Miami Beach this December, marking the British conscious pioneer’s first-ever interiors collaboration. Beginning 30th November, B&B Italia Miami store’s windows will showcase the exclusive Le Bambole armchair and Granbambola 3-seater sofa in an immersive display. Each features a hand-drawn “Fungi Forest” print upholstery pulled from the Stella McCartney Summer 2022 runway collection and a responsible construction inspired by shared sustainability values.

The collaboration was successfully introduced at Stella McCartney’s “Future of Fashion” material innovation installation during Milan Design Week this past June, with the Italian design company and British conscious luxury pioneer joining forces to reimagine Mario Bellini’s iconic 2022 Le Bambole armchair. The partnership was born of Stella’s long-time personal passion for Bellini’s works, and celebrates Le Bambole’s 50th anniversary.

Dates: December 1 – January 1

Hours: 10am – 6pm

Location: 4141 NE 2nd Ave Suite 115 / 114

INSTALLATIONS & EXHIBITIONS

2022 MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT DESIGN COMMISSION: ROCK | ROLL BY GERMANE BARNES

ABOUT: The Miami Design District has awarded Miami-based architect and designer, Germane Barnes, the 2022 Miami Design District Annual Design Commission. Rock | Roll is a multifaceted installation that draws on the vibrancy of Miami Carnival to honor the BIPOC communities that contribute to Miami’s polyethnic culture. Barnes designed a series of massive, whimsical capsules that rock back-and-forth when activated by users and feature vibrant colors reminiscent of Carnival’s feathered costumes and the city’s water-friendly lifestyle. With a nod to steel drums and Soca music, Barnes also designed wind chimes, hundreds of which will be hung in the neighborhood’s trees. Rock | Roll will also include a free-floating dome suspended overhead and animated by light and sound, which will serve as an anchor to a communal and lively commission. Soon to be installed in the Miami Design District as the annual Design Commission, Barnes’ creative — and massive– interactive installation is expected to draw visitors on a global scale.

*Interviews with Germane Barnes are available upon request.

Dates: Mid-November onward

Location: Miami Design District

DANIEL ARSHAM | THE ARES HOUSE

ABOUT: On view December 1st through 3rd at 3925 North Miami Avenue, Miami, Ares House is a real life metaverse experience that stitches together the physical and digital worlds, seamlessly interlacing 3D projection mapping to showcase a digitally-enhanced IRL version of Ares House, a monumental digital structure that looks like it might have existed in an ancient, otherworldly civilization. Along with presenting sponsors Jayaram, Everyrealm, Future Galerie, and Mona additional sponsors will include: Miami Design District, Delta, LATAM Airlines, Samsung, Laneta Tequila, and Saratoga Spring Water. The Row’s Ares House will open with a private VIP preview event on November 30th, and available for public viewing from December 1st through December 3rd, from 12-6 p.m. each day.

Dates: December 1 – December 3

Location: Miami Design District

GAGOSIAN & JEFFERY DEITCH | 100 YEARS

ABOUT: Gagosian is pleased to announce 100 Years, the seventh group exhibition—including an online incarnation in 2020—organized by Gagosian in collaboration with Jeffrey Deitch in Miami’s Design District during Miami Art Week. 100 Years—on view at the historic Buick Building—explores the interplay of past, present, and future through works by contemporary artists who are in dialogue with the sweeping cultural and environmental changes of the past century—as well as those who anticipate future possibilities. The contributors to 100 Years, who include Refik Anadol, Theaster Gates, Douglas Gordon, Urs Fischer, Tom Friedman, Austin Lee, Jamian Juliano Villani, Rick Lowe, Keiichi Tanaami, and Taryn Simon, among others, recognize the critical nature of the titular period, sloughing off a sense of weariness with time itself to consider past and future with new optimism.

Dates: November 28 – December 4

Hours: Monday 5pm – 8pm; Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 8pm; Sunday 10am – 6pm

Location: Buick Building NE 2nd Ave

CRAIG ROBINS COLLECTION: TWO OF THE SAME KIND

ABOUT: The Craig Robins Collection consists of contemporary art and innovative design, displaying within the Miami Design District headquarters of DACRA and rotating on a bi-annual basis. This year, “Two of The Same Kind” highlights the work of Marlene Dumas and Jana Euler, two artists whose painting and drawing practices are broadly represented in the Collection holdings. The theme of dualism threads through two portraits by pop icon Andy Warhol, both commissioned decades ago by Craig Robin’s mother and Jackie Soffer’s mother separately, acting as a spectacular coincidence. More than a hundred works on view present an expansive overview of figurative art from the last three decades. The multifaceted Collection also features design pieces by the recently acquired Sasha Gordon and by established favorites such as Zaha Hadid, Jean Prouvé, Marc Newson and Maarten Baas.

Dates: November 30 – onward

Hours: 10am – 12pm

Location: DACRA Headquarters, 3841 NE 2nd Ave.

