Satellite Art Fairs Grow At Art Basel As Wynwood Walls Get New Look
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Described as "the most prestigious art show in the Americas," Art Basel opens its Miami Beach 14th edition this week.
It brings with it a swarm of satellite art fairs and parties that envelope the entire city. While the final touches are being put on Art Basel, satellite shows are popping up across South Florida. But that's not all that's popping up. So are the celebrities. CBS4's Lisa Petrillo spotted Art Basel regular Leonardo DiCaprio on Tuesday while checking out Art Basel's largest satellite fair Art Miami which is definitely a main attraction.
"This is an Alexander Calder, this is 12.8 million dollars," said Art Miami owner Nick Korniloff referring to a sculpture.
Now celebrating its 26th edition, this is the longest running Miami Art Fair and ranked number one in attendance for the U.S.
This year there's even a higher level of art being sold under the white tent that features pieces from 120 galleries from all over the world.
"We've exchanged lots of galleries with Art Basel this year. We have more participants who used to do Art Basel but are now here. The pricing, the blue chip quality of the work is amazing," Korniloff said.
Big name art brings in big names stars. Camera shy Leonardo DiCaprio showed up long before the doors opened. Leo is a huge art collector. He was looking at works by Botero and another piece called Owl House by controversial artist Ai Weiwei.
There are so many important works at Art Miami including a rare piece by Keith Herring as well as a mural worth millions.
"We have a work that is collaborated by Jean Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol from 1984 and 1985. The asking price is 5.4 million," explained Korniloff.
Down the street over at Wynwood Walls, it's a whole different kind of art, namely street art. Parisian artist eL Seed was there Tuesday putting the final touches on his mural which is a combination of graffiti and traditional Arabic calligraphy.
The Wynwood Walls and sculptures as well are works from the best of the best in the genre.
"This is a really a beautiful gift to the city, a gift to our culture and to the genre of street art and for people to come visit, explained Jessica Goldman Srebnick, ECO of Goldman Properties.
Srebnick is showing off her newest walls in a series she calls "Walls of Change."
"Walls of Change, to me, is really about what is happening in Wynwood, happening in the art world because walls can make great change," said Goldman Srebnick.
There are a total of 14 new murals being added to Wynwood Walls.
Also new is The Wynwood Walls Garden - an art space adjacent to the Wynwood Doors.
There is also a program of events within the art park that will be free and open to the public.
"The program focuses on the utilization of art as a change agent. There is no better way to describe what is happening in Wynwood than this year's theme of Walls of Change," said Goldman Srebnick. "The diversity, passion and spirit of our curated selection of artists have brought an energy to the Wynwood Walls unlike anything anywhere. This year's group of artists has extraordinary talents and perspectives. It is through their walls that we wish to create a thought provoking, inspiring and hopeful environment where our visitors are inspired to push their own boundaries and create their own change."
