Art Basel Miami Round Up

Art Basel Miami Beach 2011 closed on Sunday 4th December following a highly successful run. The event, now in its 10th year, achieved record visitor figures of 50,000. Held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center 260 galleries showing works by 2,500 artists and numerous satellite shows, including Art Miami, the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA), Pulse and Scope. For the last five days, this was the only place to be on the art planet.

Although Art Basel does not release overall sales figures, the fact that around 10 stands had closed as early as Friday afternoon due to having sold all their pieces speaks for itself. Since the closing of the fair, many gallery officials have also reported positive results; Monika Sprüth and Philomene Magers of Sprüth Magers said: “We have had a great fair and sold work by John Baldessari, George Condo, Cyprien Gaillard, Andreas Gursky, Jenny Holzer and Louise Lawler. We met many new collectors and look forward to returning next year.”

Most seem to be in agreement that rather than the current economic climate having a detrimental effect, this year's fair was in fact busier than in previous years. Moreover, buyers from the United States demonstrated a renewed enthusiasm; Arne Ehmann of the Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac of Paris and Salzburg comments: "We sold 90% to American collections, which is totally different to two years ago and surprised us."

Another trend noted by those who attended the fair was the emergence of new investors and exhibitors from Latin America, with 16 galleries this year coming from Latin countries, featuring works by up-and-coming young artists including Rosana Ricalde (Baró Galeria, São Paulo), Icaro Zorbar (Casas Riegner, Bogotá) and Cinthia Marcelle (Silvia Cintra + Box 4, Rio de Janeiro).

Hauser & Wirth, London who is currently showing Paul McCarthy’s disturbing sculpture,reportedly sold a $950,000 pink silicone dwarf  but an 11-foot  sculpture of a pig hauling a house on its back by Chinese artist Zhang Huan is still waiting to find a good home. Words: Maddie Bates