SAATCHI YATES | TESFAYE URGESSA

ABOUT: This November, Saatchi Yates Miami will temporarily open a solo exhibition of new work by Ethiopian Contemporary artist Tesfaye Urgessa to coincide with his presentation at the Rubell Museum, opening December 2022. Saatchi Yates Miami is situated in the Miami Design District, next to the Institute of Contemporary Art and the de la Cruz Collection. Born in 1983 in Ethiopia, Tesfaye studied under master Tadesse Mesfin at Staatlichen Akademie in Stuttgart, and later emigrated to work in Germany. Through these experiences, Ugressa connected Ethiopian iconography and a deep fascination with traditional figurative painting to create a unique and striking language which portrays race and the politics of identity.

Dates: November 22 – December 20

Hours: 12pm – 6pm

Location: 35 NE 40 St.

PRIZM ART FAIR | PRIZM 2022: CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART FAIR

ABOUT: This year, the neighborhood is thrilled to host its first-ever art fair aside from Design Miami/: Prizm 2022 Contemporary African Art Fair. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, Prizm 2022 will present Vernacular À la Mode, with presentations of select galleries and artists exploring how vernacular modes of artmaking originating in global African contexts have influenced the cultivation of fine art practice worldwide. The program will include four sections: Prizm Panels, Prizm Perform, Prizm Film, Prizm Preview, and, of course, Prizm Art Fair at large, exhibiting international artists from Africa and the global African Diaspora. Artists will represent global locales including, Angola, Barbados, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Angola, Martinique, Norway, Portugal, Saint Martin, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and many more.

Dates: November 30 – December 4

Hours: 10am – 6pm

Location: 4220 N Miami Ave.

THE OFFICE. & F2T GALLERY | I DON’T NEED IT, BUT I WANT IT

ABOUT: THE OFFICE. Gallery and F2T Gallery present I DONT NEED IT, BUT I WANT IT, a group exhibition featuring artists Callum Eaton, Eduardo Sarabia, Jonathan Casella, Kristopher Raos, Saj Issa, Sam Keller, Stephanie H. Shih, and Tim Irani. The selected artists will bring forth a collective body of work highlighting the global culture crisis of mass production and capitalism, emphasizing the cliche or kitschy elements of our cultures, through the use of irony and pop art elements. THE OFFICE., founded by art patron and avid collector, Matthew Chevallard, educates the public on art collecting and presents exceptionally curated and co-curated exhibitions, within the contemporary art world. F2T Gallery from Milano, conceived in 2021 by acclaimed collectors Matteo Novarese and Francesco Bena, works with leading emerging artists, galleries and collectors in the contemporary art world.

Dates: Opening Night: November 27 from 5pm – 8pm (open to the public); November 28 – January 29

Hours: 11am – 7pm

Location: 3930 NE 2nd Ave., Suite 202

WHERE TO DINE DURING ART BASEL

MAJOR FOOD GROUP’S CONTESSA NOW OPEN

Location: 111 NE 41st St. – Miami Design District

THE DREXEL

ABOUT: The Drexel is the latest culinary venture co-founded by beloved industry veterans, Anastasia Koutsioukis and Ahmet Erkaya of Mandolin Aegean Bistro, Mrs.Mandolin, and Mr.Mandolin. Nestled in the heart of Miami Beach, The Drexel is a Coastal Mediterranean restaurant offering elevated yet uncomplicated European-inspired dishes. Situated on the corner of Miami’s historic Española Way and Drexel Avenue, The Drexel is a hidden gem elevating Miami Beach’s dining scene, characterized by both a chic European atmosphere along with fresh, innovative Mediterranean flavors. DrexelMiami.com

Location: 1436 Drexel Ave. – Miami Beach

*Interviews with Anastasia and/or Ahmet are available ranging from business features to design related stories, hospitality/culinary, profiles and beyond.

PURA VIDA MIAMI

ABOUT: Pura Vida is a Miami-based all-day cafe founded by husband-wife team, Omer and Jennifer Horev. The health-focused eatery provides an extensive menu featuring a range of raw, organic acai bowls, freshly squeezed juices, superfood smoothies, fresh salads, wraps, bowls and more, making it the ideal grab-and-go eatery to enjoy between fairs this season. Since its inception in 2012, Pura Vida has evolved to include 12 outposts throughout South Florida. In addition to several locations spread out across the region, Pura Vida is also gearing up to kick-off its international expansion with the debut of a new full-service restaurant in Doha, Qatar. PuraVidaMiami.com

Locations: Edgewater, Miami Design District, South Miami, Miracle Mile, Sunset Harbour, Brickell, Las Olas, Bay Harbor, West Avenue, South of Fifth, Aventura, West Palm Beach, and new Doha, Qatar

ABOUT THE MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT

ABOUT: The Miami Design District is a one-of-a-kind neighborhood that combines luxury shopping, galleries, museums, design stores, restaurants and major art and design installations all within an architecturally significant context. The Miami Design District is owned and operated by Miami Design District Associates, a partnership between Dacra, founded and owned by visionary entrepreneur Craig Robins, and L Catterton Real Estate, a global real estate development and investment fund, specializing in creating luxury shopping destinations. As Miami becomes increasingly known for its own rich culture, the growth of the Miami Design District further reflects how the city is deserving of its place on the global stage. For more information, visit http://www.miamidesigndistrict.net / Instagram: @miamidesigndistrict / Twitter: @designdistrict

Reginald Cunningham: Black Pearls

On View During Miami Art Week and Art Basel Miami Beach:

A Museum Must-See: Reginald Cunningham is a photographer and influencer whose work focuses on urban style and portraiture. His editorial/activist lens, and his images of concerts, fashion icons, performers and thought leaders are at the forefront of contemporary photography.

