Art Basel 2018 Opens In Miami Beach

MIAMI BEACH, FL — Well-heeled art lovers descend on the Miami area from all four corners of the world this week as Art Basel 2018 opens around town. The public show runs from Thursday afternoon through Sunday at the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center.

Of course some people never make it to the sculptures, paintings and photo exhibits. They are all about the glitterati, over-the-top parties and cool side events.

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Check out Patch's list of events around the Miami area further down in this article. Keep checking back to find additional events. See Art Basel 2018 Events Around Miami

First the official events. In Miami Beach, these take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, which is the main venue. But you'll also find exhibits in Collins Park, The Bass and New World Center's SoundScape Park. You'll need a ticket to get into the Miami Beach Convention Center, which isn't the case at the other Miami Beach locations.

"This week Miami Beach is the center of the art world, where collectors curators critics and museum leaders come to discover art works and even artists and to launch new projects." Art Basel Director Marc Spiegler told reporters ahead of the show's public opening.

Business magnate Norman Braman, who helped lure the event to the Miami area 16 years ago, told Local 10 news that Art Basel has forever changed the city.

"It's just given us a year round focus on the arts," he told the news crew.

Leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa will be deploying significant work from the masters of modern and contemporary art, as well as the new generation of emerging stars. Paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, films, and editioned works of the highest quality are on display, according to show organizers.

“Every year Art Basel attracts thousands of international visitors to Miami Beach and a growing number of leading art fairs with it,” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. “I’m proud to say that this year art enthusiasts will experience a heightened sense of vibrant energy in the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center that is reflective of Miami Beach’s leading status as a year-round destination for arts and culture.”

Getting there: If you want to avoid driving, you can take Miami Beach’s free citywide trolleys and the Art Week shuttle service powered by PULSE Miami Beach.

The city’s trolleys will run on their regular schedule, Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to midnight and on Sunday from 8 a.m. to midnight. The free Art Week shuttle service will operate from Thursday, Dec. 6 to Saturday, Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday, December 9 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. about every 20 minutes.

The scheduled routes and stops for the art fairs are as follows:

Art Week Shuttle Powered by PULSE Miami Beach

• Art Basel Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Convention Center
  • Washington Avenue just south of 18 Street (southbound)
  • Washington Avenue just north of 18 Street (northbound)
• PULSE Miami Beach
  • 4525 Collins Avenue
• Scope Art Fair, Superfine and Untitled Art Fair
  • Ocean Drive between 9 and 10 streets

Miami Beach Trolley

• Art Basel Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive
  • 17 Street and Convention Center Drive (South Beach Loop and Middle Beach Loop)
  • Southbound: Washington Avenue and 19 Street (South Beach Loop B)
  • Northbound: Washington Avenue and 18 Street (South Beach Loop B)

• Aqua Art Miami, 1530 Collins Avenue
  • 15 Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A and B)
• Audemars Piguet, Sandlot between 21 and 22 streets
  • Collins Avenue between 21 and 22 streets (Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express)
• The Bass, 2100 Collins Avenue
  • 21 Street and Collins Avenue (Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express)
• Design Miami, Northwest Corner of Meridian Avenue and 19 Street
  • 19 Street and Meridian Avenue (Middle Beach Loop)
• Faena Festival, 3201 Collins Avenue – Beachfront between 32 and 36 streets
  • 31, 33 and 35 streets and Collins Avenue (Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express)
• Ink Miami Art Fair, 1850 Collins Avenue
  • 18 Street and Collins Avenue (Middle Beach Loop)
• PULSE Miami Beach, Indian Beach Park - 46 Street and Collins Avenue
  • 4525 Collins Avenue (Collins Express)
• Scope Art Fair, Ocean Drive - Beachfront between 8 and 10 streets
  • 9 Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A and B)
• Superfine! Miami Beach at the Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Drive
  • 9 Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A and B)
• Untitled Art Fair, Ocean Drive - Beachfront between 11 and 12 streets
  • 9 Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A and B)
• Urban Art Fair, 1510 Alton Road
  • 15 Street and Alton Road (South Beach Loops A and B)

For a full list of routes, click here or download the free Miami Beach eGov app to track the trolley and Art Week shuttle in real-time.

Additionally, to further improve the traffic exiting the city during Art Week, the closed lane on the westbound I-195 ramp to southbound I-95 as part of an ongoing FDOT construction project will be temporarily re-opened from Dec. 3 to Dec. 10.

FDOT has also suspended work on the westbound outside lane of the MacArthur Causeway during the event. After Art Week, FDOT will resume their work on the westbound inside lane.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to sign up for the City’s traffic text messages by texting MBTraffic to 888777 to be advised of major traffic events the moment they happen and seek alternate routes, if necessary.

Here's the schedule of public days at the Miami Beach Convention Center:

Thursday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 7, noon to 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 8, noon to 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 9, noon to 6 p.m.
Art Basel's Conversations series is open to the public from Thursday, Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m., via the West Lobby.

The Miami Beach Convention Center is located at 1901 Convention Center Drive in Miami Beach.

Ticket Information

Click here to buy tickets. Tickets can also be purchased at the box office in the West Lobby of the Miami Beach Convention Center, starting on Dec. 6.

For a heightened experience, consider the Premium+ Card or the new four-day pass.

Photo by Paul Scicchitano