Next week, all eyes will be on Miami when designers, gallerists, curators, and collectors gather in the Floridian metropolis for Design Miami and Art Basel, otherwise known as Miami Art and Design Week. To maximize your time exploring this powerhouse duo of fairs, as well as the growing list of city-wide design happenings too, AD PRO has highlighted the can’t-miss installations, exhibitions, openings, and product debuts—and everything else you need to know about this coveted annual event.
What, When, and Where
Taking place December 5–10 in Pride Park, Design Miami is a celebration of collectible design showcasing 20th- and 21st-century furniture, lighting, and objets d’art through 50 gallery and Curio exhibitions as well as myriad collaborations. Over at the Miami Beach Convention Center opposite the park, Art Basel (December 8–10) will bring together top galleries from five continents to showcase modern and contemporary art from well-established talents and rising stars alike. Save a day for exploring art galleries and design showrooms in the Miami Design District and beyond, as many have dedicated activations planned in honor of Miami Art and Design Week.
What to Know About the Fair
Both Pride Park and the convention center are vast—bring comfortable shoes—and wandering through them is indeed overwhelming. Having an expert guide the way can be a major time and energy saver. ArtNexus has organized several one-hour tour options for visitors to Art Basel, including “Highlights” and “Curator’s Choice,” along with family-friendly programming and special collection spotlights. While at the convention center, be sure to dip into the Louis Vuitton lounge, which will feature two wax figures of Yayoi Kusama, created by the master of dots herself; a vintage trunk collaboration with Takashi Murakami; paintings by Richard Prince; and more.
Don’t forget that plenty of soirées are popping up elsewhere across the city too—so plan to spend ample time in the back of Lyfts and Ubers, if you aren’t renting a car. Tickets for Design Miami and Art Basel can be purchased ahead of time on the fairs’ websites. (There is even a convenient combo offering of the two events for $98.)
Where to Eat, Drink, and Stay
After a full day of visual stimulation, a convivial dinner in an equally stunning space is in order. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of beautiful eateries in Magic City. This fall, hospitality moguls David Grutman and Jason Strauss unveiled Casadonna, a Biscayne Bay destination featuring coastal Italian fare and grand palazzo interiors dreamed up by Ken Fulk.
