Art Basel 2016 couldn’t come at a better time! After a tumultuous election season, we all need the opportunity to appreciate beauty – and more importantly – support artists of African descent. This year, Sugarcane Magazine will not only focus on Art Basel Miami Beach, but the wide array of quality fairs and local art events scheduled throughout the Miami and Miami Beach areas. Reminiscent of last year’s Art Basel, a plethora of domestic and international creatives will beckon you to multiple venues. The choices are plentiful: Yinka Shonibare to Miami’s own T. Elliot Mansa, and even Uncle Luke (yes, you can be sophisticated and ratchet simultaneously), plus Derrick Adams and Mickalene Thomas. You can purchase work as budget-endearing as $50 to work with multi-million dollars price tags, all in the name of art and investment. However, to do that, you need to know where to start. This year we will list major locations and where to find “Art of Black”, a local initiative to promote local art fairs.
Art Basel Miami Beach
Miami Beach Convention Center
1901 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, 33139
Art Basel Miami Beach, where it all began, is an international art fair with three shows staged annually in Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong. Each show is organized into sectors which showcase modern and contemporary artworks by established and newly emerging artists. This year in Miami Beach, you can enjoy the arts at Jack Shaiman Gallery, The Goodman Gallery, Galeria Leme, The Tanya Bonakdar Galery featuring Meschac Gaba, Galleria Continua with Pascal Marthine Tayou, Kewinig featuring Ghada Amer, Carolina Nitsch with Wangetchi Mutu, Vigo Gallery with Ibrahim El-Salahi and the Stevenson Gallery. Further, art talks by Howardena Pindell, and Waafa Bilal; and films by Rashid Johnson and Derrick Adams. Purchase tickets here.
Riding in Cars with Boys by Ruby Onyinyechi Amaze
Context Art Miami
New CONTEXT Art Miami Pavilion
Midtown Miami/Wynwood
118 NE 34th Street
Miami, FL 3312
CONTEXT Art Miami (according to their website) along with the 27th edition of Art Miami, commences November 29, 2016, with the highly anticipated Opening Night VIP Preview. “The 2015 preview attracted 14,500 collectors, curators, artists, connoisseurs and designers, and the fair hosted a total of 82,500 attendees over a six-day period. This immediately reinforced the CONTEXT Art Miami fair as a proven destination and serious marketplace for top collectors to acquire important works from leading international galleries representing emerging and mid-career cutting-edge works of art.” This year Yinka Shonibare will be on view at Woolff Gallery and expect great work from Unbutu Gallery from Cairo, Egypt. Tickets are easy to purchase.
Sahar Alamir N/A
Pulse Art Fair
Indian Beach Park
4601 Collins Ave
Miami Beach 33139
Founded in 2005, Pulse prides itself on exhibiting a refreshing mix of established and up and coming artists and renowned galleries. Past artists have included Fahamou Pecou and Mickalene Thomas. This year, expect a powerful performance by Peter London Global Dance Company, Tony Gum at Christopher Moller Gallery and exciting new work from Rashad Newsome. Tickets are on sale here.
Rashad Newsome Swag
Prizm Art Fair
7230 NW Miami CT
Miami 33150
Prizm is one the newer art fairs in Miami with a focus on African Diaspora and emerging markets. Prizm is an Art Week Miami favorite , with tastemakers from all over the globe enjoying past works by Alexis Peskine, Amber Robles-Gordon, and Morel Doucet. This year, expect Derrick Adams, Felandous Thames, Candida Alvarez, Allison Jane Hamilton, Yana Evans and more. Also, this year you can enjoy engaging panels with Stephannie Cunningham and Oasa Duverney, performances by Nyugen Smith and Ayana Evans. To sweeten the experience the opening party “The Copper Door” serves brunch for dinner and Allison Janae Hamilton’s film ” In the Land of Milk or Honey” (November 29) and The Famous Art Critics, a cohort of multi-cultural art enthusiasts who gather for dinner and dialogue annually during Miami Art Week to discuss, highlight and elevate diverse individuals, institutions, and best practices for pathways to cultural equity in art: journalism, curation, and execution praxis (November 30th).Visit Prizm Art Fair here.
Haints at Swamp II by Allison Janae Hamilton
The African Heritage Cultural Arts
6161 NW 22nd Ave
Miami 33142
This year, the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center presents Yolah! in collaboration with M.U.C.E. Photographers Saddi Khali and LeRoy Hazzard explore the lives of the young African diaspora in Cuba. Also on view will be the memorabilia of the late, great Celia Cruz. The exhibit runs November 29 through December 5 with a special art talk on December 3rd. Admission is free.
