Your expert guide to the best Art Basel Miami events 2018
Narrowing down your list of Art Basel Miami events is intimidating. Where to start? It seems like every building with electricity is hosting some secret, immersive installation where Diplo may or may not show up. How many Diplos even are there? But, here’s the thing you learn after a couple years worth of Art Basel: you don’t have to do it all. The people having the most fun at Miami Art Week aren’t the ones attending every party at the best clubs in Miami or showing face at every music venue in Miami. Those people have lost their minds by Tuesday. No, the folks having the best time are the ones who’ve picked the right Art Basel parties and events. Quality over quantity. You know the deal. So we are not suggesting you visit every one of these events—unless you, like, own a helicopter. We want you to use this list to help guide you through Art Basel Miami 2018’s best things to do outside of the art fairs. Choose wisely.
RECOMMENDED: Your guide to Art Basel Miami Beach 2018
Art Basel Miami 2018 events
Rakastella
Any true dance music fan should be drooling over a collaboration between the wonderful labels Life and Death and Innervisions. The two dance music powerhouses take over Virginia Key Beach Park once again this year for their Rakastella party. The roster of DJs includes Âme, DJ Tennis, Dixon, DJ Harvey, Job Jobse, Apparat and many more. Pace yourself, though. The party doesn’t stop until 7am the next day.
Blnk Cnvs Presents
The Bank Cnvs Art Basel concert lineup is, in our opinion, pretty darn good. It’s all happening at Wynwood’s Soho Studios. Things start on a very high note on Wednesday with the endearing South African maniacs known as Die Antwoord. Then it’s on to everyone’s favorite rapping stoner foodie Action Bronson on Thursday, followed by Chicago’s own Juice Wrld on Friday. As of now, Saturday’s set is listed simply as “???” so anything is possible. Fingers crossed for Beyoncé!
Create & Cultivate Vision Summit
Create & Cultivate, the digital platform championing female entrepreneurs, throws its first-ever summit in South Beach this fall. The event brings together visionaries from the worlds of food, fashion, art, tech and beyond for a series of intimate conversations and presentations. Inspiring women such as actress Jamie Chung, Rent the Runway founder Jenn Hyman and CEO of Disfunkshion Magazine Hugette Montesinos lead panels and insightful discussions as part of the scheduled programming, which also includes a beauty bar and happy hour.
Ninja Tune Art Basel
English indie label Ninja Tune has never done a showcase in Miami before, which is a bummer for fans of its impressive roster of acts including Bonobo, Little Dragon, Kamasi Washington and more. Thankfully that changes this Art Basel, when Ninja Tune takes over Club Space’s first-floor venue, the Ground, for what’s sure to be a hell of a night. Lineup to come soon!
Sleeping Beauty Dreams
The Brothers Grimm’s sweet 19th-century fairytale gets thrust into 2018, complete with an EDM soundtrack and virtual cast of bendy avatars that perform alongside ethereal ballerinas. Sleeping Beauty Dreams fuses contemporary ballet with elements of tech and performance art that pull audiences into a multidimensional, storytelling experience.
The Art Plug Power House
Brace for another immersive art experience this Basel—one that’s built for adults and probably NSFW (some parts of it at least). The Art Plug Power House spans several blocks, where you’ll encounter a High Hemp Smoke + Mirrors installation plus more than 30 interactive activations, monster truck and motorbike shows, the Art Plug + Monsieur Marcel collab pop-up and an exhibition by Marcel Katz Art. More than 20 artists are expected to participate in this abandoned impound-turned-gallery. 1440 NW 21St
Rockwell and 1OAK Pop-up
Rockwell partners with notoriously-impossible-to-get-into NYC club 1OAK yet again for Art Basel 2018. You can expect a whole bunch of buzzy names and celebs ending the night here throughout the weekend. Think you can get past the doorman? We like your confidence.
ZHU
The dynamic artist ZHU comes to town as part of the III Points Art Basel concert series—which has a proven record of putting on some of the best shows in town during Miami Art Week. ZHU takes over Wynwood’s RC Cola Plant, a perfect venue for the eclectic electronic artist who has been known to break out the saxophone to really get the dance floor moving.
Tenoversix x Henrik Vibskov
Leading up to Art Basel 2018, the hip MiMo concept store hosts a cool shop-in-shop from Scandinavian artist Henrik Vibskov. Fresh off Paris Men’s Fashion Week, where he was the only Scandinavian designer to show, Vibskov creates a unique and colorful retail experience inspired by his eclectic runway presentations.
Breakfast in the Park
At this official Art Basel event, guests enjoy gratis breakfast and an enlightening presentation from internationally acclaimed sculptor Elizabeth Turk. Known for creating intricate works of marble, Turk’s lecture is followed by guided tours of Frost Art’s Sculpture Park and exhibitions.
The University of the Arts in Philadelphia x National Hotel
At this free, large-scale exhibition inside the historic Art Deco property, top alumni from the renowned University of the Arts in Philadelphia showcase an array of works—from moving images and contemporary art to photography. Don’t miss Stephen “ESPO” Powers’ neon video installation on the hotel’s roof, Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib’s playful video projections and Deborah Willis’ photographic retrospective on beauty.
Basel House
Back for its sixth edition, Basel House fuses art, nightlife and fun activations over the course of a weekend. Check out 40 large-scale murals and installations, shop a series of local pop-ups and get your hands dirty in one numerous graffiti workshops offered throughout the event. Expect plenty of music, cocktails and food to keep you fueled.
The Art of Banksy
The elusive, London-based street artist gets some well-deserved mainstream attention when his traveling exhibit, “The Art of Banksy,” makes a stop in Miami. Premiering during Miami Art Week, the two-month engagement features 80 original works, including a print of 2002’s iconic Girl With Balloon. Steve Lazarides, Banksy’s former agent, curates the mix-media exhibit.
AfriCOBRA
This Art Basel, MOCA presents 1960s artist collective AfriCOBRA (whose name stands for African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists) in this momentous retrospective, celebrating the group’s 50th anniversary. See the brightly colored works of Jeff Donaldson, Jae Jarrell, Wadsworth Jarrell and others that helped define the aesthetics of the Black Arts Movement.
SUPERFLEX: We Are All in the Same Boat
Danish collective SUPERFLEX makes light of the current global warming crisis through playful installations that touch on the economy, corruption and migration. If it sounds dark, it’s because it is—though only in subject matter. The subversive exhibition is humorous and thought-provoking, if not hopeful.
Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Finale
Bombay Sapphire’s annual bash (which celebrates the close of their Artisan Series arts competition) is one you can’t get into unless invited. If you are one of the lucky few to nab a spot on the guest list, expect peak Basel bougie-ness. This year’s party is hosted by the amazing Tessa Thompson and takes place at Villa Casa Casuarina (formally known as the Versace Mansion). The night’s music comes courtesy of a live performance by the bouncy New York duo Sofi Tukker.
The Tasting Train: Basel Edition
The Tasting Train is the Brightline’s monthly ride dedicated to great wine and fine food. For the Basel edition, things get a tad fancy with the help from Perrier Jouët and Absolut Elyx. Ride the train from West Palm and Fort Lauderdale to the reception at MiamiCentral Station (or just hit up the party and skip the ride). Afterward, the Brightline will bring you home. 600 NW 2nd Ave
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