Miami Art Basel 2014 events

Straight out of NYC, performance theater artist troupe Queen of the Night infiltrate a decked-out Miami Theatre for a celebration that’s part dinner, part circus, part theater and 100 percent spectacle. The event benefits the Elizabeth Sackler Center for Feminist Art and School of Doodle. Miami Theatre, 4833 Collins Ave, Miami Beach (womeninart.ticketsocket.com). Dec 3 10pm. $225-$10,000. 


If you’re ready for it, ten hours of unadulterated electro music awaits at Grand Central, presented by against-the-grain teams Life and Death and PLOT & Poplife. Behemoth electronic producer and DJ Dixon (Innervisions) hops onto the decks, joined by Mind Against, Thugfucker and Bob Moses, among others. Grand Central, 697 N Miami Ave. Dec 4 10pm. $45. 

The New Art Dealers Alliance Fair is a strong contender for the area’s most eclectic emerging contemporary arts fair, assembling a line-up of galleries, artists and projects that usually fly under the radar. (It’s also the only major fair in America to be run by a non-profit organization.) Established in 2003, NADA features more than 90 exhibitors this year, mostly from New York but with a sizeable sector of international presenters. Don’t miss #Nadawave from Dec 4–6, a series of dance parties (including Omar Souleyman and Diamond Terrifier) hosted by the likes of Jeffrey Deitch and Tokyo’s XYZ Collective. Deauville Beach Resort, 6701 Collins Ave. Dec 4–7. Free.

Sultry, quirky chantreuse FKA twigs, James Blake and SBTRKT descend on the YoungArts campus as part of this year’s National Young Arts Foundation program at night, while the Marina Abramovic Institute presents “Slow Motion Walk,” a pop-up participatory performance in which the audience joins artist Brittany Bailey in the act. And of course, don’t miss the star of the YoungArts Tent: Along with MoMA PS1, the foundation has curated a show titled “Zero Tolerance,” referencing New York City’s 1990 policing of crime and violence. YoungArts Campus, 2100 Biscayne Blvd (youngarts.org). Dec 3–7.

A year into its new location, PAMM has made a name for itself with envelope-pushing curatorial programming and events. In addition to celebrating its one-year anniversary in the space, PAMM hosts “R.R. and the Expansion of the Tropics,” a socio-political abstract show by Mexico-based artist Mario García Torres, as well as a public book signing by modernist painter Beatriz Milhazes on Dec 4. Perez Art Museum Miami, 1103 Biscayne Blvd. 

A global contemporary arts fair with a focus on multidisciplinary projects, including fashion and design, Scope spans three cities—New York, Basel and Miami—and has expanded into an enterprise, with a foundation dedicated to promoting emerging art, grants and a mentorship program. More than 100 exhibitors will be on display at the impressive 70,000-square-foot pavilion. Check out the large-scale multimedia installation by Aerosyn-Lex Mestrovic, among other exciting highlights. Scope Miami, 910 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach (scope-art.com). Dec 2–7. $20–$150.

Ninety minutes, two teams of artists, one winner—arguably the world’s premier art battle goes down on in an epic paint-off on Saturday. Having hosted its first battle in 2006 in a tiny bar in East London, the team has now spread to major cities, such as New York, Hong Kong and Berlin. Artists this round include Greg Mike, Greg Miksa, Lamour Supreme, Meggs, Chaz (TLP), Inkie, Mysterious Al, Elle NYC, Woes, Dulk, Look the Weird, Nychose, Pez and Tommy Helm. Guest judges are Tristan Eaton, Ron English, Wayne Rada and Martha Cooper; Boston Cherry, Brett Booth and DZA (Peachfuzz) provide the beats. It’s on! Secret Walls Miami,
 secret location TBA (thesecretwalls.com, eventbrite.co.uk). Dec 6. General admission $5, VIP $62.

The art world’s current wonder boy, Daniel Arsham, concurrently opens an exhibit at Locust Projects within Basel grounds as well as this interactive lobby installation at the Delano South Beach, co-created with Alex Mustonen. Snarkitecture, a concept-cum-installation project that has popped up around cities worldwide since 2008, presents its ten-foot take on the children’s toy for the duration of art week. Delano, 1685 Collins Ave, Miami Beach. Free.

If you see a tumble of pipes and white sails lumbering down the sandy expanses of Miami Beach, don’t be surprised—that’s just the work of Theo Jansen. Known largely for his Strandbeest creations, which he’s been crafting since 1990, Jansen presents a new herd of curious, kinetic sculptures as part of Basel’s outdoor programming. Even when there’s no wind, the creatures can still move autonomously: each has an air pocket pouch stored within its belly. Oceanfront between 21st and 22nd Sts, Miami Beach (artbasel.com). Dec 3–7, 10:30am & 4:30pm. Free.