Photography Exhibition on view now through January 22, 2023 at the Boca Raton Museum of Art in South Florida

The Boca Raton Museum of Art presents the premiere of Reginald Cunningham: Black Pearls, the first-ever solo museum exhibition of Cunningham’s work, on view now through January 22nd, 2023 in South Florida.

The Museum has commissioned Cunningham, nationally acclaimed for his brand BePureBlack.com, for this new series of photographs to honor the nearby historically Black neighborhood of Pearl City, celebrated as one of the earliest and longest lasting African American neighborhoods in Florida.

“The Pearl City residents are our Museum’s closest neighbors, located only two blocks away, and we want to celebrate our neighbors with this exhibition,” says Irvin Lippman, the Executive Director of the Boca Raton Museum of Art. This exhibition is curated by Kelli Bodle, the Museum’s Associate Curator.

“Because there is perpetually the threat of development that would throw asunder this neighborhood, we want to tell this story through the current residents whose ancestors were the original settlers,” adds Irvin Lippman, “To accomplish this visual storytelling with this new exhibition, the Museum selected Reginald Cunningham, whose photography celebrates Black identity and is currently earning national and international acclaim. It is a rare artist whose social activism matches their artistry.”

“Through the lens of my photography I’m always trying to create affinity for and uplift Black people and the Black experience in this country,” says Reginald Cunningham.

“Being commissioned by the Boca Raton Museum of Art to photograph the residents and cultural emblems of Pearl City ─ one of the South’s most beloved and enduring Black districts ─ is an amazing experience,” adds the artist.

Investigating further the different ways that community can be defined, the images in this exhibition highlight people and landmarks. This exhibition features 24 photographs by Reginald Cunningham, and personal mementos passed down through families for more than 100 years. With the aid of Dr. Candace Cunningham of Florida Atlantic University, this exhibition also features the oral histories of both current-day Pearl City residents and the children of the original settlers that have moved to other cities. Visitors to the Museum may hear the stories in the subjects’ own words via audio and transcribed video of the interviews. Interest in Pearl City has blossomed, and residents celebrate their community’s honored past. In recognizing their own history they see a connection to the broader struggle for equal rights. To many of these residents, holding on to their land is almost sacred.

“These works by Reginald Cunningham have now entered the Museum’s collection. This is most definitely a project born in the community, that serves to create a record for future generations,” says Lippman.

About the Artist

Reginald Cunningham (BePureBlack.com) is a Washington DC-based photographer known for his concert, fashion, and activist photography. He fully embraced the art of photography in 2017, and his works have been featured in The Washington Post, Essence, Ebony, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, Take Part, and The Final Call.

His passion for photography was instilled by his mother, herself a photographer for more than 30 years. During his childhood, he was often in her studio absorbing her appreciation for portraiture. He began to develop his art during the Ferguson unrest.

“He doesn’t turn activism ‘on’ or ‘off’ with a swipe to the left or right. Instead, Reggie leads with his lens,” says Dr. Imani M. Cheers.

“Through his photography, Reggie captures the complexities of communities. He sees the nuances in neighbors. He puts himself directly on the front lines to bear witness, sacrifice his safety, and tell the truth.” adds Dr. Cheers.

His style is edgy and intimate, often forgoing smoothing and airbrushing in favor of sharper and more realistic images. He attended Lindenwood University, received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and dual Master’s degrees in Digital & Multimedia Design and Promotional Communications.

Reginald Cunningham: Black Pearls VIA 360 MAGAZINE — Reginald Cunningham: Black Pearls via 360 MAGAZINE

About the Boca Raton Museum of Art

Founded by artists, Boca Raton Museum of Art was established in 1950 as the Art Guild of Boca Raton. The organization has grown, now in its eighth decade, to encompass a Museum, Art School, and Sculpture Garden. As one of South Florida’s leading cultural landmarks, the Museum has provided cultural and artistic service to the community, and to many visitors from around the world, since it was founded by artists in 1950.

Currently on view now, on the entire first floor of the Museum:

The monumental world premiere of Art of the Hollywood Backdrop (through January 22).

Coming in February:

The U.S. premiere of Whitfield Lovell: Passages ‒ amfedarts.org/whitfield-lovell-passages (February 15 ‒ May 21) The six-city tour of this major exhibition kicks off at the Boca Raton Museum of Art. Organized by the American Federation of Arts in collaboration with Whitfield Lovell.

The most comprehensive exhibition to date of the contemporary artist’s masterful conté crayon drawings, assemblages, and multi-sensory installations that focus on aspects of African American history while raising universal questions about identity, memory, and America’s collective heritage.

MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT × GERMANE BARNES

THE MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT NAMES GERMANE BARNES

WINNER OF THE 2022 ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

Barnes’ winning installation, Rock | Roll, is designed to celebrate the communities who shape Miami’s vibrant, one-of-a-kind culture

Today the Miami Design District is pleased to announce that Germane Barnes has been awarded the 2022 Miami Design District Annual Neighborhood Commission. Following a competitive, invitation-only proposal process directed by curators Anava Projects, Miami Design District has selected the Miami-based architect’s concept, Rock | Roll, to be realized across the neighborhood’s public spaces, debuting in November for Miami Art Week and extending into the new year.

