Art Basel Miami Beach was in full swing this month, with art fairs and activations happening all over the city. As evidenced by the galleries section of our weekly newsletter, there were so many exhibitions, events and parties that it was hard to keep up. We asked Veronica Speck, founder of VHS Ventures, to share her top art week happenings. Read on for her intel on the events and artists to know.
BEA PERNIA
Venezuelan Interior Designer, Bea Pernia collaborated with Mexico and Miami-based Grupo Arca to create the Atus Collection, which consisted of handmade marble and wood furniture works. Venini provided the handblown Murano glass chandelier. The warm light reflected on the walls and furniture enveloped her booth, and this calm ambiance and the soothing atmosphere was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of opening day at the fair. This was Bea’s first time presenting at Design Miami and certainly not the last!
Bea Pernia
RUINART
Ruinart has hosted their Botanical Garden champagne reception celebrating their limited edition annual artist collaboration for as long as I can remember. It is always one of my favorite events, and the perfect way to end a long day of visiting the Art Basel and Design Miami fairs and begin the evening’s festivities. I also always look forward to seeing my friend Timo Weiland behind the DJ booth, and the opportunity to briefly catch up (and request a song or two). The 2019 fête was hosted by French chef Daniel Boulud and Brazilian artist Vik Muniz. This year honored the Maison’s collaboration with British visual artist David Shrigley, and French brand ambassadors including Caroline de Maigret were in attendance. The bubbly was bountiful, and especially refreshing in the Miami heat!
LOEWE
Spanish luxury brand Loewe hosted an event Monday evening at their Design District store in celebration of the new multicolor mural installation by American conceptual artist Sol Lewitt. They also hosted a late-night party at Twist on South Beach with Creative Director Jonathan Anderson, singer Ricky Martin, gallerist Lucas Zwirner, and more on Wednesday evening, which was my last stop on the Basel circuit before flying out early Thursday morning!
TULESTE FACTORY
Sisters Celeste and Satu Greenberg originally began as fashion and accessory designers. Tuleste evolved into the fine art and collectible design gallery, Tuleste Factory, a few years ago. They have a gallery in Chelsea, New York and “Material Block” was their first exhibition to debut at Design Miami. Designers including Timbur, a digital fabrication company that uses advanced robotic and CNC manufacturing methods; handwoven rugs using Tibetan wool, silk and cashmere by Jt. Pfeiffer; and soft ambient sconces and lighting in sherbet colors by Facture Studio all came together in a unique and beautiful way. Tuleste also hosted an event later in the week at Gitano at Faena with artist Edward Granger and Scotch & Soda.
Scotch & Soda x Edward Granger
VOGUE100
My dear friend Lilah Ramzi was a host at the Vogue100 x Art Basel celebration with Mytheresa on a megayacht docked in the Miami harbor. The evening picked up where the Louis Vuitton spring 2022 men’s show left off and the soirée welcomed well-dressed models, artists, philanthropists, and musicians at golden hour.
COSTA BRAZIL
Francisco Costa, the former Creative Director of Womenswear for Calvin Klein, was inspired to create his skincare and wellness brand, Costa Brazil, after a life-changing trip to the Amazon. He discovered ancient artisanal ingredients, such as the nutrient-rich trinity of Kaya, Cacay, and Breu. Costa was joined for a seated candlelit dinner (candles by Costa Brazil of course) at Casa Tua with a beloved bevy of Brazilians including Lais Ribero, Isabela Grutman, Camila Coelho, and Laura Yawanawa, a tribe leader who was the first to host Costa during his exploratory trips to the Amazon.
GRUPO ARCA
Grupo Arca brought the best of Mexico to Miami during their event and exhibition kicking off Art Basel on Tuesday evening. Hauser & Wirth artist Stefan Brüggemann’s “Eroded Series” paintings lined the vibrant facade of the Superflex and Esrawe Studio-designed Wynwood Arca Gallery and Showroom. Inside, works of art made of Arca marble by artists from Mexico’s leading galleries were displayed, including OMR’s Gabriel Rico and Jorge Mendéz Blake and Masa Gallery’s Ewe Studio, Brian Thoreen, Mario García Torres, and Adeline de Monseignat. Gabriela Cámara of Mexico City’s Contramar was serving her famous tuna tostadas while Casa Dragones provided the specialty margaritas. No Art Basel fiesta is complete without some celeb sightings, and right on cue Pharrell Williams, Adam Levine, Behati Prinsloo, and Joe Jonas arrived with co-host Dave Grutman to take in the exhibition.
