Art Wynwood is treating visitors to a nautical surprise. The art fair has commissioned a unique mural from Los Angeles-based street artist RISK, which has been painted on a boat.
The artwork is an intentional tie-in to the weekend’s other big event, the Miami International Boat Show. The massive marketplace for yachts, sailboats, and all variety of oceangoing craft is happening across six locations on President’s Day weekend, one of which just happens to be on Herald Plaza in midtown, across the street from a tent full of art.
(Courtesy of Art Wynwood)
Art Wynwood art fair is back for its first edition since 2020 alongside the Miami International Boat Show at Herald Plaza.
Back for its first edition since 2020 (preview day is Thursday, Feb. 16, then it opens to the public Friday, Feb 17 through Sunday, Feb. 19, Art Wynwood may no longer be located in the once-artsy neighborhood that gives it its name, but its strategic location on the bay means a boat show attendee can easily shop for art as soon as they’re done buying their latest boat. That’s the plan, according to Art Wynwood Director Julian Navarro.
“The idea is to try to build a collectors base,” he says. “It’s a really good show in terms of energy.”
(Courtesy of Superfine Art Fair)
“The Heiress,” Sarah Fishbein Mosaics, at Superfine Art Fair.
There’s also corporate synergy going on between the two events. In 2019, Art Wynwood and its sister fairs, which include the Miami Art Week fairs Context, Aqua, and Art Miami, as well as Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, were acquired by Informa, a London-based company that owns the boat show. The aim is to turn President’s Day weekend into a smaller, more intimate accompaniment to the more international, glamorous, and significantly busier Miami Art Week.
They’re being helped along in their efforts by a smattering of unaffiliated art events taking place the same weekend. Superfine, the smaller art fair which formerly took place in December, is camping out at Ice Palace Studios in downtown, while the artist’s book-focused Tropic Bound will set up shop in the Design District.
“It’s a moment here in Miami where we receive many visitors,” says gallerist Ramon Cernuda, “and it’s a great opportunity to develop that other grouping of cultural and leisure activities that would support the participation of an international public.”
(Courtesy of Cernuda Arte)
Wilfredo Lam, “Untitled,” will be one of the works at Art Wynwood from Cernuda Arte.
Of course, the fair isn’t just about blue-chip paintings. Alongside RISK’s piece at the entrance, the artist will be showing several “virtual reality graffiti prints,” which can be activated by using a smartphone.
Hyperrealist works by Attilio Cianni and Peter Demetz will be the focus at Liquid Art System’s booth, while London-based HOFA Gallery will show cutting-edge kinetic and interactive art.
It seems clear that while some may come for the boats, they’ll stay for the art.
If You Go
Art Wynwood
(Courtesy of Liquid Art System)
Attilio Cianni, “blu,” will be at Liquid Art System’s booth at Art Wynwood.
The Art Wynwood Pavilion, One Herald Plaza (Biscayne Bay & 14th St.), Miami
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17 to 18,
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19
One-day general admission is $36.50 per person; a multi-day pass is $65 per person
For more information click artwynwood.com
Superfine Art Fair
Ice Palace Studios, 1400 N Miami Ave., Miami
4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17,
noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 18 and 19
One-day general admission is $30 per person; multi-day pass is $40 per person
For more information click superfine.world