The curatorial brief for the year, Something to Talk About, called for neighborhood-wide site-specific design interventions that spotlight Miami-centric stories while also enlivening visitors’ experience of the Miami Design District during its busiest season. In response, Barnes conceived Rock | Roll as a multifaceted, multi-scale installation that draws on the vibrant visual language of Miami Carnival to honor the BIPOC communities that have substantially contributed to Miami’s one-of-a-kind, polyethnic culture, from the city’s earliest foundations to today.

For the neighborhood’s central pedestrian corridors, Barnes designed a series of whimsical, larger-than-life seating capsules that rock back-and-forth when activated by users and feature colorful, shaggy surfaces reminiscent of Carnival’s hallmark feathered costumes. With a nod to steel drums and the infectious joy of Soca music, Barnes has also designed brightly hued wind chimes, hundreds of which will be hung like melody-making ornaments in the lush native trees and palms planted throughout the neighborhood.

Fabricated by ALT BLD, Rock | Roll includes an architectural-scale, free-floating dome that recalls a giant disco ball in both form and function. Suspended far overhead and animated by light and sound, the shiny, faceted structure will serve as a programmatic marker to an outdoor gathering space dedicated to sharing and enjoying community-driven storytelling. For the duration of the Rock | Roll installation, the space will host Carnival-inspired playlists as well as a talks series developed in collaboration with University of Miami’s Center for Global Black Studies and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami. Program to be announced.

Barnes notes: “I saw this project as an opportunity to celebrate the unique character of the city that has become my adopted home and the subject of much of my most prominent research. Rock | Roll is an ode to the joyful spirit that persists in Miami’s Black communities—a spirit of self-care that is so perfectly embodied in Miami Carnival culture. This city would not be what it is today without significant contributions from people who, on the one hand, look like me, and on the other reflect deep ties to places beyond Miami, especially the Caribbean and Latin America. The moral to the story is that there is space for everyone here.”

“We are proud to welcome Germane Barnes’ Rock|Roll to the neighborhood and spotlight this tremendous Miami talent making international waves,” says Craig Robins, President and CEO of Dacra. “Each year, our Annual Neighborhood Commission invites creative visionaries to harness the power of art, design, and culture to provide original, engaging experiences for all our guests. The imaginative, local focus of this year’s site-specific installation is going to be a lot of fun.”

According to curators Anava Projects, “One of the things we admire most about Germane and his practice—and there are many—is his community-engaged approach, which exemplifies the most exciting directions in the field at this moment. His work is at once accessible and poetic, critical and uplifting. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with him.”

The first Miami-based talent to be selected for the Miami Design District Neighborhood Commission since its launch in 2015, Barnes is a Chicago-born, University of Illinois- and Woodbury University-trained architect regarded for his propositional practice dedicated to mining the ways that race and architecture entwine, implicitly and explicitly, historically and today. Barnes’ recent prestigious honors include the Rome Prize in Architecture, the Harvard Wheelwright Prize, the Architectural League Prize, and an inaugural grant from Theaster Gates and Prada’s Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab. In addition to running his independent eponymous studio, Barnes is an Assistant Professor and the Director of The Community Housing & Identity Lab (CHIL) at the University of Miami School of Architecture.

The Miami Design District is committed to enriching the neighborhood through cultural interventions that in turn support talented artists and creatives. Now in its eighth year, the Miami Design District’s Annual Design Commission is a family-friendly event intended to draw the community together. Past winners include: Studio Proba and Enjoy the Weather’s TomorrowLand (2021); gt2P’s Conscious Actions (2020); Fernando Laposse’s Pink Beasts (2019); Dozie Kanu’s Support System (2018); Charlap Hyman & Herrero’s White Rain (2017); Philippe Malouin’s The Speed of Light (2016); and Snarkitecture’s Holiday (2015).

ART IS × Pilar Zeta

NFT driven agency ART IS and Pilar Zeta welcomed VIP attendees to “The Space of Variations“ solo exhibition on Saturday, May 14, at the Praz Delavallade Gallery in L.A. Presented and produced by ART IS, “The Space of Variations” marks Zeta’s first solo exhibition in the United States, following the success of her recent large-scale immersive artwork—”Hall of Visions“— commissioned by Faena Art in Miami Beach during Art Basel 2021. Artworks are also currently on display HERE.

The Argentinean artist and Creative Director has manifested her aesthetic in numerous mediums from her fine artwork to music videos, album artwork, set design, and live performances, having collaborated with influential musical artists such as Coldplay, Lil Nas X, Camila Cabello and Katy Perry. Now with this ART IS partnership, Zeta moves into the metaverse.

Through their partnership, ART IS and Pilar Zeta sought to transcend fine art’s traditional material limitations and explore infinite digital platforms and otherworldly dimensions. Zeta showcased physical works alongside animated NFT artworks produced by ART IS, each in dialogue with each other and presenting myriad variations of Zeta’s iconic egg forms, a universal token of rebirth and creation, and a series of arches that offer glimpses into parallel universes.