Jose Fernandez, Steffan Brüggemann & Gerardo Cortina
DIOR
I had the opportunity to see the Medallion Chair exhibition at Salone del Mobile in Milano this past September, but it was a completely different experience to see the chairs in a new setting. The exhibition and opening event on Monday were hosted at Superblue, which is normally home to works by Es Devlin and James Turrell. Outside, Chef Yann Nury treated guests to his signature caviar topped tater tots straight from his luxury airstream. Inside, artists and designers, such as Dimore Studio and Seungjin Yang displayed their modern interpretations of the Dior medallion chair.
LOUIS VUITTON
Days after the heartbreaking and surprising announcement that the 41-year-old LVMH artistic director, Virgil Abloh, had lost his battle with cancer, Louis Vuitton decided to pivot their planned runway show marking the opening of a new menswear store in Miami’s Design District, and instead pay tribute to the multidisciplinary creative force. A light show filled the Miami skyline with the iconic LV monogram changed to VA, and ending with “Virgil Was Here.” Frontrow fans included Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Pharrell Williams, Joe Jonas, Ricky Martin, Venus Williams, Bella Hadid, and the Arnault family clad in black for the occasion.
‘Tis the season for holiday shopping, and if finding the right gift has you all sorts of stressed, you’re in good company. Picking the perfect present for someone isn’t easy, so we put together some ideas to get you inspired. From fashion and beauty to wellness and design, check out our roundup of fab gift ideas below.
AGL Tania Combat Boot
Festive and functional, the Tania combat boot is part of AGL's shiny capsule collection of FW styles fashioned in gold. This lace-up boot in particular is a favorite of Alessandra Ambrosio and Busy Philipps.
alice & olivia Samson Faux Shearling Piped Coat
A winter wardrobe upgrade is always in order, especially when it's a classic piece in an on-trend texture. Bundle up in this cozy black and white coat.
Roger Vivier Holiday Gift Box
This is a must for any accessory lover. The earrings, headband and hair clip provide a nice amount of sparkle for any holiday soiree, while the actual gift box is a little treat in itself.
Lanvin LNV605S Sunglasses via Marchon Eyewear
A sleek pair of shades make for a stylish gift, especially this Lanvin style. The striped red color is ideal for the trendsetter in your life, as the unique hue stands out in a sea of typically black and toirtoise frames.
Anything A La Vieille Russie
Find the ultimate gift for the jewelry lover in your life via A La Vieille Russie. The multi-generational family business has been around since 1851, and specializes in antique jewelry, FABERGE and more.
ChokChok Skin Hydrating Kit
The ultimate way to get holiday-party ready, this kit was designed to give you a luminous glow. ChokChok's 3 Bio-Cellulose Hydrating Face Masks and Dewy Glow Hydrating Serum gently improve dehydrated skin and firm fine lines and wrinkles.
Uberliss Bond Healing Spray
One of winter's biggest beauty woes is staticy hair, and this Uberliss spray helps eleminate that. It also instantly strengthens hair by 5% and improves moisture by 20%, adding a little extra shine to the locks.
TooD Bundles
TooD released exertly-curated bundles of their sustainable glitter products and tools just in time for the holidays. Get a gift set with their beautiful Color Creams, the cult-favorite biodegradable glitter made of plant cellulose (aptly dubbed BioGlitter) as well as top-selling beauty tools.
Scent for Good Sanitizer & Mask Spray
Keep your loved ones safe with Scent for Good's Mother Earth Hand Sanitizer, a dermatologist approved gel-based formula. Pair it with their Inner Piece Mask Spray to add a little luxury to their everyday.
SoulUnity Subcription Service
SoulUnity, an online space/subscription service, is perfect for that person in your life that's all about evolving and personal transformation. This platform connects members with pros across wellness and healing, from meditation and movement to astrology and breathwork sessions.
The Glass House Design Store
If you're looking for a unique home gift, check out everything The Glass House has to offer. From geometric salt and pepper shakers to modern serving boards and artful decor, there's something unique for every aesthetic.
Ilex Studio Avocado Vase
Simple but innovative, "Avocado Vase" is more than just a name: the borosilicate glass vase comes with a 35-page handbook with steps to help you successfully grow an avocado pit into a plant. It's ideal for greenthumbs, families with curious kids and design enthusiasts alike.
Car Diffuser by Acqua di Parma and Poltrona Frau
You may not be driving to Italy, but this car diffuser can transport you there mentally. The limited-edition diffuser comes in amaranth red and looks as good as it smells.