LeRoy Hazzard, Love Youth
Visions of our 44th President
The Historic Lyric Theatre
819 NW 2nd Ave
Miami 33136
Visions of Our 44th President is a collective sculptural show created to recognize and celebrate the historical significance of the first African-American President of the United States of America. Forty-four contemporary African American artists (renowned and emerging), participated in the avant-garde art collaboration with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and Peter Kaplan of Our World, LLC., to create this wonderful view into the images of our 44th President. Dynamic and inspiring, the exhibition includes 44 artists’ interpretations of President Barack Obama in life-size, three-dimensional busts that were sculptured by Matthew Gonzales for Our World, LLC. Purchase tickets here.
Visions of Our 44th President
American Banned
Macaya Gallery
145 NW 36th St
Miami 33127
Listed as one of the top galleries in Miami, Macaya presents American Banned, three contemporary artists. “Essentially nonpartisan, the collective body of work provokes political discourse, spurs citizens to participate in the political process, and examines systemic violence, racism, and oppression.” This exhibit features work by Ashley Reid and Danny Simmons. Get gallery hours here.
Danny Simmons
Art of Black Miami
Various Locations
Miami’s Black artist community is a major part of the fabric of South Florida. The Greater Miami Beach Visitors’ and Conventions Bureau began an initiative to promote local fairs, and exhibits. The selection is large and varied: you can visit Kroma Gallery in historic Coconut Grove or visit Art Africa Miami in Overtown, or take in Caribbean Flora in Little Haiti. Find over 20 local activities here.
Work by Solomon Adufa. Mr. Adufa will exhibit with Art Africa Miami
Untitled Miami Beach
12th and Ocean Drive
Miami Beach 33139
Started in 2012, this fair brings galleries, non-profits and higher education to the art market. This year, visit: Richard Heller Gallery for Devin Troy Strother; Leonardo Drew at Rosenfeld Porcini; Barkley Hendricks, Mickalene Thomas and Melvin Edwards at the Brodsky Center at Rutgers; Paula Wilson at Island Press; Aaron Fowler at Diane Rosenstein; Lavar Monroe at Jack Bell Gallery; Sadie Barnette at Jenkins Johnson; Omar Victor Diop, Amadou Sanogo, Houston Maludi, Malik Sidibé, Chéri Samba at Magnin A Artist; Sanford Biggers and Ebony G. Patterson at Monique Meloche Gallery. Want to go?
Lavar Munroe, Is This What You Call Paradise?
Pérez Art Museum (PAMM)
1103 Biscayne Blvd
Miami 33132
One of the hottest museums in the country, PAMM has quite a few artists of African descent on view. Reynier Leyva, Ed Clark, Thomás Esson, Firelei Báez,Hew Locke and Julie Mehrtum are just a few to be experienced.
To make Art Week Miami scalding hot, Uncle Luke (yes, AKA Luke Skywalker) performs December 1st. It’s best to reserve your space now. You can do that here.
Firelei Báez, Bloodlines
The A.R.C.
675 Ali Baba Ave Opa Locka 33054
Curated by Tumelo Mosaka, the 5th Annual Art of Transformation Series is themed “SAY IT LOUD!” and will feature an exhibition of work by prominent contemporary artists Michael Paul Britto, Myra Greene, Joshua R. McFadden, Mario Pfeifer and Roberto Visani and films by Bhawin Suchak & Ira McKinley and Stanley Nelson. “SAY IT LOUD!” is inspired by the James Brown song of the same name addressing racial discrimination and calling for black empowerment. Make arrangement to see this here.
Myra Greene Untitled (Ref #10)
Spectrum Art Fair
1700 NE 2nd Ave
Miami 33132
Spectrum Miami—a juried, contemporary art show in the heart of Miami’s Arts & Entertainment District, featuring an international slate of artists and galleries. Spectrum has a growing list of galleries that expands every day. Be sure to visit Gallerie 19 for work by Martha Wade and Reisha; Artblend gallery featuring Anthony K. Wilson,Sr. Reserve your space here.
Martha Wade Confidence
Nina Johnson (Formerly Gallery Diet)
6315 NW 2nd Ave
Miami 33150
Nina Johnson presents the first photographic exhibition of Awol Erizku in Miami. “Presenting a group of 20 paintings alongside a conceptual sound collage of music and sonic ephemera, Erizku traffics in the space between sound and sight. The paintings bear the same subject matter: a disembodied hand, poised and manicured, holding a rose—not taking it or giving it, but only holding it. Appropriated from nail salon signage in Los Angeles, where the artist keeps a studio, the hand is both localized and ubiquitous, appearing across the country in interchangeable locales, signifying a variety of ethnicities and communities. Not only is it the first time Erizku has introduced figuration into his practice, it references his repeated use of floral imagery across his multi-disciplinary practice.”-Nina Johnson. Get times for the exhibit here.