Physical artworks on display included oil paintings and large and small-scale totemic mixed-media sculptures (combining different semi-precious minerals such as opal, agate, jade, and gold). A series of animated NFT artworks was also presented, and opening night event attendees enjoyed the opportunity to interact live with the artist and commission customized NFTs, minted to their specifications by ART IS blockchain experts.

ART IS Founder Dom Wojnarowski said, “At ART IS, we are proud to partner with artists like Pilar Zeta, minting NFTs and producing digital and physical exhibitions to amplify their artwork in the Metaverse and beyond. This event encapsulates the value and utility that ART IS promises to our exclusive NFT collector community: unforgettable experiences with some of the leading new artists of our generation and first access to their remarkable artworks.”

Artist Pilar Zeta said, “ART IS was the perfect partner for this exhibition as they understand my vision and worked closely with me to capture the essence of each physical work of art as an NFT work that also unfolds in the digital realm.”

ART IS also partnered with Zeta to produce an exclusive NFT art series featuring her signature egg motif, with six distinct one-of-one designs. The series represents the third chapter in Zeta’s recent narrative journey, following “Hall of Visions” and “The Space of Variations.”

Leading with the egg’s central themes of creation, rebirth, spirit, and intuition, the nascent 1/1 NFT egg series entered the Metaverse on May 4, 2022.

Danny Sullivan Celebration

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The Italian luxury coachbuilder ARES Modena (which specializes in limited series and one-off supercars for select clients) invited legendary motorsports champion Danny Sullivan to a VIP celebration on February 3rd in the Miami Design District.

The reception was in honor of the nationally acclaimed artist Hubert Phipps who was one of Sullivan’s professional teammates.

The private event celebrated the art exhibition Hubert Phipps: Ascending, which ushered in the arrival of the ARES S1 supercar model for its North American premiere at the new ARES Design Miami showroom (the first ARES showroom in the U.S.).

Luminaries from the art world, including prominent collectors, curators, designers, news media, culture-lovers, and racecar industry leaders attended.

This reception was presented by the award-winning Italian wine Lambrusco Concerto by Medici Ermete winery (awarded for 13 consecutive years Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso, winner of “Best in Show Champion Trophy,” and awarded to the International Wine Challenge 2010 in London).

The paintings and sculptures by Phipps surrounded the supercar model in the showroom, creating a striking effect. A sculptor and painter, Hubert Phipps is also a pilot, coming up on his 50th anniversary as an aviator in the tradition of the Phipps family.

The exhibition featured several works born out of the artist’s love for acceleration and for aerodynamic forms. Watch the premiere video HERE of the ARES S1 supercar, and watch a video of the event featuring Danny Sullivan and Hubert Phipps HERE.

“I am honored to have been invited by ARES Miami for this collaboration and am thrilled that my friend Danny Sullivan was present at this special reception,” said Hubert Phipps. “ARES Modena is one of the world’s leading studios of high-performance design and stellar engineering, and this collaboration is igniting new inspirations in my artmaking.”

The title of this exhibition–Hubert Phipps: Ascending–reflects the growing national recognition of the artist, and Phipps’ history with racecars and aircraft. The exhibition debuted during the week of Art Basel in Miami. “Phipps’ background as a champion racecar driver and an aviator is clearly evident in his sleek, captivating artwork. These bold pieces by Phipps created a singular, powerful experience as they encircled our ARES S1 supercar model for its North American debut. The passion that goes into coachbuilding is very similar to producing a sculpture, each is a masterpiece that can be appreciated for its unique shape and design,” adds Dany Bahar, Co-Founder and CEO of ARES Modena.

The new ARES S1 supercar model was flown from Italy to Miami and has never been shown in North America. The one-of-a-kind, automotive work of art is the centerpiece for this exhibition, surrounded by sculptures and artworks by Phipps that are seen as a perfect fit with the creative aesthetic behind ARES Modena’s singular success in automotive design.

Only 24 versions of the ARES S1 supercar will be created in the entire world, each tailor-made to the client’s desires and taste, making each design unique. The ARES S1’s dramatic low-profile is similar to racing prototypes from the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Hand-crafted in carbon fiber, the curvaceous wheel arches, with sculptured side skirts and forward sitting cockpit, give a sleek yet aggressive stance. The S1 is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 delivering power to the wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. The interior combines the finest Alcantara and Napa leather that is quilted in specific areas.

These sculptures and artworks by Phipps rev up the space in the ARES Miami showroom, apace with the supercar’s electrifying spirit: Sky Temple, Voyager, Arch, Lava Flow, Africa 1, and Africa 2, plus a maquette-sized version of Rocket from the private collection of real estate magnate Lawrence Moens. The exhibition also features Phipps’ signature paint pigment drawings: Momentum, Current, Impulse, and Rhythm. The special guest at this event was certified sommelier Mauro Maugliani (WSET Awarded), an Italian wine specialist for the Southeast USA and the Caribbean for Kobrand Corporation.

Basel Week Recap

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Basel Week officially kicked off at the SLS South Beach (1701 Collins Ave. Miami Beach, FL) on Monday, November 29th with an exclusive partnership between NFT BAZL and the hotel (SLS South Beach). The event celebrated an innovative drop of an SLS exclusive collection of NFTs paired with special hotel benefits and perks. This collection was on display during this SLS South Beach event and is now available for purchase directly in every hotel room.

