Baseling | Art Basel 2015

It's no secret how big a deal Art Basel is. 

Artists, collectors, curators, celebrities, fashion designers, everyday art enthusiasts, (the list goes on...) you name it, they've got a ticket to see this spectacular annual fine art show. 

Pretty much, Art Basel takes over Miami Beach and Miami. Parties, dinners, and scores of other events related to Art Basel pop up everywhere! 

But, if the nightlife and social scene isn't your thing and you're genuinely there to appreciate the art, you will not be disappointed.   

Exhibitions are all around, and best of all, no matter your taste in art, it's guaranteed you'll find a piece you love. Whether it's out-of-the-box and thought provoking or urban and contemporary, Art Basel has a little bit of something for everyone.

It's no surprise that I, teaming up with VISIT FLORIDA, kicked off my Basel experience at the "Art Hearts Fashion" fashion show event at Spectrum. As they say, "fashion is art.”

The fashion event showcased four international designers (House of Li Jon, Diana Couture, Mister Triple X, and Amato Haute Couture) and their couture collections. Now let me tell you, the collections from all four designers were absolutely gorgeous! A few designs definitely caught my eye. A little blue and black number from House of Li Jon, I particularly found beautifulllll. House of Li Jon is known for sculptured couture made of crystal and metal details. From the chic hand-made design of the dress to the unique material (and the sparkles! lol), no wonder they say fashion is art. It truly is! 

                                          

Another day into my Basel experience, I went over to the Miami Convention Center to check out the main event; art exhibitions. I was mellow in yellow for my fit of the day. I decided on a canary yellow cross halterneck dress. It was sheer material on the bottom, so perfectly light and flowy, perefect for spending time walking around taking in the art. And how cute is the back tie of the dress? Whether an artwork or an outfit, it's all in the details I tell you! I went with gold heels to compliment the yellow, and for a fun pop of contrast I chose turquoise earrings with an adorable turquoise clutch to match. And a casual braided up-do to finish the look.

Art Basel is an international art show with 267 of the world's leading galleries displaying artwork by more than 4,000 artists. With that in mind, walking into the Miami Convention Center (one of the many spaces hosting the galleries/exhibitions), I was like a kid in a candy store. With all the innovative work and creative pieces, there was so much ground to cover! Here's some of my favorite art that was featured at the center.

It's not everyday you see two ombré polar bears having a standoff in Miami, so of course this display byPaolaPivi titled "Beautiful Day" stopped people in their tracks.

Another favorite of mine were the neon quotes and sayings found throughout the Convention Center. In Kendell Geers' sign titled "Temene," the words sacred and scared were repeated. A sign by Tracey Eminsaid"I can feel you everywhere." For both signs, the bright neon caught my gaze but the phrases are what intrigued me. It's amazing how simple the words are, but we can each have our own perspective and interpretation of them.

Some displays I just loved didn't call for my deep thought, but were more of eye candy. In the Alan Cristea gallery, Michael Craig-Martin's display "Kabinett" was a fun pop of color. In the Almine Rechgallery, I came across the most beautiful kaleidoscope canvas by painter Jean-Baptiste Bernadet. Can we talk about the colors? As vibrant as Miami.

I have one word for the exhibition: stunning. Some artworks make you think, some make you laugh, some pieces you might just like simply because of the pretty colors. 

But that's the beauty of art. Simple or complex, it can make you feel something. Blunt or abstract, it makes you think. But most of all, it can inspire.

Art Basel is a beautiful experience, whether you're an art connoisseur or just a friend tagging along, and by the end of the day you'll find yourself leaving with an appreciation of it all. 

Art Basel Miami should definitely be on your checklist to see one day, and who really needs an excuse to visit Miami? ;)

SHOP THE LOOK 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of VISIT FLORIDA.  The opinions and text are all mine.