Awol Erizku, Forces of Nature
Nova Southeastern University
1 E Las Olas Bvd
Fort Lauderdale 33301
NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale will present the first U.S. solo museum exhibition of London-based, Malawian artist Samson Kambalu. Featuring 12 of the artist’s recent films, Samson Kambalu: Nyau Cinema will be on view from November 25, 2016 – April 23, 2017. The exhibition is curated by Bonnie Clearwater, NSU Art Museum Director, and Chief Curator. Be sure to see his American debut here.
Samson Kambalu, Moses (Burning Bush)
The Body Aquatic
Featuring Fabiola Jean-Louis
1100 S Miami Ave STE 202
Miami 33130
Experience a viewing the collaboration of Haitian Artist Fabiola Jean Louis and Ghanaian Soulful Rock Performer YahZarah. The two will present a art meets music around the theme “The Body Aquatic” finding the hidden magic of the female soul after soul loss and reclaiming the royalty found within. YahZarah will also be sharing music inspired by the art from her upcoming release “The Ceremony”.
Hosted by Melky Jean aka Melky Sedeck and 103.5 the beats own K. Foxx
Meet the artists 6pm pre Vip cocktail reception with bites by international cooking sensation Chef The Rose
Doors open at 7. Musical performance at 8PM. Details and reservations can be made here.
Fabiola Jean Louis, Madame Leroy
Red Dot Art Fair
1700 NE 2nd Ave
Miami 33132
Fot 10 years, Red Dot Miami spotlights 50+ top galleries from around the world, showcasing work from over 300 contemporary artists. The show also presents a host of specially curated programs and special events to keep attendees inspired and entertained. This year the South African Art Collective with artists like Andrew Tshabangu, Esther Mahlangu, Meshack Raphalalani, Nkululeko Khumalo and 16 other artst from South Africa will exhibit their work. Purchase tickets here.
Work by Esther Mahlangu
Art Beat Miami
5925 NE 2nd Ave
Miami 33137
The Northeast Second Avenue Partnership Presents their 3rd annual celebration of art and culture in Little Haiti. Hosted by Jimmy Jean-Louis with fashion by Stevie Boi,music by Rutshelle Guillaume and art curated by Carl Juste. Make arrangement for attend visit here.
Work by Jude Papaloko
Aqua Art Miami
1530 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach 33139
Aqua is a unique art fair that takes place in a former South Beach Hotel. Experimental and collaborative, you can always find interesting work by a large group of creatives. Look for Kesha Bruce in a collective exhibit in suite #104. Reserve tickets here.
Kesha Bruce, Wrestling with Angels
Arts Up
529 NW 5th ST
Fort Lauderdale 33301
Sugarcane Magazine’s Gary L. Moore in collaboration with Curtis V. Hodge, Lighting Design Dark Matter/Sweet Earth present an installation dedicated to John Michell Jr. (1724-1793) physicist, astronomer, geologist, seismologist, and mathematician. Mr. Michell was of African descent living in England. In 1783, Mr. Michell in a paper for the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, read on 27 November 1783, first proposed the idea that there were such things as black holes, which he called “dark stars”. Admission is by appointment only by calling 954.760.5900.
Dark Matter by Gary Moore
Titus Kaphar: The Vesper Project Opens at the Lowe Art Museum
University of Miami at 1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, Florida.
The Vesper Project is the culmination of Titus Kaphar’s intensive engagement with the fictional history of the Vespers, a 19th-century New England family who were able to “pass” as Caucasian despite the fact that their mixed racial heritage made them black in the eyes of the law. The resulting project, which includes the remains of an abandoned Connecticut home into which the artist has incorporated his own work, interrogates notions of race, identity, memory, and social constructs. Through slashing, silhouetting, and whitewashing, Kaphar creates a complex map that compresses time and elides personal histories. Learn more about the Lowe Art Museum here.
tête-à-tête
Curated by Mickalene Thomas
David Castillo Gallery
420 Lincoln Road, Suite 300
Miami Beach, 331339
Sugarcane favorite Mickalene Thomas curates this show with art world heavy hitters. “tête-à-tête poses a series of back-and-forth conversations across the photographic and video works of fourteen artists that address social, political and personal mythologies of the black body as constructed and represented in visual media. The work adheres to Ariella Azoulay’s concept of the civil contract of photography, which asserts the photographic image as a relational encounter between subject, photographer and spectator; that in the moment of looking, photographing and being photographed, each party has a responsibility to the informed participation of the other two.” Artists include: Derrick Adams, Renee Cox, John Edmonds, Lyle Ashton, Harris, Deana Lawson, Zanele Muholi, Wangechi Mutu, Clifford Owens, Paul Sepuya, Malick Sibide, Xaviera Simmons, Hank Willis, Thomas, Mickalene Thomas and Carrie Mae Weems. Get times here
Photography by Micklane Thomas
*Additional research compiled by Tiffany Garnett.