The VIP launch event took place during Miami Art Week at SLS South Beach showcasing a unique collection of artworks, as well as a selection of new artists from Carousel Fine Art. More than just an exhibition, this event featured a live performance from the multifaceted artist and DJ Kasseus, who created his own artwork on the spot during an immersive sound and light show. His final artwork is available for purchase on the NFT BAZL marketplace.

NFT BAZL expanded its SLS partnership hosting an exclusive collection of NFTs paired with special hotel benefits and perks at the SLS Brickell (1300 S. Miami Ave, Miami, FL) on Tuesday, November 30th, coinciding with the official start of Art Basel Miami.

The official NFT BAZL official after-party attracted a wrap-around-the-block line of interested collectors and eventgoers to the SLS Brickell in Miami and featured the world-class documentary, NFTme, in addition to an exclusive drop of Historic Mooners from the Wall St Bulls, state-of-the-art entertainment, and technology.

This innovative collection remained on display at the SLS Brickell during the entire Art Week and was made available for purchase directly in every hotel room.

Kicking off 12/1 thru 12/5, the SLS South Beach proudly partnered with world-renowned artist James Goldcrown for Miami Art Week 2021. His installations included a mural on the façade entrance of SLS South Beach to inaugurate the December 1st partnership, live painting at the guest pool on December 2nd, exclusive prints for all hotel guests, and an artist in residence program from December 3rd through 5th. Sunseekers, eventgoers, and burgeoning artists flocked to the SLS South Beach to enjoy James’ unique art installations and informative one-on-one interactions.

Guests flocked to Hyde Beach at SLS South Beach, Wednesday, December 1, to kick off Art Week for the 4th annual Sunset Rendezvous, where multiple interactive NFT displays from Demsky surrounded guests poolside, along with special live performances and sounds curated by DJ Lexi. In addition, numerous pieces from Giuseppe Ferlito took over the Hyde Garden perfectly complimenting an exclusive sculpture from Zevi G.

Launching at Art Week 2021, Chase Sapphire cardholders received exclusive access to a bespoke lounge located at the sun-filled Guest Pool at SLS South Beach. The Sapphire Lounge featured complimentary bites and cocktails as well as live painting by SLS Resident James Goldcrown, a signed print giveaway, and a giveaway by SLS amenity collaborator Malin + Goetz. This unique cardholder activation is a reflection of the strong ties and friendship between Chase Sapphire and SLS South Beach hotel.

SLS South Beach in conjunction with the Lincoln Motor Company hosted a 4-part series of design-led discussions, “Designing Sanctuary,” on Thursday, December 2nd. Noteworthy panelists included Piero Lissoni, Ryan Tedder, and Chief Exterior Designer of Lincoln, Earl Lucas. This event coincided with the launch and recording of this web series that will explore the topic of Creating Elevated Experiences in Episode #1, diving deeper into topics such as user experience, emotional ambiance, and sensory stimulation. The discussion was moderated by Departures Magazine Home & Design Director and former Surface Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Dan Rubinstein.

On Thursday, December 2nd, Brooklyn electro-dance music duo, Sofi Tukker, took over Hyde Beach poolside nightclub (SLS SoBe) for an epic DJ set performance. Guests from all over the world flocked to this poolside venue to shake and shimmy the night away. Lucky attendees got served Grey Goose shots by Sofi herself during the performance.

On Friday, December 3rd, Vancouver-based electronic duo, Bob Moses, threw down a melodic and lyrical set at the Hyde Beach poolside nightclub (SLS SoBe). The crowd lit up when the duo dropped iconic tracks “Time And Time Again” and “The Blame.” The bass and rifts kept guests dancing well past 2 AM that morning.

On Friday, December 3rd, artists Melissa Greiner, Patti Susette, Tamara Andronik, and Sabrina Kathleen took over SAAM Lounge (SLS Brickell) for a female-focused live painting during Miami Art Week. The evening featured live painting, gallery displays, live DJ, and happy hour specials on light bites like brick oven pizza and signature cocktails from 6 to 10 pm.

Twin sister Australian electronic music duo, Alicia and Miriam Nervo, brought the beats to SLS South Beach’s poolside day club, Hyde Beach, for a booty-bumping day set Saturday, December 4.

Maxim Magazine descended upon SLS South Beach’s Hyde Beach club for a starstudded cover launch hosted by Cover Model Cindy Kimberly on Saturday, the 4th of December. Spotted were Teyana Taylor, Larsa Pipen, Austin Mahone, Super Duper Kyle, and Cardi B with boyfriend Offset. The party featured art installations by Ryan Keeley and a surprise performance by the revered 90s RNB duo, 112!

Miami Art Week wrapped in style on Sunday night, December 5, at SAAM Lounge at SLS Brickell with Kendall Jenner hosting a VIP gathering for her award-winning 818 Tequila. Jenner was all smiles in a form-fitting midi dress, posing for photos while she played hostess, her guests sipping the hand-crafted spirit and enjoying bites including Smoked Golden Beet Tartar and Spicy Tuna & Rice Cracker “Sandwich.”Miami’s glamour set danced the night away to beats by DJ Cardi at the cozy cocktail lounge, located at 1300 S. Miami Avenue in Miami, FL.

