Throwback Thursday has me thinking back on one of the absolute biggest highlights of my art career thus far, creating four massive paintings for a Christies charity auction during Miamis Art Basel Week 2018 benefiting The Global Wildlife Conservation.  It was a magical night celebrating the art world and working towards preserving natural lands for future generations.  Just having the opportunity to share my art at this event was a huge honor, but then I was completely blown away when Leonardo DiCaprio bid on my art, and the paintings were eventually purchased/auctioned to several billionaires...I never in a million years expected such a positive response to my art, it was a truly humbling experience.

My amazing daughter (Plastics Media) organized this opportunity for my art to be included and we had a fun evening out with friends in the magical city that is Miami, especially the vibrant, energetic vibe that takes over the city during Art Basel; it's my favorite week of the year and look forward to seeing the art, people, fashion and just the energy that lights up Miami Art Week.

Normally by this time of the year, July, is when artists start looking for venues, businesses and organizations to collaborate with during Art Basel Miami, and this continues right up until the first week of December when Miami Art Week happens.  But, due to Covid-19 there hasn't been any talk of Art Basel 2020, and understandably so.  I can't imagine at this point in time that such a huge week of endless parties and art events would be allowed due to the social distancing that is required in Miami at the current time.  Yes, we have months for things to get better, but, without the ability to plan and prepare, will Art Basel occur this year in Miami?  If so, will it be a "masks required" scenario?  I'm going to be keeping a close eye on chatter and rumors of what will be happening and crossing my fingers that my favorite week of the year is still a reality for 2020.  In the meantime I'm going to optimistically continue honing my craft and work on a new art collection to unveil during Miami Art Week, even if it's a virtual event.

My first year at Miami Art Basel is a wrap!  It was an amazing experience to be surrounded by so much art and creativity, as well as the opportunity to share my art with even more people that might not have otherwise known about it.

I showed at the Spectrum Miami satellite fair with Art Blend Gallery in their booth and also had my oversized 60"x72" "Living the Dream"© painting prominently featured in the VIP lounge, it was such an honor and all around amazing experience.  In addition "Living the Dream" was also the cover art for the Art Blend magazine that was given out at the show and also sold in Barnes and Noble, Hudson Booksellers and other retailers across the country.  I was also supposed to participate in the Art Basel Food and Wine Festival, but due to the non-stop rain, and threat of torrential rain, the event was cancelled as it was set to be outdoors.  An unfortunate turn of events, but we can't do anything about the weather.

One of the most important things I came away with was getting ideas for how I want to show my art at next years Art Basel.  I'm still debating if I want to go with a gallery, my own booth in one of the fairs, or be completely outside of the box and have my own solo show somewhere, or combined with a group of artists I know.  To give me an idea of how to go outside of the box, I visited a lot of the smaller shows, such as Mijares, an artist whom I've followed on Instagram for quite some time, it was amazing to see his work in person and also how he set up his solo gallery show.  He is definitely an inspiration and an artist to follow.  Another great show was "The No Commission Dean Collection", put on by Alicia Keys husband, music producer "Swizz Beatz", Keys actually performed during Art Basel week at the show, which would have been amazing to see!  The Dean Collection was by far one of the most "step outside the box" events at Art Basel this year, as Swizz Beatz organized the entire event centered around the idea that artists should be given opportunities to share their art without it costing a fortune.  None of the artists in his show had to pay to participate and didn't have to pay a commission on any work sold during the show, this certainly got my head spinning with ideas for collaborations with other artists and brands.  

There were so many events with artists collaborating with supportive art brands, such as the Hublot watch company, Bagghy Purses, Viber App Stickers, Bacardi, Absolut Elyx Water, etc., the list goes on and on, and as someone who knows how to work closely with brands through the licensing world, I think this would be so much fun to be involved with some artsy brands at next years Art Basel.  Definitely on my To Do list to reach out to several different brands for collaborative events next year :)​

In addition to all the ideas I came away with for next years show, and collaborations, I was blown away by so much of the art, here are some of my favorites and shots of my paintings on display as well.  I hope you enjoy this little peak into what Miami Basel Art Week is all about, it's definitely worth the visit!!  And I will be back next year :)

As many of you know I will be displaying my original paintings during Miami Art Basel, starting tomorrow through Sunday December 6th.  I will be one of the featured artists in the VIP section of the Spectrum Show and with Art Blend Gallery in booth 307.

I will also be displaying food and alcohol related original paintings and prints at the Basel Food and Wine Festival on Saturday Evening, including offering a raffle for an original painting!

I'm getting so excited to be doing my first ever show at Art Basel Miami!  It has been something I've wanted to do or years, and the opportunity was finally right to be there this year, I hope you are able to get the chance, if in Miami this week, to stop by and see my art in person and I would love to meet any of you who make it out!

Miami Art Basel is an event I've been wanting to do for years!  I live in Florida so it seems like it would have been something I've done before, but nothing ever lined up just right to make it all happen, but this year it just fell into place, I'm so excited to finally be going!  

I will be exhibiting with Art Blend Gallery at the Spectrum Miami show ~ "Discover SPECTRUM Miami—a juried, contemporary art show in the heart of Midtown Miami featuring an international slate of artists and galleries. It’s where contemporary meets extraordinary. Join us for a 5-day fine art experience, featuring music, entertainment and other special events."

In addition to having my art on display, my "Living the Dream"© painting is also the featured art in the VIP lounge and the cover of Art Blend magazine available in Barnes and Noble locations around the country, on Amazon, Hudson Booksellers and more.  I will be in Miami during this time visiting the show and meeting people as well as visiting other satellite art shows and events, I'm going to be immersed in art for 5 days, I can't wait!!

If you would like to come see me and my art in person I also have tickets available here.