“SKIN IN THE GAME ART TALK & BRUNCH”

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CADILLAC HOTEL & BEACH CLUB HOSTED ART TALK AND BRUNCH DURING MIAMI ART WEEK, CELEBRATING “SKIN IN THE GAME” EXHIBIT

MODERATED BY ZOE LUKOV AND BEN LEE RITCHIE HANDLER, PANEL FEATURED ARTISTS ISABELLE ALBUQERQUE AND RAUL DE NIEVES

Independent curator Zoe Lukov and Ben Lee Ritchie Handler, Global Director of Nicodim Gallery moderated a spirited, invitation-only panel discussion during Miami Art Week at iconic oceanfront property Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, located at 3925 Collins Avenue.

Artists Isabelle Albuquerque and Raúl de Nieves participated in a candid conversation about their inspirations, artistic processes, and techniques over brunch at the Art Deco waterfront hotel on Friday, December 3. The private event was in celebration of “Skin in the Game,” an exhibition of work by 35 diverse artists, curated by Lukov, about touch, transmission, and skin – the potential, vulnerability and contained therein — as a boundary to protect from danger or as a porous border to receive.

In attendance were Nicodim Gallery owner Mihai Nicodim; Desert X President and Founder Susan Davis; Desert X Artistic Director Neville Wakefield; artists Devin B. Johnson, Alicia Adamerovich, Nicolette Mishkan, Orlando Estrada, and Allison Eden; interior designer and celebrity chef Travis London; gallerist Ana Cristea; art collector Walid Wahab; philanthropist Jenni Coba; and actress and model Celesta Hodge, among others.

“Artists create channels to the divine, that take us to another level,” said Lukov, in conversation with the panel. Nicodim Gallery’s Handler commented on “the performance and ritual of making the magic” [of art], adding cheekily, “What I like about this exhibition is that it’s not afraid to be a little dirty.” Artist Isabelle Albuquerque, a Los Angeles-based sculptor and performer, spoke of “sculpture as a memory,” a vehicle “to remember what an experience feels like.” Raúl de Nieves, a New York-based interdisciplinary artist, performer, and musician, likened art to “a celebratory skin” that provides “something to believe in, to manifest the strength within us.”

ABOUT CADILLAC HOTEL & BEACH CLUB

Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club is an oceanfront luxury hotel inspired by the 1940s Italian Riviera with a preserved Art Deco aesthetic. A Miami Beach icon, this Autograph Collection hotel is recognized as one of Miami Beach’s original Art Deco hotels. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with beach and city views, Cadillac is located in the heart of Mid Beach and features 357 guestrooms and suites as well as two distinct dining outlets — Donna Mare Trattoria and Bungalow by the Sea, a seaside-inspired destination just off the Miami Beach boardwalk. The hotel offers beachside and pool service at two pools — one for adults only and one family pool. Cadillac provides guests with unparalleled, tailored concierge services, several dining options and more. Cadillac encourages and facilitates genuine connections and unforgettable moments for guests of all ages, across generations, for locals and travelers alike. This is Miami Beach done differently.

ABOUT ZOE LUKOV

Zoe Lukov is a curator, producer, and writer. Formerly chief curator of Faena Art in Miami Beach and in Buenos Aires, Lukov conceived of and produced both the first and second Faena Festivals in 2018 and 2019. In addition, she organized major solo exhibits by internationally recognized artists throughout the Faena Districts. She is a founding board member of Desert X, the non-profit site-specific exhibition based in California and recently produced a documentary about Desert X 2021 that made its premiere at the Getty Museum and broadcasts on PBS in November. She produces independent curatorial projects, among them the well-received Fair, an alternative, all-women, non-commercial art fair that took place in Miami at Brickell City Centre in 2017. She got her start in the art world working for Rashida Bumbray at The Kitchen in New York, Jeffrey Deitch at MOCA Los Angeles and Franklin Sirmans on Prospect 3, the New Orleans biennial. She is a Fulbright scholar and a graduate of Oberlin College.

ABOUT SKIN IN THE GAME

Skin in the Game, an exhibition of work by 35 diverse artists, curated by Zoe Lukov and presented by Palm Heights, is a collective offering. The exhibition is about touch, transmission, and skin—the potential, vulnerability and risk contained therein—as a boundary to protect from danger or as a porous border to receive. It seeks to establish a dialogue with the erotic and has through lines that touch on game, color, race, the hunt, sport, religious iconography and competition. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, will be on view from November 29 – December 10, 2021.

ABOUT BEN LEE RICH HANDLER

Ben Lee Ritchie Handler is the Global Director at Nicodim. Since starting with the gallery in 2017, Ritchie Handler and his drag alter-ego Olivia Neutron Bomb have curated a number of genre and dimension-bending exhibitions, including PAPA RAGAZZE!, Nicodim Los Angeles and Galeria Nicodim, Bucharest, 2020–2021; Hollywood Babylon: A Re-Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (with Jeffrey Deitch), Jeffrey Deitch, Nicodim, and AUTRE Magazine, Los Angeles (2020); TRANS WORLD, Nicodim Los Angeles and Galeria Nicodim, Bucharest, 2019; BioPerversity (with John Knuth), Nicodim Los Angeles, 2018; and Homeward Bound (with Oliver M. Furth), Nicodim Los Angeles, 2017. Prior to Nicodim, he curated FLASH FLASH FLASH: An Exhibition As Tattoo Parlor for Gagosian, in which contemporary artists were commissioned to create original tattoo designs which were then permanently inked and numbered on the bodies of patrons in editions of six at MoMA PS1, New York, The Geffen Contemporary at MoCA, Los Angeles, and SFMoMA, San Francisco.

ABOUT NICODIM

Nicodim opened its first gallery in 2006. With locations in Los Angeles, Bucharest, and New York, the gallery and its international roster of artists share a common interest in reassessing art history from an outsider’s perspective and challenging its established framework. Nicodim’s roster includes Isabelle Albuquerque, Razvan Boar, Michiel Ceulers, John Duncan, Dominique Fung, Adrian Ghenie, Georgina Gratrix, Devin B. Johnson, Hortensia Mi Kafchin, Philipp Kremer, Larry Madrigal, Ciprian Muresan, Simphiwe Ndzube, Katherina Olschbaur, Jorge Peris, Daniel Pitín, Cristian Raduta, Mosie Romney, Serban Savu, Moffat Takadiwa, Hugo Wilson, Robert Yarber, and Zhou Yilun.

ABOUT ISABELLE ALBUQUERQUE

Isabelle Albuquerque is a Los Angeles-based sculptor and performer. In Orgy for 10 People in One Body, her current project, Albuquerque casts and 3D scans her own body to create ten headless, human-scaled figures that unpack deeply personal and poetic moments from her life set against history, myth, and wider contemporary socio-political movements. The work explores emergent systems of intrapersonal communion from outside the body, invoking collective identity, transhumanism, plurality, love, loss of self, relocation of memory, pleasure, and power. Sextet, Albuquerque’s critically acclaimed first solo exhibition with Nicodim, opened in September of 2020 with six sculptures from the series. Recent exhibitions include The Emerald Tablet, Jeffrey Deitch, Los Angeles (2021); Nuestrxs Putxs, Human Resources, Los Angeles (2021); PAPA RAGAZZE!, Nicodim Upstairs, Los Angeles (2021); When You Waked Up the Buffalo, Nicodim Los Angeles (2020); Hollywood Babylon: A Re-Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome, Jeffrey Deitch, Nicodim, and AUTRE Magazine, Los Angeles (2020); and Skin Stealers, Nicodim Los Angeles (2019). Her work will be featured in the upcoming “Skin in the Game” exhibit, curated by Zoe Lukov in Miami Beach, FL, from November 29 to December 10, 2021.

ABOUT RAUL DE NIEVES

Raúl de Nieves is a New York based, Mexican interdisciplinary artist, performer, and musician whose multifaceted practice includes stained-glass-style narrative paintings, animated performances, densely adorned figurative sculptures encrusted with bangles, beads, bells, sequins, and other homespun materials. His sculptural, installation, and performance pieces make reference to religious iconography, mythology, and BDSM in conjunction with Mexican tradition and drag culture in order to explore themes of transformation and the mutability of sexuality.

A Night with 818 Tequila

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Miami Art Week wrapped in style on Sunday night, December 5, at SAAM Lounge at SLS Brickell with Kendall Jenner hosting a VIP gathering for her award-winning 818 Tequila. Jenner was all smiles in a form-fitting midi dress, posing for photos while she played hostess, her guests sipping the hand-crafted spirit and enjoying bites including Smoked Golden Beet Tartar and Spicy Tuna & Rice Cracker “Sandwich.” Miami’s glamour set danced the night away to beats by DJ Cardi at the cozy cocktail lounge.

About SLS Hotels & Residences

SLS is the home of an extraordinary experience coupled with a playful ambiance. Culinary artistry, theatrical interiors, subversive design touches and unexpected indulgences are at the heart of every SLS property. Collaborations with leading developers, architects, designers and chefs allow SLS to continue anticipating, innovating and shaping the future of luxury lifestyle living. With seven properties in Beverly Hills, Miami, Bahamas, Cancun, and Dubai, SLS is set to open one additional property in Puerto Madero, Argentina by 2022. Learn more HERE.

SLS Hotels & Residences is part of Ennismore, a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community, with a global portfolio of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Ennismore is a joint venture with Accor, formed in 2021.

About SAAM Lounge

A room that truly feels like home, SAAM Lounge at SLS Brickell features a 2,800 sq ft indoor/outdoor space with private nooks of couches and balcony terrace with a fireplace. Our vintage cocktail lounge is business casual meets evening date night. Stop by after work for happy hour, come up after dinner or gather with your friends in our salacious evening ambiance.

About 818 Tequila

Founded by Kendall Jenner, 818 Tequila is an award-winning, hand-crafted tequila brand committed to uplifting the women and men who make it. Produced using traditional methods in Jalisco, Mexico at a family-owned-and-operated distillery, the brand has won 16 blind tasting awards across six major industry competitions. Sustainably produced from one hundred percent Weber Blue agaves, 818 Tequila features three variations: Blanco, Reposado and Añejo.